Leeds United were nervy and were not 'brave' enough on the ball against Manchester City, insists Jesse Marsch

United competed well enough in the first period, but lacked fluidity and calmness on the ball with City, despite several misses from Jack Grealish and the poise of Ilan Meslier in denying Erling Haaland in particular, showing a propensity not to panic, by comparison.

The opener arrived moments before the break from Rodri and Haaland, playing in the city of his birth, capitalised on a slack defensive play from Liam Cooper and Robin Koch to put the visitors 2-0 up early in the second half.

The Norway international subsequently added his 20th Premier League goal since his summer arrival before Leeds rallied and pulled one back through Pascal Struijk with further chances arriving for substitute Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood.

At the other end, Haaland failed to clinch his hat-trick on a night when Kalvin Phillips was an unused substitute on the bench against his hometown club.

Offering his take, Marsch, whose side have now conceded 14 goals to City in their last three encounters, said: "In the first half, we were stable defensively and won a lot of balls. But because we were a little nervy, we were so quick to just give it away.

"That was going to be the message at half-time. They were having a hard time to break us down with the tactics of what we were trying to do against the ball.

"But we could stay on the ball... I showed a few scenes when we won balls, they weren't pressuring us from behind and we had more time than we thought.

"If we were able to get in the second half and do that better, then maybe, at 0-0, we could find ourselves in the match. Obviously, the second goal was a tough mistake and made the match that bit harder.

"However, then you saw us coming into the game more. And part of being brave is at two or three-nil, then you know you have nothing to lose.

"But I really wanted to see us play like that from the beginning where we were brave on the ball and making good dynamic movements with the ball and trying to unbalance them as much as they were trying to unbalance us.

"But obviously, there was a quality issue in the match. They are very good and have a lot of good players and we wanted it to be a bit of a battle of attrition.

"It's about understanding roles and connections and even in their tight spaces and they are pressing us that we know what the next options are and the connections are clearer and the decisions on the ball and calmness to make the next play is better."

Leeds, who find themselves in 15th place, visit Newcastle on Saturday, with the Magpies dropping to third following City's win.