ONLY ONE WAY UP

Pascal is desperate to dodge play-off sweat

- DAVID ANDERSON

FOR Pascal Struijk, it's a no-brainer to admit Leeds are desperate to win automatic promotion and avoid the play-offs.

Leeds have the worst play-off record, having failed in all six attempts since their first in 1987, while last season's loss to Southampton at Wembley was their fourth final defeat.

"You don't have to ask me that," said the Dutch centre-half. "We don't want to play in the play-offs.

"We all have one target and that's to go up to the Premier League."

Struijk is Leeds' longest-serving player and knows all about the pain of losing in the play-offs.

He was on the bench for the semi-final defeat in 2019 and was sidelined with a groin injury for the Saints match last May.