Leeds United boss unhappy with ‘laboured’ display

Kalvin Phillips celebrates scoring on his home debut for Leeds United, with Charlie Taylor looking delighted for the youngster.

Leeds United head coach Neil Redfearn accused his players of lacking desire as they slumped to a third successive defeat in a tepid display against bogey side Cardiff City.

Neither side had much more than pride to play for as they stand in mid-table in the Sky Bet Championship, but the Whites were the ones found wanting in front of their own fans with Cardiff supporters boycotting the game and were jeered off after a 2-1 defeat.

Teenager Kalvin Phillips did score on his home debut, but Leeds’ dreadful record against the Welsh side continued and they have now failed to beat Cardiff in 17 matches stretching right back to 1984.

Sean Morrison took advantage of hesitant home defending to put Cardiff into an early lead but Leeds quickly hit back when young midfielder Phillips calmly finished after Cardiff keeper David Marshall slipped.

United failed to take advantage of their luck as they lived dangerously before Aron Gunnarsson bagged a winner for the visitors in the second half.

Billy Sharp came close to earning an undeserved point for the Whites after coming on as substitute for the out of sorts Mirco Antenucci as he sent a header crashing against the crossbar. Gaetano Berardi then saw a shot saved by Marshall, but Marco Silvestri was the busier of the two keepers and Leeds rarely put their game together.

Redfearn felt his side got what they deserved and reckoned the fans had every right to vent their feelings at the end.

He said: “I thought we were poor.

“We probably had more possession than them, but didn’t really do anything with it.

“I thought our passing was laboured and as the game wore on, it was littered with mistakes and it was difficult to explain really.