Yorkshire Evening Post 8/3/12
Warnock’s happy with his defenders O’Dea and Lees
By Phil Hay
Leeds United boss Neil Warnock could call off his search for new centre-backs after giving a vote of confidence to current pairing Tom Lees and Darren O’Dea.
Warnock is considering sticking with Lees and O’Dea for the rest of the season on the back of their performances in his first three games as manager.
The 63-year-old planned to make changes to the centre of his defence after taking charge last month, and he recently expressed an interest in loaning Leicester City’s Matt Mills until the end of the season.
His hunt for fresh blood was encouraged by United’s poor defensive record but the club have leaked just one goal in their last three outings – conceded in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton – and Lees and O’Dea have played their part in clean sheets registered against Portsmouth and Hull City.
Warnock’s side are currently struggling to keep themselves in contention for play-off qualification, and the former Queens Park Rangers boss is expected to overhaul the squad at Elland Road if United are left planning for another Championship campaign this summer.
But Lees came in for special praise from Warnock after Tuesday night’s goalless draw with Hull and O’Dea also appears to have won his favour during the past two-and-a-half weeks.
“Young Lees was superb and he’s improved in every game,” Warnock said. “And apart from the goal on Saturday, Darren’s done everything I’ve asked of him. He got caught out for one goal but he’s done well.
“I’d like to (bring new players in) and I was after a centre-half but when I look at the two I’ve got at the moment, I don’t think I could get much better than that.”
Mills became available last month after a full-out with Leicester manager Nigel Pearson but Leeds were unable to secure a deal to bring him to Yorkshire for the rest of the Championship term.
The £5million defender has since been linked with a temporary transfer to Championship title contenders West Ham United while United are rumoured to have shown an interest in Portsmouth centre-back Jason Pearce.
Portsmouth are fighting administration and their perilous financial position could see departures from Fratton Park before the Football League’s emergency loan window closes in two weeks’ time.
But Warnock, who previously described his squad as “quite a bit short” of Championship’s leading clubs and has already signed two new players, seems willing to give much of his existing squad an extended chance to impress him.
Warnock claimed right-back Paul Connolly - out of favour under former boss Simon Grayson - had set the perfect example by turning in a solid display on his first start for more than two months against Hull.
“I might give everybody an opportunity,” Warnock said. “Look at someone like Paul Connolly. He’s grasped a shirt and now it’s his shirt to lose.
“He told me that he didn’t think he was ever going to play for the club again so it’s good to see someone like him doing well. I couldn’t fault his performance.”
Warnock’s happy with his defenders O’Dea and Lees
By Phil Hay
Leeds United boss Neil Warnock could call off his search for new centre-backs after giving a vote of confidence to current pairing Tom Lees and Darren O’Dea.
Warnock is considering sticking with Lees and O’Dea for the rest of the season on the back of their performances in his first three games as manager.
The 63-year-old planned to make changes to the centre of his defence after taking charge last month, and he recently expressed an interest in loaning Leicester City’s Matt Mills until the end of the season.
His hunt for fresh blood was encouraged by United’s poor defensive record but the club have leaked just one goal in their last three outings – conceded in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton – and Lees and O’Dea have played their part in clean sheets registered against Portsmouth and Hull City.
Warnock’s side are currently struggling to keep themselves in contention for play-off qualification, and the former Queens Park Rangers boss is expected to overhaul the squad at Elland Road if United are left planning for another Championship campaign this summer.
But Lees came in for special praise from Warnock after Tuesday night’s goalless draw with Hull and O’Dea also appears to have won his favour during the past two-and-a-half weeks.
“Young Lees was superb and he’s improved in every game,” Warnock said. “And apart from the goal on Saturday, Darren’s done everything I’ve asked of him. He got caught out for one goal but he’s done well.
“I’d like to (bring new players in) and I was after a centre-half but when I look at the two I’ve got at the moment, I don’t think I could get much better than that.”
Mills became available last month after a full-out with Leicester manager Nigel Pearson but Leeds were unable to secure a deal to bring him to Yorkshire for the rest of the Championship term.
The £5million defender has since been linked with a temporary transfer to Championship title contenders West Ham United while United are rumoured to have shown an interest in Portsmouth centre-back Jason Pearce.
Portsmouth are fighting administration and their perilous financial position could see departures from Fratton Park before the Football League’s emergency loan window closes in two weeks’ time.
But Warnock, who previously described his squad as “quite a bit short” of Championship’s leading clubs and has already signed two new players, seems willing to give much of his existing squad an extended chance to impress him.
Warnock claimed right-back Paul Connolly - out of favour under former boss Simon Grayson - had set the perfect example by turning in a solid display on his first start for more than two months against Hull.
“I might give everybody an opportunity,” Warnock said. “Look at someone like Paul Connolly. He’s grasped a shirt and now it’s his shirt to lose.
“He told me that he didn’t think he was ever going to play for the club again so it’s good to see someone like him doing well. I couldn’t fault his performance.”
