Leeds humiliation prompts Howson challenge

The Elland Road club suffered their joint worst home defeat of all time on Tuesday night when Blackpool romped to a 5-0 victory.

On a miserable night for Leeds, goalkeeper Paul Rachubka suffered the ignominy of his own club’s fans chanting ‘off, off, off...’ after a couple of calamitous mistakes during the first half.

Not only did United’s second choice goalkeeper effectively hand the points to the Seasiders but his first blunder, the dropping of what should have been a routine catch, led to Tom Lees being sent off for handball as the young defender tried to prevent Ludovic Sylvestre tapping into an empty net.

Howson admits the chastening defeat was his “lowest point as captain” but he is also adamant that Simon Grayson’s side can bounce back and points to the positive manner in which Leeds responded to a similar setback a year ago as evidence.

Back then, United followed a 4-0 home defeat to Cardiff City by embarking on a 13-game unbeaten run to soar from the lower reaches of the Championship to the play-off places.

Howson said: “It was a difficult night. Whatever the circumstances, to get beaten 5-0 at home is hard to take.

“For some strange reason, we seemed to get one of these a season at home. We had a freak result last year but bounced back.

“Cardiff was a bad one for us last year but we then went on a great run. The Blackpool game has gone now, no matter what we say or do.

“We have to look at what we did last season and do the same. The Championship is the sort of league where teams get results like this from time to time.

“They come out of nowhere. For the lads who were here last season, they can remember the hammering we got off Cardiff and look to respond the same.

“We have to be men out there and move on, especially as the Championship is the sort of competition where one result can turn things round.”

Wednesday’s humbling, which matched the club’s previous worst home defeat when Arsenal won 5-0 at Elland Road in November, 1980, saw Leeds slip to 10th in the Championship.

Howson added: “There was a mixture of emotions in the dressing room, a bit of anger and a bit of disappointment. It is hard to take a result like that. It was definitely my lowest point as captain.”

With Lees suspended for Sunday’s trip to Leicester City, Andy O’Brien could be in line for his first league start since the opening day defeat at Southampton.