Barnsley v Leeds United: Warnock defends his Elland Road tenure after wretched Reds loss
Yorkshire Evening Post 12/1/13
UNDER-FIRE Leeds United boss Neil Warnock mounted a defiant defence of his Elland Road tenure after receiving a volley of criticism from disgruntled travelling fans after the Whites’ slumped to a 2-0 loss at Barnsley.
Warnock was left with the chants of ‘Warnock, time to go’ ringing in his ears from the furious near 5,000-strong visiting contingent after United became the first side to lose at Oakwell in the league since September 1.
It was United’s fourth away reverse in a row - and fourth successive poor performance with supporters making their feelings known in no uncertain terms at the end.
Leeds have lost 5-2, 4-1 and 2-0 on their last three visits to Barnsley - albeit two of them under Simon Grayson - and ensured another day to well and truly forget at Oakwell.
Warnock tried to placate fans by bringing a laptop to his post-match press conference and showing an incident he thought should have earned Barnsley’s Stephen Dawson a red card - a foul on Ross McCormack - but did admit his men were not up to the job.
“We were very poor in the first half and if I had have been one of the 5,000, I might have said what they were,” Warnock conceded.
“I thought we had some great chances at the start of the second half and then there was a horrendous tackle from (Stephen) Dawson. How that’s not a red card I don’t know.”
Warnock fought back against the crowd’s claims he should go, however, insisting he was doing the best he could.
He added: “You can’t blame the fans... they pay their money.
“But I think I’m doing a great job if I’m honest and with one or two additions that I’ve got lined up... I understand their disappointment, but we know we need to strengthen.”
Warnock also issued a warning note to Leeds’ fans about the future of 19-goal striker Luciano Becchio. His assistant, Mick Jones, last week said he expected bids to arrive for the Argentinean and Warnock said: “His head wasn’t right and that’s why the transfer window is such a nightmare for managers. I’ll be having a word with him.”
UNDER-FIRE Leeds United boss Neil Warnock mounted a defiant defence of his Elland Road tenure after receiving a volley of criticism from disgruntled travelling fans after the Whites’ slumped to a 2-0 loss at Barnsley.
Warnock was left with the chants of ‘Warnock, time to go’ ringing in his ears from the furious near 5,000-strong visiting contingent after United became the first side to lose at Oakwell in the league since September 1.
It was United’s fourth away reverse in a row - and fourth successive poor performance with supporters making their feelings known in no uncertain terms at the end.
Leeds have lost 5-2, 4-1 and 2-0 on their last three visits to Barnsley - albeit two of them under Simon Grayson - and ensured another day to well and truly forget at Oakwell.
Warnock tried to placate fans by bringing a laptop to his post-match press conference and showing an incident he thought should have earned Barnsley’s Stephen Dawson a red card - a foul on Ross McCormack - but did admit his men were not up to the job.
“We were very poor in the first half and if I had have been one of the 5,000, I might have said what they were,” Warnock conceded.
“I thought we had some great chances at the start of the second half and then there was a horrendous tackle from (Stephen) Dawson. How that’s not a red card I don’t know.”
Warnock fought back against the crowd’s claims he should go, however, insisting he was doing the best he could.
He added: “You can’t blame the fans... they pay their money.
“But I think I’m doing a great job if I’m honest and with one or two additions that I’ve got lined up... I understand their disappointment, but we know we need to strengthen.”
Warnock also issued a warning note to Leeds’ fans about the future of 19-goal striker Luciano Becchio. His assistant, Mick Jones, last week said he expected bids to arrive for the Argentinean and Warnock said: “His head wasn’t right and that’s why the transfer window is such a nightmare for managers. I’ll be having a word with him.”