O'Leary appeals for peace in the stands

The Leeds United manager David O'Leary has called for supporters to be on their best behaviour when his team play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight.

His plea follows a series of incidents which have highlighted the growing problem of hooliganism at football matches.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker Les Ferdinand was nearly hit by a bottle thrown by a Chelsea fan during a Worthington Cup match earlier this month, while Leeds supporters were involved in an ugly stand-off with rival fans following the controversial FA Cup defeat against Cardiff City.

O'Leary told a news conference yesterday: "I hope that both sets of fans behave at Stamford Bridge. It's important to everybody that nothing untoward happens and it's up to Chelsea to ensure that's the case."

Matches between the clubs are often bad-tempered affairs, with O'Leary sent off by referee Paul Durkin in the Premiership meeting earlier this season after he reacted angrily to the decision not to send off Graeme Le Saux for a two-footed lunge at Danny Mills. Mills will miss the trip to London as he starts a four-game ban for being dismissed for kicking Craig Bellamy at Newcastle earlier this month, with Gary Kelly deputising at right-back.

Alan Smith is still suspended, while O'Leary insists he will be unable to risk Harry Kewell, Robbie Keane or Olivier Dacourt from the start as they are lacking match fitness.

"Harry and Robbie will be on the bench again and Olly has a chance of being a sub," O'Leary said. "They need more games and they're not up to playing 90 minutes.

"Olly's well ahead of where we thought he would be but the only way he'll get back to being 100 per cent is by him playing for 20 to 30 minutes in each game."

While Mario Stanic is available after suspension, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink should lead the Chelsea attack against his former club after recovering from a knock which forced him off against West Ham last weekend. William Gallas is doubtful with a knee injury sustained in training, but is included in the squad, as is Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose pregnant wife was due to be induced yesterday.

O'Leary, though, remained hopeful that Hasselbaink might miss the game. "If Hasselbaink is missing from the Chelsea team, it will be good news for us. Any side would be weakened by his absence. Chelsea are capable of beating anybody on their day, and when the big games are about they're not far off the pace. Considering the money they've spent on signings and wages, and the world class players they have, they're entitled to be aiming for a Champions' League place."