Mac hails new Whites skipper Austin
YEP 12/8/13
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott paid tribute to “special” Rodolph Austin after a man-of-the-match performance from Leeds United’s new captain protected their unbeaten record at Leicester City.
McDermott confirmed the identity of his skipper for this season by handing the armband to Austin ahead of kick-off yesterday and an influential display from the midfielder on his first outing of the term underpinned a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
A game of few chances at the KP Stadium ended in stalemate and McDermott and Leicester manager Nigel Pearson were content with a result which left both teams undefeated after two Championship matches.
McDermott took the bold decision to field Austin in place of Michael Tonge, dropping a player who shone against Brighton eight days earlier, and the Jamaica international took the armband from Lee Peltier to settle the debate about who would lead United through the campaign.
A suspension which ruled Austin out of both the Brighton clash and last week’s League Cup win over Chesterfield ended ahead of yesterday’s visit to Leicester and Austin marked his return with a dominant outing as Leeds claimed a fourth Championship point.
McDermott said: “He was terrific. I put him in the centre of the pitch and made him captain and he led the team very well. He’s a special person.
“I see the way he conducts himself in training and he trains every day like it’s his last. He was suspended for two games at the start of the season but he was always in the dressing room, supporting the players.
“He wants the lads around him to do well. He got man-of-the-match and said ‘this is for everybody’. That’s the kind of lad he is.
“But this isn’t a reflection on Lee Peltier because Lee was excellent when I told him on Saturday. He played really well too.”
A modest Austin admitted that he had taken time to consider McDermott’s offer of the captaincy, saying: “On Friday morning the gaffer sent someone to call me into his office. It was such an honour and I was very shocked.
“I told him that I needed to think about it because it was a big challenge.
“I didn’t want to just jump and make a decision. But he insisted I should take it.
“The main thing for me is that it feels good to be out there playing again – and it was wonderful point away from home.”
McDermott was equally happy to take a draw from the KP Stadium, despite Matt Smith almost snatching victory with an injury-time header which former Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel turned into the side-netting.
Leicester had gone close themselves nine minutes earlier when Chris Wood struck the foot of a post.
McDermott said: “It was a fair result.
“Away from home or at home you try to win each game but I’d imagine they’d take the point as well as we would.
“There wasn’t too much goalmouth action and the two teams had obviously done their homework on each other but that’s how it is sometimes and sometimes you can nick a game like that right at the death.
“We nearly did. But we take the point and the clean sheet.
“That’s four points so far and it’s great.
“It’s nice to get off to a good start.”
McDermott admitted after full-time that his well-publicised pursuit of a potential fourth summer signing was dead, with the player’s club no longer willing to sell him. But the Leeds boss said: “We’re trying to do another deal as we speak.”
Brian McDermott paid tribute to “special” Rodolph Austin after a man-of-the-match performance from Leeds United’s new captain protected their unbeaten record at Leicester City.
McDermott confirmed the identity of his skipper for this season by handing the armband to Austin ahead of kick-off yesterday and an influential display from the midfielder on his first outing of the term underpinned a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
A game of few chances at the KP Stadium ended in stalemate and McDermott and Leicester manager Nigel Pearson were content with a result which left both teams undefeated after two Championship matches.
McDermott took the bold decision to field Austin in place of Michael Tonge, dropping a player who shone against Brighton eight days earlier, and the Jamaica international took the armband from Lee Peltier to settle the debate about who would lead United through the campaign.
A suspension which ruled Austin out of both the Brighton clash and last week’s League Cup win over Chesterfield ended ahead of yesterday’s visit to Leicester and Austin marked his return with a dominant outing as Leeds claimed a fourth Championship point.
McDermott said: “He was terrific. I put him in the centre of the pitch and made him captain and he led the team very well. He’s a special person.
“I see the way he conducts himself in training and he trains every day like it’s his last. He was suspended for two games at the start of the season but he was always in the dressing room, supporting the players.
“He wants the lads around him to do well. He got man-of-the-match and said ‘this is for everybody’. That’s the kind of lad he is.
“But this isn’t a reflection on Lee Peltier because Lee was excellent when I told him on Saturday. He played really well too.”
A modest Austin admitted that he had taken time to consider McDermott’s offer of the captaincy, saying: “On Friday morning the gaffer sent someone to call me into his office. It was such an honour and I was very shocked.
“I told him that I needed to think about it because it was a big challenge.
“I didn’t want to just jump and make a decision. But he insisted I should take it.
“The main thing for me is that it feels good to be out there playing again – and it was wonderful point away from home.”
McDermott was equally happy to take a draw from the KP Stadium, despite Matt Smith almost snatching victory with an injury-time header which former Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel turned into the side-netting.
Leicester had gone close themselves nine minutes earlier when Chris Wood struck the foot of a post.
McDermott said: “It was a fair result.
“Away from home or at home you try to win each game but I’d imagine they’d take the point as well as we would.
“There wasn’t too much goalmouth action and the two teams had obviously done their homework on each other but that’s how it is sometimes and sometimes you can nick a game like that right at the death.
“We nearly did. But we take the point and the clean sheet.
“That’s four points so far and it’s great.
“It’s nice to get off to a good start.”
McDermott admitted after full-time that his well-publicised pursuit of a potential fourth summer signing was dead, with the player’s club no longer willing to sell him. But the Leeds boss said: “We’re trying to do another deal as we speak.”