Defensive steel pleases Redfearn - Head coach delighted with another clean sheet
leedsunited.com 16/3/15
Neil Redfearn was full of praise for how his side defended in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Both teams had chances in either half in front of an impressive 30,772 Elland Road crowd, but there proved to be no way through as the spoils were shared between two of the division’s in-form clubs.
United have now kept five clean-sheets from their last eight Championship outings, something which has particularly pleased the head coach in recent weeks.
"I thought we looked good at the back," Redfearn said of Saturday’s draw. "We defended well when we had to.
"I thought Scott Wootton was outstanding against Antonio because he’s a real handful.
"I thought on two or three times he had him in difficult situations and he handled it really well.
"We talked about Sol covering him when he knocked it into the grass and ran because he’s got blistering pace. I thought they worked it out between them really well.
"Then there was Steve Morison on the right, out of position, but he offered something at the back stick with balls in from Charlie Taylor.
"I’m pleased with the midfield again, I thought they were really good when Forest tried to do something.
"We rotated around and got players on the ball. So I’m pleased, we just needed a little bit of quality at times in the final third to get over the line and get the win."
Redfearn also hailed the contribution Steve Morison and gave his backing to the forward, who occupied a somewhat unfamiliar role on the right wing for the second game in succession.
"He’s doing a job for us out there," said the head coach.
"It’s not his natural position – he’s a centre-forward – but he’s mucked in. He did it at Wigan for us and never quibbled, he’s got on with it and worked hard.
"He worked hard again on Saturday. We changed it around and nobody batted an eyelid – they just got on with it.
"We changed it around and tried to win it, everybody accepts that, but, for whatever reason, it just didn’t quite happen for us in front of goal.
"He’s got my backing, he knows that. He knows I’m on his side.
"He knows I think he’s playing well and that I respect him as a professional. He’s been good and he’s been a big part of this turnaround for us.
"We’ve used him in various roles – as a lone striker and now working up and down the right to do a job while we get people fit. He’s mucked in and he’s a good professional."
Neil Redfearn was full of praise for how his side defended in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Both teams had chances in either half in front of an impressive 30,772 Elland Road crowd, but there proved to be no way through as the spoils were shared between two of the division’s in-form clubs.
United have now kept five clean-sheets from their last eight Championship outings, something which has particularly pleased the head coach in recent weeks.
"I thought we looked good at the back," Redfearn said of Saturday’s draw. "We defended well when we had to.
"I thought Scott Wootton was outstanding against Antonio because he’s a real handful.
"I thought on two or three times he had him in difficult situations and he handled it really well.
"We talked about Sol covering him when he knocked it into the grass and ran because he’s got blistering pace. I thought they worked it out between them really well.
"Then there was Steve Morison on the right, out of position, but he offered something at the back stick with balls in from Charlie Taylor.
"I’m pleased with the midfield again, I thought they were really good when Forest tried to do something.
"We rotated around and got players on the ball. So I’m pleased, we just needed a little bit of quality at times in the final third to get over the line and get the win."
Redfearn also hailed the contribution Steve Morison and gave his backing to the forward, who occupied a somewhat unfamiliar role on the right wing for the second game in succession.
"He’s doing a job for us out there," said the head coach.
"It’s not his natural position – he’s a centre-forward – but he’s mucked in. He did it at Wigan for us and never quibbled, he’s got on with it and worked hard.
"He worked hard again on Saturday. We changed it around and nobody batted an eyelid – they just got on with it.
"We changed it around and tried to win it, everybody accepts that, but, for whatever reason, it just didn’t quite happen for us in front of goal.
"He’s got my backing, he knows that. He knows I’m on his side.
"He knows I think he’s playing well and that I respect him as a professional. He’s been good and he’s been a big part of this turnaround for us.
"We’ve used him in various roles – as a lone striker and now working up and down the right to do a job while we get people fit. He’s mucked in and he’s a good professional."