Leeds United

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media ahead of Leeds United's Championship game at Watford on Friday (20:00 GMT kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Georginio Rutter, who had minor hernia surgery during the international break, has returned to group training and "looks good". Farke added: "I'm carefully optimistic he'll be in the squad [to face Watford]."

• He confirmed Pascal Strujik will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery last week.

• Connor Roberts is a doubt after "limping" off for Wales on Tuesday and Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev have reported hamstring and ankle strains respectively.

• On lifting Roberts and Dan James after disappointment with the Wales team: "We will speak a bit, but I want them to focus pretty quick on Leeds as we have a lot to play for and fight for. Our fingers were crossed for them but it's sport. I'm sure they'll draw a line under it pretty quick."

• He said he would "love" to have Stuart Dallas in his team, but "there’s no time pressure" for his return. He added that Dallas "is a Leeds legend and has everyone's backing".

• On the international break and the chance to reset: "We tried to do our best and put some proper work in, but when so many players are away it's difficult. The good thing is we were in red-hot form, so on Friday we just have to press a button and be on it."

• Farke said his squad will not have a full training session together before Friday's game but "it is reality and we have to adapt to it".

• On being top of the table: "We don't have to speak about the table right now. It's just about concentrating and finding a way to be competitive. There's still so much work to do."

• He said he feels "honoured to work with these lads every day" and described the dressing room spirit as "extraordinary".

• On opponents Watford: "They have lots of experienced, physical and quality players. It's a home game so they will be highly motivated. We have to prepare for a difficult game, dig in and show great unity. We'll need our away support to carry us in difficult points of the match."

Former Leicester City captain Wes Morgan and ex-Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson tell The Football News Show what will make the difference in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship and why the games against teams in the bottom half of the table could be more pivotal than those higher up.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Leeds United are on the precipice of a historic promotion, but the final stretch of the Championship season has caused the Whites problems in the past - a capitulation against 10-man Wigan Athletic and subsequent play-off heartbreak during the 2018-19 season turning fans into seasoned cynics.

To avoid similar disaster and secure promotion this campaign, they need three things:

Togetherness

In 23 games this season, one goal would have altered the result. A fitness coach keeping a player healthy. The crowd lifting the team in a tense moment. Everyon connected to the club must be united.

Focus

Leeds have been affected by off-field distractions before. From Sarfraz Najeib to spygate, and the start of this season when players refused to play. The squad and staff must remain focused.

Performances

Finally, injuries and dubious decisions have cost Leeds league titles and European silverware before. The whole squad must step up when needed, while performances must remove refereeing errors from affecting results.

"We have had a good season, but it will mean nothing if we do not get promoted," Marcelo Bielsa said after that infamous Wigan game, as United slipped to third with three to play.

A stark reminder to maintain the high standards set this year, stay focused and stick together.

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

Are you feeling at a loose end without any football?

BBC Radio Leeds have you covered in their latest episode of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, as Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix sets the United quiz questions for Jonny Buchan, and Adam Pope.

Join in and listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts on Leicester City being charged by the Premier League for allegedly breaking spending rules during their past three seasons in the top flight.

Here are some of your replies:

Richard: This surely gives Leeds grounds to sue Leicester, Everton and Nottingham Forest? By being financially responsible as owners, Leeds have suffered unjustified relegation, costing millions in revenue and value.

Gareth: I feel that if they deduct the points now, it would be unfair on the excitement and competition in the Championship. If they want to deduct points, they should be taken off when they join the Premier League.

Andy: Everton, Forest and Leicester: the three teams that finished above us in the Premier League have all been found to have done so unfairly. That is really unlucky and unjust on Leeds - but there is nothing new there!

Peter: It makes no difference to the final race in the current Championship with eight matches remaining. Each of the contenders would be sadly mistaken to be distracted by the maybe-yes, maybe-no penalty position that Leicester sadly find themselves in.

Howard: Leicester, Everton and Forest finished above Leeds last season and all three have been charged with cheating. How is it fair that teams who play by the rules get relegated when others (appear to) cheat? Consider the impact on fans, staff and players at clubs relegated and a points deduction after the fact isn’t sufficient.

Bud: I hope that we are not penalised by dithering. We suffered relegation despite the Everton fiasco... don't want to miss out on promotion due to the Leicester case.

Adrian: The problem with all the profitability and sustainability rule decisions is the length of time it takes. So if Leicester are found guilty, but the punishment is not issued until next season, one of Leeds, Ipswich or Southampton could miss out in promotion.

Leicester City have been charged by the Premier League with allegedly breaking spending rules during their past three seasons in the top flight.

The Foxes have been referred to an independent commission for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and failing to submit audited finances.

If found guilty, they could face a points deduction that might spill into next season, regardless of whether they are promoted.

However, with six weeks to go, it is unlikely the situation will be resolved before the end of the Championship promotion race.

Leeds fans, tell us how you feel about the situation

Southampton supporters, what do you make of it?

After receiving hundreds of messages, Patrick and Joe have released a part two of answering your questions on this week's My Mate's A Footballer podcast.

Leeds striker Bamford was asked about his recent goal against Rotherham which appeared to go in off his arm:

"At the time, I thought, ‘it’s really close to me, but I can’t quite get it with my body, so I’m just going to nudge it with my elbow’.

"I thought, ‘that’s really subtle, everyone will think it came off my chest’. I ran off and as I’m running off, I tried to make it look normal. Looked back and their players are going mental. The ref’s given the goal. Stupidly, I did a celebration where I tapped my elbow. The goal was already given.

"Afterwards, we’re walking back to the centre circle – one of their players asked me, ‘did you handball it?’ I said yeah. The ref said, ‘did it touch your hand?’, before it had kicked off again. To be fair, it didn’t touch my hand, it touched my elbow, so I said ‘no, it didn’t touch my hand’."

Would he prefer the game with or without VAR?

"For supporters, it needs to be refined a lot to not take the joy out of the game. I think simple things like, with offside, if it’s that close, you’re literally just an inch offside, I think it has to be really obvious. If it’s not obvious to the natural eye, then it’s not offside. I’d keep goal line technology and then I’d just keep it for penalties or red cards."

On the Crystal Palace collapse last season – was there a dressing room bust-up?

"They scored just before half-time, so it was 1-1. We ended up losing 5-1. Afterwards, it came out that there was this fight in the changing room. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. People were maybe shouting a little bit because we’d just conceded before half-time.

"I’ve been in the changing room where there’s been actual bust-ups at Leeds – like people have had to be separated, but that game, where everyone thinks there was one, there actually wasn’t. I guess it’s an easy way to explain the fact that we came out and lost 5-1."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds United are set to offer midfielder Archie Gray, 18, an improved contract in the summer amid interest from top-six Premier League clubs. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

When Millwall captain Jake Cooper leapt into the air and planted a knee to the face of Joe Rodon, referee Stephen Martin was perfectly placed and unmoved. Cooper then flicked the ball into the air with his hand.

It was the second handball by a Millwall player, in their own box, during the first half of Sunday's match at Elland Road. They added to a myriad of other fouls that were missed in a poor game for the officials.

Leeds United won anyway, and now sit top of the Championship table after a record number of wins at this stage of any season in their history.

But, in a campaign that could come down to goal difference, these decisions matter.

Refereeing at grassroots level is poorly paid and abuse is endemic. Nearly a third of grassroots referees told BBC Radio 5 Live that they had been physically abused. This doesn't seem like an ideal environment to educate the future officials of English football's top tiers.

While abuse of referees is abhorrent, the standards have to improve.

The standards have been noticeably poor this season, not just on Sunday.

There is more money in football than there has ever been before, so surely it is in everyone's best interest to pay, train and protect referees more?

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

Leeds United have become only the second team in history to have been 17 points or more behind the leaders of the Championship table and then go on to top the division, after Reading completed the same feat in the 2011-12 campaign.

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix and BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan and Adam Pope have been discussing the "amazing" achievement from Daniel Farke's men on the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

It has taken 38 games but Leeds United have finally overhauled Leicester City to go top of the Championship table, after beating Millwall at Elland Road.

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix told BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast it was a "professional" performance from Daniel Farke's side:

"Another win! It was nice, wasn't it?

"It was quite professional and another one where you felt a bit nervous going into it. given it was Millwall and they are on a good run. Neil Harris is back too. Saying that, I actually predicted it would be 2-0, and it was, so I'm happy.

"As long as we got the first goal, I was confident. There was that little period at 1-0 where they made us feel really awkward, because it wouldn't be Leeds United if we didn't!

"Overall I thought it was very professional."

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope added: "Honestly, I took an inordinate amount of pleasure from that game. I don't know if it is because it was Millwall and Harris, and we've seen so much stuff go on in the past, but I just thought the way they went about it was very professional.

"It never felt like it was going to get away from them. There was a little moment when I thought, 'It could go 1-1 here' but the way they handled the game was superb. They just didn't get involved in that fight.

"If this season goes the way we want it to go, that sort of game is the one where you think, 'Yes, this side knows exactly what they are doing, the manager knows exactly what he is doing, and they are really mature and know how to go about it'.

"At no point did I really fear for them. This clean sheet record is ridiculous now - I think it's nine in the past 12 games for [Illan] Meslier."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds