Varney: Leeds derby win was all Mac’s doing

Varney converted two second half headers to snatch a 2-1 win over Wednesday and drag Leeds away from relegation danger during McDermott’s first game in charge. The former Reading coach was unveiled as Neil Warnock’s replacement on Friday afternoon and he and his staff were a picture of delight after Leeds fought back from Jermaine Johnson’s first-half goal and averted a fifth straight Championship loss.

El-Hadji Diouf’s appearance as a second-half substitute helped to give United control in a lively Yorkshire derby but Varney acknowledged the impact of McDermott’s half-time team-talk after winning the game with a clinical brace. The winger said: “It’s known that he’s a very mild-mannered man and that helps. I was shouting my head off at half-time, just trying to get the lads going, but sometimes you don’t need that.

“This is what we probably haven’t had: a cool head telling us to calm down and play our football. For a manager to say ‘have no fear’ is music to my ears.

“It really helped to have a different voice in there, just to give a positive outlook on the game and to have a gaffer who was cool, calm and collected. None of us have worked under him before but we’ve seen already what he’s about.”

McDermott’s appointment came in time for him and his assistant, Nigel Gibbs, to take charge of Saturday’s clash, with caretaker boss Neil Redfearn reverting to a coaching role.

Leeds were without a victory in seven matches prior to the weekend and Varney said: “Under the old gaffer (Warnock) we were in a bit of a rut. We probably got too hooked up on the idea of getting the ball forward as quickly as we could. You’d like to think we’re okay now.

“We can start relaxing and play a bit of football.

“There’s too much in the dressing room to be where we are in the league and it’s ridiculous really.

“I suppose that’s why the fans are upset and I must admit the players are too.

“We don’t feel we deserve to be where we are but we got into bad habits and conceded late goals.

“That’s really cost us.”

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