Leeds United will still be reeling after seeing their automatic promotion chances slip away, but must now pick themselves up with the play-offs approaching.

Marcelo Bielsa's side suffered back-to-back defeats over Easter weekend which ultimately condemned them to the play-offs, while rivals Sheffield United made no mistake in getting the results they needed.

The Whites now face already-relegated Ipswich Town on Sunday in preparation for the play-offs, with a win ensuring they will face the side that finishes sixth in the Championship.

Ahead of a crucial month, Leeds captain Liam Cooper has now delivered a defiant message to his teammates in a bid to lift the club's mood.

“This is not a time to feel sorry for ourselves,” he told the Mirror.

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“We’ve shown so much character and spirit to bounce back from setbacks throughout the campaign and we have to do the same now.

“We will turn the hurt into a positive as none of us wants to feel like that again.”

Cooper has been a key figure for Leeds this season, featuring 35 times for Bielsa's side despite spells of his season hampered by injuries.

He has recently returned to the side after missing clashes against Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic, but started against Aston Villa over the weekend.

The Verdict

This optimistic message will definitely have an uplifting effect on Leeds fans.

The only way Leeds can take any benefit from those recent damaging defeats is if they use the pain to spur them on in the play-offs.

The 1-1 draw with Aston Villa suggests the Whites have got some of their confidence back, and they will now be targeting a comfortable victory over Ipswich in preparation for the play-offs.

Thoughts? Let us know!