SO NEAR, SO FARKE

Leeds boss talks down his side's billing as Championship promotion favourites

- NEIL SQUIRES and SIMON BIRD

DANIEL FARKE has rubbished Chris Wilder's claims that Leeds are "miles ahead" of the rest of the Championship.

Leeds have been hit by the loss of full-back Junior Firpo for up to six weeks ahead of tonight's top-end tussle with Middlesbrough.

And manager Farke insists that the Whites are taking nothing for granted after the agony of a Wembley play-off final defeat last season.

Farke feels Wilder is playing mind games to take the pressure off his Sheffield United side.

The Blades lead the table by a point from their Yorkshire rivals going into an important midweek programme.

"It's good that we get many compliments because we're doing well, but we are far away from overrating ourselves or complacency," said Farke.