Leeds United 2 Millwall 1: We let United off hook, moans Holloway
Yorkshire Post 22/3/14Millwall manager Ian Holloway criticised Leeds’s handling of their current ownership crisis after seeing his side lose 2-1 at Elland Road.
First-half goals from Matt Smith and Ross McCormack gave Brian McDermott’s Leeds a first win in seven games to brighten a week when Massimo Cellino’s prospective takeover was plunged into doubt after the Italian was found guilty of evading tax payments on his luxury yacht.
Rumours of administration continue to circle round Elland Road while the club remain in limbo, with current owners Gulf Finance House Capital having this week written to the Football League urging them to approve Cellino’s takeover.
As a result it appeared Leeds were there for the taking, and a furious Holloway let rip after his side failed to cash in, directing his ire at the Leeds hierarchy and his own players.
Defeat leaves Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone, and afterwards Holloway said: “They [Leeds] were on their knees.
“I’ve never sensed this place like that. They need to back their manager, get their life sorted out.
“They’re a wonderful club but that ain’t right.
“Stop causing havoc, support your manager who’s a great bloke, and sort your life out.
“I’ve never been to Leeds and they (have) felt that wobbly. And that hurts, because they were there, and they slipped out the bag.”
Former Reading boss McDermott is also keen to have his club’s future sorted out as soon as possible, with the Football League still to make a decision about whether or not Cellino passes its owners and directors test.
“We’re fighting for our lives as a club with the ownership situation,” he said.
“We want to get it sorted out as quickly as possible.
“We’ve had a run of form that has been difficult to say the least, but you have to remember how many young players are in this team.
“We needed to win and we’re delighted that we’ve hung on.
“We need an owner that really wants to carry this club forward and that’s the most important thing.
“This place is uncertain; fans pick up on it, players do and staff do.
“We want the uncertainty to go away and once we’ve got a decision and the owner comes in and someone who has got clout and can carry us forward, it gives us a chance to put this club back to where it belongs.”
The away side made the brighter start, but were made to pay for their failure to convert pressure into goals.
Leeds had shown little threat when Connor Wickham launched a long through into the box, and Smith’s well-placed header gave him a 10th league goal of the season.
McCormack was denied when his 35th-minute header from an Alex Mowatt free-kick was scrambled behind, but the former Cardiff man had his 25th league goal of the campaign six minutes later.
A crunching Tom Lees tackle in his own half sent the ball into space down the right flank, and the Championship’s top scorer cut in unopposed before slotting a low effort between David Forde’s legs.
Substitute DJ Campbell did pull one back for the Lions in the 72nd minute with a 25-yard screamer into the top corner, but Millwall were unable to force an equaliser.