McAllister urges revitalised Leeds to finish the job
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Your support makes all the difference.A season which began with them 15 points adrift at the bottom of League One, following their controversial points deduction, could end in a remarkable triumph for Leeds United tomorrow.
The League One side climbed from there into the top three, then slipped back after Gus Poyet, the assistant manager, left for Spurs and manager Dennis Wise, headed to Newcastle.
Gary McAllister came in and boldly changed the playing style. After a stutter as the team adapted, Leeds recovered in time to reach the play-offs and now stand 90 minutes from a return to the Championship.
Leeds are favourites but fans will warily recall the 2006 Championship play-off final which ended in defeat to Watford, followed by relegation the next season to League One.
Now, as in 2006, Leeds finished fifth in the regular season and their opponents third. McAllister is hoping for a different outcome this time. "I'm proud of taking the team to Wembley, but the proudest moment will be if we get the right result," the 43-year-old, who spent six seasons at Elland Road as a player in the 1990s, said. "We have worked hard so as much as we have to enjoy it we have to realise Wembley is a place of work."
Ticket sales for tomorrow's match were suspended at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium this week as Leeds supporters attempted to buy tickets in their opponent's section after the Elland Road side's 36,000 allocation quickly sold out.
Doncaster chairman John Ryan believes his side were allocated too many tickets and feels Leeds should have been issued with more. "They've got a fantastic fanbase," he said.
"We sold 24,000 tickets, which is a good effort with us only having average gates of 8,000. I would gladly have given Leeds the balance but the Football League wouldn't let us because of segregation issues. It's a shame because part of Wembley will be empty when it should be full of Leeds fans, really."
Doncaster are hoping to continue their own impressive revival. Four years ago they were in the Conference playing at their old Belle Vue stadium.
Gareth Roberts (hamstring) and Ritchie Wellens (groin) are doubts for Sean O'Driscoll's side, while Alan Sheehan returns from suspension for Leeds.
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