Nigel Clough offers positive assessment of Leeds’ future despite Burton’s win

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Leeds United’s play-off hopes were dealt a massive blow as Burton won 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium at the weekend.

Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough

Nigel Clough has suggested that Leeds United should be able to look forward to some bright years despite his Burton side leaving their play-off dreams almost in tatters for this season, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.

Garry Monk’s men went into their clash at the Pirelli Stadium knowing that despite sitting outside the Championship’s top six, a flawless run in their final three games of the campaign would see them secure a play-off spot.

However, they now need to win four more points than Fulham in their final two games to extend their season as Burton capitalised on Leeds’ inability to make any of their pressure count by claiming a 2-1 win.

But despite watching his side come out on top, Clough suggested that there was reason for optimism given the work that Monk has done at Elland Road.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk

“Nobody thought Leeds would be anywhere in with a chance of the play-offs this season,” he said, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“He said this week he was ahead of schedule and maybe in a year’s time they expect them to be in this sort of position.

“But he’s taken them from being a bottom half team to challenging for the play-offs and I think there’s a lot more to come from them in the next couple of seasons.”

Having come so close to securing a play-off spot – they were eight points clear of the chasing pack with eight games to go – missing out will be extremely difficult for Leeds supporters to stomach, but perhaps once the dust settles, the fans will be able to reflect on how positive a campaign it has been.

Certainly, if they can hold onto the majority of their key players this summer – which will, of course, be easier said than done – it would surely not be out of the question to suggest that they should be looking to make sure that they clear the hurdle that looks set to be just a little bit too big for them this season.