Leeds United supporters have been reasonably upbeat in the Transfer Tavern in the last few days despite seeing their side lose 3-1 away to Leicester City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, thus ending their hopes of a long run in the competition.

Thomas Christiansen’s men had got past Port Vale, Newport County, and Burnley to earn their place in the last 16, and they looked on course for another Premier League scalp when Pablo Hernandez gave them the lead at the King Power Stadium. However, that seemed to rile the Foxes and they responded emphatically with goals from Kelechi Iheanacho, Islam Slimani, and Riyad Mahrez securing the victory for Michael Appleton’s side, who keep up their hopes of a first League Cup crown since 2000.

For our resident Leeds fans though, attentions have quickly turned to their crucial Championship encounter with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United on Friday, with the visitors knowing that all three points at Elland Road will take them to the summit.

The Blades have won nine of their 13 league games so far to sit fourth in the division upon return to the second tier, having achieved automatic promotion from League One last term, and they go into Friday’s clash having won four of their last five Championship games, albeit they did lose their last away match at Nottingham Forest last month.

Thus, our resident Leeds supporters are quietly confident of recording victory on Friday night, and here are THREE reasons why they will do just that…

Encouraging week

Leeds went into their clash with Bristol City last weekend having lost each of their previous three Championship matches, and indeed four of their last six league games.

The Whites were comprehensively beaten by Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday while also suffered a first home defeat of the campaign to struggling Reading to perhaps suggest that the honeymoon period was over for boss Christiansen, having made such a fine start to the campaign.

However, his side responded with an emphatic 3-0 success at Bristol City on Saturday to get back to winning ways, and although they then lost 3-1 at Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, they didn’t disgrace themselves and ultimately forced the Foxes to bring on some of their top players to get a result.

All in all, it has been a more encouraging week for Leeds, and that stands them in good stead against a high-flying and confident Sheffield United side.

Solid home form

They may well have lost their last home outing against Reading, but other than that Christiansen’s men have been pretty solid at Elland Road this season.

The Yorkshire giants have won five of their eight games at home in all competitions to help them to fourth place in the Championship table, as well as to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Elland Road is widely regarded as one of the toughest places to go in the second tier, and given that Leeds have only lost once there this season, and have kept four clean sheets in their six league games, that should give them huge confidence ahead of Sheffield United’s visit.

Cannot afford to lose

Ultimately, although Leeds have had a much-improved week, the record still reads five defeats in their last eight matches in all competitions, and four in their last six in the Championship.

And that run of form has seen the Whites fall six points off the pace set by leaders Wolves, and four points behind Friday’s opponents Sheffield United.

Thus, Leeds simply cannot afford to lose this game – not only is it a Yorkshire derby and one they don’t want to lose anyway, but defeat would see them fall seven points behind the Blades, and possibly ten points adrift of Wolves should they beat QPR on Saturday.

Although there’s still a long way to go, that would already be a sizable gap to overcome – as such, they simply cannot afford to lose on Friday night.