Former Leeds United attacker Noel Whelan believes the Whites’ automatic promotion hopes are gone now and insists they must find form in the remaining games to gather momentum for the playoffs.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men allowed fellow promotion-chasers Sheffield United to open up a three-point lead over them in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship on Easter Monday.
The Whites suffered a 2-0 defeat at Brentford and Chris Wilder’s men took full advantage with an impressive 3-0 win over Hull City to move back into pole position in the race for second place.
As such, the Blades can now effectively seal promotion with a win over Ipswich Town on Saturday and Whelan believes Leeds must now focus on winning their remaining games to gather momentum for the playoffs.
“Ipswich game, that will be their [Sheffield United’s] game, done and dusted”, Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds at Griffin Park.
“So we've got to try and find some kind of confidence and a way back, get belief and confidence going, and motivation.
“Today was just a lacklustre performance at both ends of the field.”
Whelan also admitted Leeds were unable to put the disappointment of losing to Wigan behind them at Griffin Park after showing no fighting spirit, and stressed they must quickly pick themselves up for their remaining games.
“The game against Wigan was disappointing itself, but you'd got an opportunity to come here and put something right, and they just didn't”, he continued.
“There was no fight behind that. Really sad to see.
“There is no point feeling sorry for yourself because you've got games to play and they could be crucial.
"You need to get that strong mentality back, that fight, and that fire in your belly.”
Leeds will next face Aston Villa in the Championship at Elland Road on Sunday.
