I’m depressed. Leeds United have let me down yet again and it hurts. Today the team from Elland Road guaranteed themselves a place in the Championship Play Offs at the end of the season. Most teams would be over the moon at this accomplishment, especially with four games to go, I’m not.

Leeds took on Plymouth Argyle today and drew 0-0, a harsh contrast to when they played them just three months ago and totally took the southerners to pieces. The previous four games haven’t been any better for Leeds. Mediocre performances against Coventry, Crystal Palace, Stoke and Hull have only managed to bring 2 points from a possible 12.

A month ago things looked so hopeful. Leeds had just beaten Crystal Palace in their own back yard. Sheffield United, who had been in the top two positions in the league for the whole season were slipping. Everybody, Leeds fans, football pundits, even Sheffield United supporters were tipping Leeds to get second spot. Then the rot kicked in.

Maybe it was due to the pressure being put onto the team, maybe the players energy burnt out too early. Something has gone wrong and worryingly it has been four whole games without a goal for Leeds, five if you discount David Healy’s penalty in the 1-1 draw with Coventry.

So, with the Play Offs just weeks away what can be done? Well Leeds need goals and confidence fast. Confidence comes with goals and vice versa. I think the Leeds United strikers are currently suffering from “Peter Crouch Syndrome”. This affects may forwards in their career, the longer it goes on the worse it becomes. Talented strikers may go for weeks without finding the back of the net but when they do score that all important goal the confidence soars and they feel like they can score hat tricks in the following game and sometimes they do!

Leeds have shown they are unable to beat poor opposition in recent weeks (Stoke, Hull and Plymouth) so it will be interesting to see how they will fare against some of the league’s better teams. Their skills and endurance will be tested to the max next week as they will need to take on league champions Reading next Saturday and 2nd place Sheffield United the following Tuesday.

Based upon recent form Leeds could be in for hammering. I hope not. Now that 2nd place is out of the question and the Play Offs are guaranteed there is nothing else to play for in the league apart from pride and confidence. Now that the pressure is off I hope I can see some quality football from the boys and give myself something to smile about again. Marching on together.