Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom believes the pressure is on hosts Aston Villa when they meet in the Championship tomorrow.

The United boss has won just two matches since his appointment just over two months ago while Steve Bruce's men are still pushing for automatic promotion.

Heckingbottom said: "The pressure they're under could be good for us.

"We may produce a top performance, but Villa are a top side who can win in any way. They are dangerous but the pressure is on them.

"Hopefully we can be in their position next season. We want to be driving things forward from within and on Friday night that is the carrot in front of the players, something exciting."

While Bruce reckons the play-offs are probably Villa's best chance of promotion, he knows pressure can do strange things to teams at this stage of the season.

"We've applied a bit of pressure but we have to win our own games now. Let's get to the points total that we've set ourselves and see where it takes us," said Bruce.

"It's going to be very difficult now to pip Cardiff and/or Fulham but we have to try. We know how difficult it is, we've just had a bad run ourselves.

"We played a Norwich team last weekend who had nothing to play for and couldn't match their levels, so it can happen."

Like Norwich, tomorrow night's opponents Leeds have little left to play for this season but Bruce he is hoping Villa can continue their recent knack of good performance under the lights at Villa Park.

"Anyone coming here for a night game live on television is going to be up for it. Leeds have a big following and they're a big club with big history and tradition," said Bruce.

"We can expect a tough game but a night game at Villa Park always seems to bring out the best in us. Touch wood, let's hope it can happen again."