Redfearn praises ruthless United
leedsunited.com 19/3/15
Neil Redfearn praised the “ruthless” streak in his side following Wednesday night’s 3-0 win away to Fulham, despite admitting United were second-best in the first half.
Goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci secured the three points at Craven Cottage, where the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Konstantinos Stafylidis was shown two yellow cards.
Fulham spurned numerous chances, particularly inside the opening 45 minutes, but United dug in to clinch a biggest away victory of the season so far.
Redfearn said: "Even at 3-0, they were still breaking down the sides and still getting balls into the box. Big Matt Smith was a handful, he had two or three chances that he could have scored.
"But Marco was making the saves and we got bodies in the box. When we went down the other end, we were ruthless.
"I thought they were the better side in the first half, they had the better chances.
"I thought we were a little bit deep and we never got after the midfield. They needed a rocket at half-time.
"I think they knew it was coming because they know how I am, but the first goal just deflated them.
"I thought we really had to tough it out, and we did. We really worked hard. By working hard, we’re finding that little bit of luck again.
"Marco made two or three outstanding saves which kept the game at nil but, as the game wore on, we just got better and better. It finished three but it could have been anything – it could have been six."
Antenucci stepped off the bench to wrap things up with United’s third of the night and his ninth of the season two minutes from time, something which particularly pleased Redfearn.
"We’ve got a real togetherness about us," said the head coach.
"I’m pleased for Mirco tonight, he came off the bench and got his goal.
"I explained to him before about coming on and playing in different positions for us because we play a little bit differently now.
"We play with one up front and attack from wide. He’s got to occupy all positions and he’s getting his head around that.
"He came on tonight, buzzed about and looked bright. He took his goal really well."
Neil Redfearn praised the “ruthless” streak in his side following Wednesday night’s 3-0 win away to Fulham, despite admitting United were second-best in the first half.
Goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci secured the three points at Craven Cottage, where the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Konstantinos Stafylidis was shown two yellow cards.
Fulham spurned numerous chances, particularly inside the opening 45 minutes, but United dug in to clinch a biggest away victory of the season so far.
Redfearn said: "Even at 3-0, they were still breaking down the sides and still getting balls into the box. Big Matt Smith was a handful, he had two or three chances that he could have scored.
"But Marco was making the saves and we got bodies in the box. When we went down the other end, we were ruthless.
"I thought they were the better side in the first half, they had the better chances.
"I thought we were a little bit deep and we never got after the midfield. They needed a rocket at half-time.
"I think they knew it was coming because they know how I am, but the first goal just deflated them.
"I thought we really had to tough it out, and we did. We really worked hard. By working hard, we’re finding that little bit of luck again.
"Marco made two or three outstanding saves which kept the game at nil but, as the game wore on, we just got better and better. It finished three but it could have been anything – it could have been six."
Antenucci stepped off the bench to wrap things up with United’s third of the night and his ninth of the season two minutes from time, something which particularly pleased Redfearn.
"We’ve got a real togetherness about us," said the head coach.
"I’m pleased for Mirco tonight, he came off the bench and got his goal.
"I explained to him before about coming on and playing in different positions for us because we play a little bit differently now.
"We play with one up front and attack from wide. He’s got to occupy all positions and he’s getting his head around that.
"He came on tonight, buzzed about and looked bright. He took his goal really well."