Norwich City warned - Expect Leeds backlash

Norwich City were yesterday warned to expect a Leeds backlash ahead of this weekend's League One Carrow Road sell out.

United midfielder Michael Doyle insists the Elland Road outfit must go on the attack in a bid to get their faltering promotion push back on track after Monday's 2-0 home defeat to Millwall.

Simon Grayson's men travel to Norfolk with a slender three point cushion over the Lions and the rest of the chasing pack in the race for the second automatic slot behind Paul Lambert's champions-elect.

'Nobody will do us any favours, we have to do it ourselves and we have to stick together,' said Doyle. 'We're well in pole position and we need to get the results to get promoted.

'We're making it difficult for ourselves, but we've got nine games left to put it right. We're going through a bad spell, but the plus is that it is still in our own hands so we have to prepare well for Saturday and go out there and give a massive performance and get back on track.

'I can't put my finger on it. We were second best against Millwall and at Southampton and it's disappointing to say that, but we need to get some momentum back. Monday was disappointing. They were simple goals to concede, but overall we got what we deserved.'

Doyle has also pleaded with United's long suffering fans to stick with Grayson's squad after the hosts were booed off on the final whistle.

'The supporters have every right to be disappointed,' he said. 'They know what they expect and what they've seen and they are frustrated. They want the best for the club and so do we, but it probably doesn't look like that to them at the minute. At the end of the game they voice their opinions. I've no qualms with that.'

Under-pressure Leeds chief Grayson is backing his troops to prove their mettle against the Canaries in what had previously been billed as a potential title shoot out before United's miserable recent run.

'We have to roll our sleeves up for the weekend,' he said. 'We are still in a good position in that we are three points clear and second in the division with nine games to go and hopefully my team will come out and respond in a positive manner from now until the end of the season. I want people with character and qualities about them to take this football club back up and I have firm belief that we will still do that.

'Every manager in the division apart from Paul Lambert would love to be in our position. One or two people have been questioning what's been happening recently. That has probably been highlighted because of what we achieved in the first half of the season - but we're in a great position to kick on and achieve our sole aim of getting promoted this year.'

United's 27-goal top gun Jermaine Beckford is a major injury doubt for Saturday's trip after sitting out the club's Millwall defeat with a tight hamstring. Grayson also confirmed key Australian international centre back Patrick Kisnorbo will miss the rest of the promotion run-in following his Achilles injury suffered against the Lions.

'Unfortunately for Paddy he suffered a severe Achilles injury which will rule him out of the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup as well,' said Grayson. 'It's a shame because he has been outstanding for us all season. He's been a warrior type, a leader, and I'm gutted for the lad because his dream was to play in the World Cup and that looks like it could have been shattered.'