Leeds United 1 Leicester City 2: Warnock is determined to repay trust of the faithful

The Elland Road club had better start getting quotes in for one for Neil Warnock for he will certainly deserve a memorial, too, if he can take them back into the Premier League.

That is because Warnock has a huge rebuilding job on his hands following a season which has seen them record the worst home record in the annals of the club.

He has already been making recruitment moves and expects to have made four signings by the end of next month, the first being Portsmouth defender Jason Pearce on a free transfer.

Warnock will release his retained list on Wednesday night and his mind will have been made up long before Saturday’s 11th home defeat of the season, which came courtesy of a stoppage-time deflected effort from Leicester first-year professional and debutant off the bench Harry Panayiotou.

The United manager, in charge since mid-February, wants to leave a lasting legacy after his final management job in the game and says: “I’ve always said, when I leave Leeds United I want to leave them with a team they’re proud of – a team that just needs the odd one or two players, not a massive change. I want a team they can be proud of irrespective of results.”

The 63-year-old has been in charge of a joint-record seven promotion-winning campaigns but even he admits: “It is a bigger challenge than I thought and it might be even bigger – I don’t know whether certain lads will resign. I’m going to have to play it by ear and be a magician but I’ll give it my best shot, without a shadow of a doubt.

“It’s almost like a feeling of relief that the season’s all over. I’m disappointed with the way we lost but I’ve always known from four or five weeks ago what type of job it was going to be and nothing changes.

“You saw today that the biggest thing we’ve got at the moment is the fans. The challenge now is to give them something to cheer about and get results as well.

“I know the players I want and I’ve already got one in line which I’m pleased with and I’ve got to get the type of players who will revel in it all here – enjoy it like I do on the bench. I need to be able to rely on people next time and that’s not been the case this season.”

Of Saturday’s last-gasp defeat, he continued: “I thought we started really well against a team who spent a lot of money. Then we gave a silly goal away but fought back again in the second half and I thought we at least deserved a share of the spoils. It wasn’t to be and in a way it might just reitereate where we are, the second goal.

“We are at the bottom of where we want to be. It’s almost like the fans have put their eggs in one basket with me. It’s almost like they trust me and that’s a fabulous feeling. It is going to be a difficult job but it’s one I can do. I know I can. It’s just a hard job in the next few months but my motto’s always been that every dog has its day.

“I do believe it can be done. I’m going to need a bit of luck with the signings and Shaun Harvey (chief executive) and the chairman, we’re all going to have to pull in the same direction. I’m optimistic and you’ve got to be in this game.

“You don’t carry on managing at my age against all the odds if you’re not optimistic.

“You’ll see my intentions on Wednesday. The sooner the better after that. I go away at the end of May for a couple of weeks and in my own mind I want to have at least three or four lads lined up by that stage.”

Leeds began brightly enough on Saturday as Warnock employed two sitting midfielders in front of the defence with Robert Snodgrass and Ross McCormack out wide and Zac Thompson operating behind lone striker Luciano Becchio.

Snodgrass, at full stretch, tested former Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from McCormack’s through ball and returned the favour only to see his colleague fail to connect after Becchio had wasted an even better opportunity following Adam Clayton’s knock through.

Leicester began to probe down the right where left-back Danny Pugh looked vulnerable against pace and he had already been booked when Michael Brown’s sliced hoof at the ball put him under pressure in the 39th minute. Pugh unsuccessfully attempted an acrobatic clearance and was robbed by Martyn Waghorn, who sped into the area before sidefooting past Andy Lonergan.

Former Elland Road striker Jermaine Beckford had been kept quiet by Alex Bruce, who offered him his shirt as the Kop sang ‘You’re Leeds and you know you are’, and was replaced by Darius Vassell at the break. His and David Nugent’s arrival later underlined the riches that Leicester chief Nigel Pearson has had at his disposal in an equally frustrating campaign for the Foxes.

There was little sign of a Leeds comeback after the interval but, lifted by the Kop, substitute Danny Webber finally levelled in the 82nd minute, sliding the ball home after Snodgrass had knocked it past Schmeichel following Mikael Forssell’s aerial challenge for Clayton’s chip into the area.

Then came Leicester’s strike at the death which left this season’s home record one defeat worse than that suffered in the 1946-47 season.

“It won’t happen again,” pledged Warnock.