Reading v Leeds Utd: Redfearn urging Whites to focus on positives

Manager Neil Redfearn says Leeds United should not look past fact we have been on a good run.

The Elland Road club’s four-game unbeaten start to 2015 in the Championship came to an end with the weekend defeat at home to Brentford.

Thanks to the bottom three clubs all losing, the gap between United and safety remained at five points. Despite that, there was no mistaking the dejection felt at the end of an upturn in form that had yielded eight points.

Redfearn, whose side take on Reading tonight, said: “We can’t look past the fact we have been on a good run.

“We had a blip, result-wise, on Saturday, but Brentford are a good side and I thought it was always going to be that type of game as we locked horns with them.

“It was a tough encounter, we didn’t play the football we wanted to play. But we did enough to get a result, I thought. Going into Reading, we have got to look back at the stuff that we have done that has got us results.”

Billy Sharp was handed a recall in Saturday’s loss to the Bees, but a switch in tactics failed to pay off as Leeds were unable to reach the standards of performance set in the wins over Bournemouth and Huddersfield Town.

Due to Reading playing one man up front, Redfearn may switch back to a 4-2-3-1 formation that will be more compact as United look to earn a result that would mean they go into Saturday’s clash with third-bottom Millwall full of confidence.

Redfearn, who has taken 26 points from 19 games in charge this term, added: “50 points is usually the target and guideline. If you look at my record, it would get us past 50 points, the way we are travelling at the moment.”

He added: “We have this toughness about us. Even on Saturday, when we didn’t play as well, it was still difficult for Brentford. For long spells, there was nothing in it.”

“That has been the message – stay in the game. At 0-0 and 1-0 down, you have still got a chance. At Huddersfield there was nothing in the game and we won 2-1. We have got to have that tough mentality.

Last six games: Reading DLWDWW, Leeds United LDDWWL.

Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire).

Last time: Reading 1 Leeds United 0; September 18, 2013; Championship.