LEEDS United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has challenged his players to win over the doubters among their own fans after a poor run of results which has dented their Sky Bet Championship promotion hopes.

Bielsa's men could climb back to the top of the table on Saturday if they beat fourth-placed Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with current leaders West Brom, who are just a point better off, not in action until Sunday.

However, Leeds have collected just four of the last 15 points on offer after last weekend's home defeat by lowly Wigan to leave themselves open to charges that they are in the grip of a choke and with their fans fearing the worst.

Asked at his pre-match press conference if an away game might ease some of the pressure on his team, Bielsa said: "The supporters are not believing in us any more, but we believe more than ever in ourselves and we wish we could always play at Elland Road because our supporters never damage our team.

"Playing away is not something good for us because if you think it is better to play away than at home, that means playing at home is uncomfortable for us, and it's not like that.

"If the supporters have lost their faith in the team, we as a team have to recover the confidence we have lost."

Should Leeds lose for the fourth time in five league outings, third-placed Fulham would draw level on points if they won at Blackburn, while a home victory for Brentford over Middlesbrough would keep the Bees firmly in the hunt.

However, Fulham boss Scott Parker knows his team can take nothing for granted at Ewood Park.

He told the club's official website: "We're in good form and we're in a good place, but we're under no illusions, we know the weekend is going to be a very, very tough game."

At the other end of the table, there are big home games for both Huddersfield and Stoke as they attempt to ease themselves away from the relegation zone.

The Terriers, who sit in 20th place, host QPR, while the Potters, who are a point worse off in 21st, entertain Charlton.

Bottom two Barnsley and Luton are in danger of being cast adrift and will hope to address that situation this weekend, with the Tykes facing a derby clash with Sheffield Wednesday and the Hatters welcoming Cardiff to Kenilworth Road.

Should they fail to add to their respective points tallies, 22nd-placed Wigan could increase their five-point advantage with a positive result at home to Preston.

Elsewhere, Derby head for Swansea after booking an FA Cup fifth round clash with Manchester United in midweek, while Reading and Hull battle it out at the Madejski Stadium.