Burnley 2 Leeds United 1: McDermott frustrated by Clarets’ fightback
Yorkshire Post 20/3/14
LEEDS United manager Brian McDermott watched his side’s terrible run of results continue at promotion-chasing Burnley and insisted: “We were the better side.”
Ross McCormack opened the scoring as Leeds threatened to hand the Clarets their first taste of home league defeat this season, but Jason Pearce headed into his own net to level the scores and Scott Arfield drilled home on 67 minutes to hand Burnley all three points.
Leeds had lost their previous two matches 5-1 and 4-2 in front of their own fans, dashing any slim chances they may have had of forcing a way into the play-offs.
McDermott, under pressure to halt the slide ahead of the completion of Massimo Cellino’s takeover, was left frustrated that his side did not get what he felt they deserved. “It was an improvement but we are desperately disappointed not to have won the game never mind drawn it,” McDermott said.
“First half I felt we were the better side and we played how you have to play in this league. Unfortunately we gave a couple of goals away which is disappointing but, having said, that we were much better than we have been in the last two games.
“We got behind them and put them under a lot of pressure. We got to the second balls but from my point of view we didn’t get a result and that is the be-all or end -all.
“Sean Dyche has done an unbelievably good job here as he did at Watford where he was unlucky to lose his job.
“I am pleased for him and you can see the camaraderie that they have here. You have to have that camaraderie and togetherness to be top of the league and that is what we are trying to get.”
Dyche wants his Burnley side to maintain belief during their promotion push.
“I have told the lads they can achieve anything,” he said. “I have told them they have to be relentless and I thought yet again, when things weren’t going our way, we just kept going.
“We can play better but we still looked a threat. It is one game at a time as we know the division is relentless so we have to be relentless in our performances to win the league.”
After being denied by a post, McCormack headed Leeds in front after Matt Smith had flicked on Connor Wickham’s throw-in.
But when Pearce put Kieran Trippier’s cross past his own goalkeeper things went from bad to worse for Leeds after the break as Arfield grabbed a winner.
Leeds pushed for an equaliser, but one was not forthcoming and they slipped to a sixth game without a win.
LEEDS United manager Brian McDermott watched his side’s terrible run of results continue at promotion-chasing Burnley and insisted: “We were the better side.”
Ross McCormack opened the scoring as Leeds threatened to hand the Clarets their first taste of home league defeat this season, but Jason Pearce headed into his own net to level the scores and Scott Arfield drilled home on 67 minutes to hand Burnley all three points.
Leeds had lost their previous two matches 5-1 and 4-2 in front of their own fans, dashing any slim chances they may have had of forcing a way into the play-offs.
McDermott, under pressure to halt the slide ahead of the completion of Massimo Cellino’s takeover, was left frustrated that his side did not get what he felt they deserved. “It was an improvement but we are desperately disappointed not to have won the game never mind drawn it,” McDermott said.
“First half I felt we were the better side and we played how you have to play in this league. Unfortunately we gave a couple of goals away which is disappointing but, having said, that we were much better than we have been in the last two games.
“We got behind them and put them under a lot of pressure. We got to the second balls but from my point of view we didn’t get a result and that is the be-all or end -all.
“Sean Dyche has done an unbelievably good job here as he did at Watford where he was unlucky to lose his job.
“I am pleased for him and you can see the camaraderie that they have here. You have to have that camaraderie and togetherness to be top of the league and that is what we are trying to get.”
Dyche wants his Burnley side to maintain belief during their promotion push.
“I have told the lads they can achieve anything,” he said. “I have told them they have to be relentless and I thought yet again, when things weren’t going our way, we just kept going.
“We can play better but we still looked a threat. It is one game at a time as we know the division is relentless so we have to be relentless in our performances to win the league.”
After being denied by a post, McCormack headed Leeds in front after Matt Smith had flicked on Connor Wickham’s throw-in.
But when Pearce put Kieran Trippier’s cross past his own goalkeeper things went from bad to worse for Leeds after the break as Arfield grabbed a winner.
Leeds pushed for an equaliser, but one was not forthcoming and they slipped to a sixth game without a win.