Neil Warnock demands Leeds United cut out late goals

Leeds are chasing the play-off places in the Championship

‘If we don’t go up, I won’t be here,’ admitted Neil Warnock last night (AP)

Leeds manager Neil Warnock remains frustrated ahead of tonight's rearranged npower Championship clash with Peterborough after late goals robbed his side of vital points in back-to-back games.

Crystal Palace snatched a dramatic late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park as the Whites saw another two points go down the drain following a 1-1 stalemate with Leicester earlier in the week.

Leeds are currently 10th in the overall standings, but if they had managed to hang on to claim wins in their last two games they would be seventh and only two points adrift of the play-offs.

"I said at half-time I thought we could win the game, not just get a draw," Warnock told the club's official website after the match with Palace.

"I thought we really went out and gave it a good go with two good goals from Steve Morison. We should have finished it off again, Ross McCormack had a great chance to make it 3-1.

"Similar to Dave Norris, the other night, who had a great chance to make it 2-0 at Leicester.

"We have had a tough week this week and we could have come out of it with six points. We've got to keep the way we are playing at home on Tuesday and the fans get behind us.

"They are all important games now, we'll say it before every game. The next one is the vital one."

League leaders Cardiff host promotion-hunting Leicester tonight and boss Malky Mackay has refused to drop midfielder Peter Whittingham despite his side's recent dip in form.

The Bluebirds remain in pole position at the top of the table, five points clear of Watford, despite only taking four points from the last available 16.

However, Mackay is resisting calls to rest Whittingham, even though he has played in all but one of Cardiff's 35 league games.

"Peter is among the best players in his position in Championship football," Mackay told walesonline.co.uk. "He is and will continue to be one of the first names on my team sheet.

"Other Championship teams would like it if they saw he was not in our starting line-up. That would give the opposition a lift and that's not something we wish to do."

Cardiff, who drew their match against Derby 1-1 last Tuesday and did not play at the weekend, will no doubt be boosted by the return of striker Craig Bellamy and captain Mark Hudson, who have recovered from knee and ankle problems respectively.

"Craig had a few days away for rest and recuperation but he'll be okay for Leicester," Mackay said.

"He is a player who works to keep his body in amazing condition and he will be involved on Tuesday.

"Mark Hudson, too, has made good progress after injury and will be back in full training and in the squad for the Leicester game."

Leicester, on the other hand, remained in fifth place following a 1-0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, a result which meant they have only won once in their last seven league games.

Championship bottom club Barnsley play Brighton in tomorrow's other game after they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage by Manchester City, who beat the Tykes 5-0 on Saturday.

PA