Portsmouth 0 Leeds United 0: Fear factor behind United keeping rare clean sheet

The Elland Road club’s hopes of pushing on towards the Premier League have been undermined over the past couple of seasons by an alarmingly leaky defence.

A goals against column that read 70 last season meant United missed out on the play-offs despite finding the net more times than any other Championship club bar Norwich City.

This time around, it has been a similarly lax effort with the failure to plug a porous back-line being a major factor in Simon Grayson losing his job recently.

United’s defensive shortcomings were brought home to Warnock within a few hours of taking charge nine days ago when his new charges were opened up far too easily by Doncaster Rovers.

As a result, plenty of hours were put in on the training field in an attempt to iron out the problems and ensure the squad were left in no doubt as to what is expected of them by the new Leeds manager.

Snodgrass, handed the captain’s armband for the first time in nearly four years at Elland Road, said: “A clean sheet is something we have been craving.

“A few of the lads were speaking (before the game) and there was a fear of conceding a goal. That is what a team game is all about, defending as a group. Everyone was pulling in the right direction to get that clean sheet.

“Fear is something we should have anyway, especially the fear of being the man who lets the opposition score.

“You should fear being the man who gives away the goal. Don’t do silly errors that lead to goals.”

If the players were in any doubt as to just how serious Warnock is about the need to cut out the individual mistakes that have given the opposition a helping hand on far too many occasions over the past couple of years then it came during the half-time interval.

The unfortunate recipient of the dressing room dressing down was Tom Lees, who, in stoppage time, had needlessly handled the ball inside his own area only to be handed a reprieve by referee Phil Gibbs missing the incident.

Snodgrass added: “The gaffer gave Tom Lees a bit at half-time because of the handball. It is what I was on about a few weeks ago, the need not to give silly goals away.

“That is what the gaffer has been telling us ever since he came in.”

United, whose last clean sheet before the weekend had come earlier this month in a 3-0 win over nine-man Bristol City, were unfortunate not to claim all three points at Fratton Park.

They were denied what seemed a perfectly legitimate goal when a linesman adjudged Ross McCormack’s fiercely struck drive not to have crossed the line after striking the underside of the bar.

Also, when incisive build-up play presented Leigh Bromby and Luciano Becchio with a fabulous chance apiece to break the deadlock in the second half, Stephen Henderson proved an unbeatable barrier in the home goal.

His save just before the hour to deny Becchio, in particular, was as brave as the Championship will see all season as Henderson threw himself at the feet of the Argentinian just as he seemed certain to score after being played through by Adam Clayton.

When Henderson then pulled off a similar save to deny Bromby just a couple of minutes later, it suggested the day was not going to belong to United after all.

They did, though, ensure the 500-mile round trip would yield some reward by preventing Portsmouth’s strong finish from yielding a winning goal. Andy Lonergan played a key role with a stunning save at full stretch to beat away a fierce drive from George Thorne.

He also watched a free-kick from Scott Allan curl just wide before a long throw from Greg Halford came close to undoing all United’s good work as it sailed into the net without anyone being able to get a touch.

It was the second time referee Gibbs had disallowed a ‘goal’, Snodgrass having been adjudged offside when following up the McCormack shot that had appeared to cross the line after crashing against the underside of the bar.

The Scot said: “The ball definitely crossed the line, it was good two yards over. It was the natural reaction to put the ball in.

“I was offside but Darren (O’Dea, who was standing a couple of yards away) wasn’t. The linesman was on the six-yard line when Ross shot so he should have had a good angle. It was a weird one.”

On being named captain in place of Lonergan, who in turn had been handed the armband by previous manager Grayson following the £2m sale of Jonny Howson to Norwich in January, Snodgrass added: “I was captain the odd time at Livingston but that was merely a case of filling in. So it was a very proud moment for me.

“To be captain of a club like this is an honour and I hope I can now play my part in getting us up towards the top of the table.

“I did fancy the job (when Howson left). I spoke to Simon Grayson at the time and he felt my form at the time was going really well and he didn’t want to affect that.

“That was his way of thinking but, all along, I didn’t agree with that and told him so.

“The previous manager did ask your opinion and I did tell him. But this manager is different. He just tells you how it is because he has a proven track record. The lads have taken to him straight away.”