Leeds chief is looking for United to show consistency

ANOTHER day, another calamitous episode in Leeds United’s season and Brian McDermott has to today pick up the pieces once again.
Leeds United manager Brian McDermott.Leeds United manager Brian McDermott.
Leeds United manager Brian McDermott.

The confirmation that the Elland Road squad have had to accept a pay deferral thanks to the ongoing financial meltdown that has followed Massimo Cellino’s takeover being blocked is hardly ideal preparation for a derby encounter against Doncaster Rovers.

Especially with United having suffered another on-pitch humiliation in midweek courtesy of a 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth.

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Plenty of work, therefore, for McDermott, who became a victim of the chaos that began to envelop Leeds in January when he was sacked and then reinstated on a crazy weekend as January moved into February.

The United chief said: “I expect the players to play, get the right result and perform to the right level. As players, you have got to look at our fans who travelled to Bournemouth. They were fantastic.

“I keep saying it. They are consistent. They are very consistent in how they support this club. They are the soul of this club.

“I am sure they are in a determined frame of mind. When you have had a poor result and performance, what you don’t want to do is have it followed up.”

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McDermott’s removal as manager on Friday January 31 and then subsequent reinstatement a couple of days later came either side of a 5-1 derby win over Huddersfield Town.

Such shabby treatment saw the United squad come out publicly in support of their manager.

Despite that, there is a theory that the episode merely served to undermine McDermott.

The Leeds chief said: “When there is a doubt regarding the manager – that has obviously been what happened on January 31 – what you try and do is take all excuses away.

“We don’t want excuses, we really don’t.

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“We need to just focus as a staff and players on the next game. It’s all we can do and all we have got to do.

“Against Millwall (a week ago), we won the game and then had the disappointment of Bournemouth. The inconsistency of the performances, we are trying to eradicate.

“We have got two games coming up back to back at home (Charlton Athletic are the visitors on Tuesday) and we have got to be consistent in our performances.”