Robert Snodgrass has warned tonight’s visitors Oldham that Leeds United will be “in their face” and looking to prove they deserve to be in the Coca-Cola League One's top two.

Substitute Snodgrass snatched an equaliser against Brighton deep into injury-time on Saturday and is hoping for a recall to the starting 11 as Leeds chase a much-needed confidence lift in readiness for Saturday’s West Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield Town.

Oldham complete a trio of successive visitors to Elland Road and, after defeat to Walsall and that last-gasp equaliser against Brighton, a Leeds victory is overdue.

Snodgrass said: “We have to be ready for Oldham, get in their faces and let them know we are up there near the top of the league on merit, not through luck.

“We need to start getting back to basics and realise we are in with a good chance of promotion. The quicker we do that the better.

"The fans are frustrated because they want to see us win every game but it doesn’t work like that. We need them to get behind us because we have a great chance of climbing back into the Championship.”

Manager Simon Grayson had targeted nine points from the run of three home matches but he confesses: “There is no getting away from the fact that our confidence levels are down.

"We are not getting the ball down and playing as well as we can. In situations like this you have to dig deep, roll your sleeves up and get though these periods of your career. I genuinely believe I have a group of players who can do that.

“I am sure the players are as disappointed as I am and we will get a positive reaction against Oldham.”

The Latics lost 1-0 at promotion-chasing Colchester on Saturday and United have won 2-0 at Boundary Park twice this season – in the FA Cup first round in November and in League One on December 1.

However, Oldham were 2-0 winners on their last visit to Elland Road in August, 2008, when former Leeds defender Sean Gregan was outstanding and Gary McAllister was in charge of the Whites.

Andrew Hughes’ position at right back is under threat after he was given a torrid time by Brighton winger Kazenga Lua Lua and there could be a return to the starting line-up for Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio.