McDermott moving on from United's festive frustrations
leedsunited.com 2/1/14
Brian McDermott gives his verdict on the New Year’s Day defeat…
Brian McDermott will be putting a frustrating festive period behind him as his side look to increase the pressure on the Championship's leading pack in 2014.
The New Year's Day defeat at the hands of Blackburn saw United's first home defeat since September, but with just two points from a possible 12 over the Christmas period it compounded a frustrating run for the side.
“The game against Blackburn was similar to the first half against Forest,” said the boss. “We didn’t really get out of the blocks at all and that was disappointing.
“I made a change at half time and we got ourselves back into the game.
“Alex Mowatt hit the bar when it could have been 2-2. It is fair to say that the last couple of games have been disappointing results.
“Everyone is in the same boat so you don’t want to make an excuse about fatigue, there is no point and it’s not right.
“We are eighth in the league and the boys have done well to get us where we are and we need to kick on.”
Without a win during the Christmas period the manager admits that his side haven’t looked as solid and this is something that he will be addressing.
“At Blackpool we should have won the game,” said the manager. “We conceded a goal when we were pretty comfortable.
“In the last two games we haven’t looked as solid as we have in the past for whatever reason.
“We need to address that but what I can say is that the players that we have got here are doing everything they can.”
The United boss refused to criticise referee Anthony Taylor and said that we will look no further than his own team when it comes to improving.
“There were a lot of bookings and I don’t know where they were coming from,” added the boss. “There was a couple of penalty appeals from Blackburn and looking back at one of them it looked a decent tackle.
“Ross McCormack was brought down and that is when the fracas started. The defender raised his leg but obviously the referee didn’t see it.
“It was nothing to do with the referee on Wednesday. We will look at Leeds United and what we need to do to improve.”
This weekend sees a welcome distraction as United head to Rochdale for the third round of this season’s FA Cup.
“I’m pleased that it is the FA Cup this weekend,” he said. “I think that it is good. It gives us a chance to freshen up and we have to have that chance.”
Brian McDermott gives his verdict on the New Year’s Day defeat…
Brian McDermott will be putting a frustrating festive period behind him as his side look to increase the pressure on the Championship's leading pack in 2014.
The New Year's Day defeat at the hands of Blackburn saw United's first home defeat since September, but with just two points from a possible 12 over the Christmas period it compounded a frustrating run for the side.
“The game against Blackburn was similar to the first half against Forest,” said the boss. “We didn’t really get out of the blocks at all and that was disappointing.
“I made a change at half time and we got ourselves back into the game.
“Alex Mowatt hit the bar when it could have been 2-2. It is fair to say that the last couple of games have been disappointing results.
“Everyone is in the same boat so you don’t want to make an excuse about fatigue, there is no point and it’s not right.
“We are eighth in the league and the boys have done well to get us where we are and we need to kick on.”
Without a win during the Christmas period the manager admits that his side haven’t looked as solid and this is something that he will be addressing.
“At Blackpool we should have won the game,” said the manager. “We conceded a goal when we were pretty comfortable.
“In the last two games we haven’t looked as solid as we have in the past for whatever reason.
“We need to address that but what I can say is that the players that we have got here are doing everything they can.”
The United boss refused to criticise referee Anthony Taylor and said that we will look no further than his own team when it comes to improving.
“There were a lot of bookings and I don’t know where they were coming from,” added the boss. “There was a couple of penalty appeals from Blackburn and looking back at one of them it looked a decent tackle.
“Ross McCormack was brought down and that is when the fracas started. The defender raised his leg but obviously the referee didn’t see it.
“It was nothing to do with the referee on Wednesday. We will look at Leeds United and what we need to do to improve.”
This weekend sees a welcome distraction as United head to Rochdale for the third round of this season’s FA Cup.
“I’m pleased that it is the FA Cup this weekend,” he said. “I think that it is good. It gives us a chance to freshen up and we have to have that chance.”
