Derby star Bradley Johnson comments on Leeds United fans

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Bradley Johnson has been quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post as saying that he will tell his younger Derby County teammates about the atmosphere at Elland Road ahead of the play-off second leg against Leeds United.

Leeds take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg after beating Frank Lampard’s side 1-0 at Pride Park, thanks to Kemar Roofe’s second-half striker. The goalscorer has been ruled out of the second meeting.

Johnson, 32, played for Leeds for almost four years, after joining the club from Northampton Town in January 2008 and eventually leaving in the summer of 2011. He clocked up 137 appearances for Leeds.

The aggressive midfielder saw out the entire 90 minutes of the first leg and is expected to start in the reverse fixture, and he stated that he will be informing his teammates of the cauldron that is Elland Road.

“It is a great stadium to play in,” Johnson said. “I played there for four years throughout my career, I have been there in full houses and they do get behind the team.

“We are going to go there, we have experience in our team and a few young lads, I’ll be telling them what it is like to play in front of the Elland Road crowd.

“If we go there on the front foot, then the fans might turn and that’s something we would hope to do.”

TBR’s view

Leeds are in an excellent position. A 1-0 win away with a home leg to play puts Marcelo Bielsa’s side in a very strong position to make the final, where they will face either West Bromwich Albion or Aston Villa.

The Whites have beaten Derby three times this season, but will be without both Roofe and Adam Forshaw after the duo picked up injuries from the first leg. Patrick Bamford has returned from suspension, though.

Leeds need to avoid defeat and will qualify for the play-off final at Wembley, and the Elland Road crowd will give them the helping hand they need.