Patrick Bamford has blasted Yorkshire promotion rivals Sheffield United for over-celebrating and "thinking they are already up.".

The Leeds United striker has sent out a defiant message insisting Marcelo Bielsa's side will shoulder the pressure of dropping out of the top two on Saturday.

Bamford has questioned whether United will cope with the psychological burden of having promotion to the Premier League in their own hands saying they are unlikely to win all of the remaining eight games.

Norwich favourites to go up as Championship champions.

But Leeds are now locked in a tense head-to-head with Chris Wilder's men after the Blades won 1-0 at Elland Road.

(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

United have fly to Valencia for a training break.

Bamford said: "Hearing the Sheffield boys, it was as if they think they are already up.

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"Eight games to go is a lot of points to play for and nothing is written in stone yet.

"If someone puts together eight straight wins, take your hat off to them. There will be twists and turns.

"Now the pressure will turn on Norwich and Sheffield. Norwich have been handling it but for Sheffield it’s their first time in the top two and first time in this position.

"It will be interesting to see how Sheffield cope with the pressure of not being underdogs but being in pole position.

"The gap’s not massive, it’s very tight, and I think having been up there for the whole season we have dealt with the pressure pretty well.

(Image: Simon Davies/ProSports/REX)

"This game hasn’t decided the promotion race. Obviously, it would have been nice to win it and it’s given Sheffield United a little edge but we will just focus on the next game.

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"We know now it’s been taken out of our hands but at this stage of the season there isn’t a team with nothing left to play for. So even though we are now relying on others to help us out a little bit, everyone is playing for something.

"If I was a fan I would be disappointed because we lost the game. That’s natural. But I would also say not to worry because if we play like that in the last eight games we stand a chance of winning every one of them."

Sheffield United have won seven out of their last ten games, and not lost. They have not conceded a goal for more than ten hours and seven games.

Leeds United play Millwall next on March 30, while Sheffield face Bristol City.