Matteo: 'We're building a fortress again'

Dominic Matteo believes Elland Road is again becoming a place to be feared as the club fight for Barclaycard Premiership survival.

The Whites were a soft touch at home earlier in the season, managing just two wins and four draws in their first 12 games spread over the first six months.

But in the last eight weeks they have matched that 10-point haul with three wins and a draw in four encounters.

Caretaker-manager Eddie Gray has long preached the value of the club’s home form being key to United remaining in the top flight, and they again face another vital game tomorrow with the visit of Everton.

If Leeds can continue their current unbeaten run at Elland Road through to the end of the season, with Portsmouth and Charlton to follow, it will go a long way towards erasing the pain skipper Matteo has been feeling.

“People can see we’re trying our best, particularly at home,” reflected centre-back Matteo, who has been forced to play in midfield in the last two matches.

“We’re not playing the best of stuff, but at least the effort is there and we are having a go.

“Teams have been coming here and it’s been too easy for them this season, but I’m glad they are now getting a tough game, and those yet to come are going to find it harder than it has been this season.

“That’s the one thing that has disappointed me – teams have been seeing us as an easy touch, and that hurts me and a lot of the other lads.

“It affects your pride because just two years ago teams who came here, and we didn’t play well, we would beat – and I’d like to get back to that.

“I’ve always said home form is the most important. If you nick points on the road and then do your job at home then you are usually okay.”

Leeds’ bid for safety, though, is being overshadowed by the speculation surrounding who might leave in the summer as the new board have made it clear there will be sales.

Given his outstanding contribution, Matteo could be on his way, particularly as he is one of the most bankable assets along with Mark Viduka, Alan Smith, Paul Robinson and James Milner.

But the players are refusing to contemplate what could happen in the summer as Matteo added: “There’s no talk of that.

“We’ve all agreed we will just battle on because we want to stay in this division. We all want to stay at Leeds.

“That’s the kind of talk there is in the dressing room. We want to make sure we stay in the Premier League and we are going to try our best to do that.

“We are trying to be positive. We know it will be difficult, but we will keep battling on.”

If Leeds do stay up, and they have a chance after back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Matteo hopes they will be a lot stronger come the start of next campaign after what has unfolded in the last eight months.

“I’ve never been in this situation before, so it is difficult,” conceded Matteo.

“I’ve usually been at the other end, but this season it’s been hard for us all, so if we could stay up it would be fantastic.

“It’s a good learning curve, and if we can come out of it at the other end then it will be great for us for next season.”

Midfielder Seth Johnson is Gray’s only doubt after being stretchered off in the 2-1 win at Blackburn on Saturday with a knee injury.