Redfearn determined to please Leeds crowd this weekend

NEIL Redfearn admits he is determined to make Leeds United’s loyal fan’s happy and “warm them up” with victory at home to rapid improvers Birmingham City this weekend.
Neil Redfearn.Neil Redfearn.
Neil Redfearn.

The Whites sit fourth-bottom and just two points above the Championship dropzone following six league games without a victory, for all that last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Bolton was a step in the right direction.

But United’s fans saw captain Stephen Warnock leave for Derby County on Friday - the same day that president Massimo Cellino’s appeal against being disqualified from owning United is being heard in London.

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Redfearn admits these are “difficult times” for Leeds but the head coach says United’s fans have been “different class” in a demanding season that has featured more downs than ups.

And the 49-year-old is longing to put a smile on United’s fans’ faces over the next four days - both at home to form side Birmingham City on Saturday and also when leaders Bournemouth visit Elland Road on Tuesday evening.

“The fans have been different class,” Redfearn said in his Thursday press conference.

“This is their football club and it will be for years and years and years.

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“I think they’ve shown a great loyalty to the club and it’s tough at the moment - it’s difficult for everybody concerned.

“But the fact is they have stuck with us and got behind the lads.

“They’ve been frustrated at times and naturally so - it’s a given right. But the bottom line is that we are trying to get it right.

“It’s difficult at the moment as regards the circumstances but I know what they want, I know what they are after and I know what pleases them.

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“It’s trying to get that across and get that consistency so that we can play how we want to play and give the supporters what they need but pick results up as well.”

Assessing how important the club’s fans would be this weekend, Redfearn admitted: “I think what’s important for us is that the performance has got to give them something to cheer about and we’ve got to warm them up.

“We’ve got to be a threat, we’ve got to show that we can score goals, we’ve got to defend well and we’ve got to compete.

“The one thing that is a given, that is definitely picked up on, is that these supporters like to associate themselves with sides that compete and battle and fight for the shirt. We’ve got to give them that on Saturday.”