Leeds will be favourites says Dobie
Last updated 12:24, Tuesday, 06 May 2008
Scott Dobie has the perfect response to anyone marking Leeds United down as overwhelming favourites for next week’s play-off double header with Carlisle United.
Bullish noises have been emerging from Elland Road since the weekend, when Gary McAllister’s men beat Gillingham to set up a high-stakes semi-final with the Blues.
The Yorkshire side’s star midfielder Bradley Johnson sounded a confident declaration of intent by describing Leeds as favourites to win the four-team end-of-season shoot-out.
“There weren’t any teams I wanted to avoid, but I’m happy with Carlisle,” Johnson added. “We deserved to beat them at Elland Road and that’s going to be in their minds when they come here for the first game.”
The bookies seem to concur, installing Leeds as 7/4 favourites to reach the Championship via Wembley, with Carlisle fourth-favourites at 4/1. Leeds are also as short as 4/5 to chalk up a first-leg lead against John Ward’s side next Monday night.
But if form undoubtedly favours Leeds, their most expectant fans would be advised to listen up when United frontman Dobie offers his own recent memories of the League One play-offs.
The striker was part of the Nottingham Forest side who were toppled by Yeovil this time last year in an astonishing semi-final.
“We were 3-1 up on aggregate with 10 minutes to go, when I came off,” said Dobie. “And we ended up getting beat 5-4 in extra-time, which was unbelievable.
“But it’s just the sort of thing that can happen. It was quite a learning experience.
“If we dwell on our recent results we’re going to get left behind and abig opportunity will have passed usby.
“I’ve heard the play-offs are the best way to go up, but I can also imagine it being pretty bitter if you get to the final and you don’t go up.
“Leeds will be favourites, but it’s been like that all season. When you watch the league reviews on TV, it’s all been Leeds and Forest. Carlisle hardly got a mention, even when we were second for weeks on end.
“That’s just the way it is. All we can do is show what we can do on the day and give ourselves the best opportunity.”
Dobie’s form was a rare boost for United during their end-of-season stumble, which saw them win just one of their last eight games.
The West Cumbrian scored three goals in the last six matches, including United’s goal in the final-day 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. But his promising contribution couldn’t mask his anger at Carlisle’s failure to hold on for automatic promotion.
“We had opportunities to put it to bed and I’m feeling frustrated,” he said. “But now we’ve got to look at the play-offs.
“There will be a full house at Leeds and at Brunton Park and if we come out on top it’s a great chance for us to go and play at Wembley, which will be a great day out.
“I’ve never played in a play-off final or an FA Cup final. I was with Carlisle when we were at Wembley in 1997, when people like Lee Peacock and Matt Jansen were in the team, but I was a first year YTS player then. It was a great experience but it would be even better to play for Carlisle on that stage.
“There are two big games first and if we play that way we can beat anyone.”
Next week’s double-header will also see Leeds’ Carlisle-born defender Paul Huntington face the club and fans he upset with offensive gestures during the Blues’ 3-2 defeat at Elland Road last month.
The storm led some fans allegedly to make death threats to the young Cumbrian, who can expect a hostile reception from United fans in both legs.
Dobie, Huntington’s half-cousin, said: “I didn’t see what happened at the time, but I know he hasn’t done himself any favours with the fans.
“Fans don’t forget things like that. I don’t know him well enough to know whether it will affect him next week, but it is definitely going to be a lesson for him.”
