United's players came in for stark criticism from their manager last night following an unconvincing performance in their penultimate pre-season friendly at the Darlington Arena.

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McAllister fielded a strong line-up against last season's League Two play-off semi-finalists and gave run-outs to all four of his summer signings, including debutant striker Robert Snodgrass, but he refused to mask his frustration after a game of few chances ended in stalemate.

McAllister said: "It wasn't very entertaining and I'm glad I got a free ticket because I wouldn't have liked to pay for that. I can't defend (the performance) at all. It was poor. If I'm looking for something to take from that then there wasn't a great deal.

"Although we kept a clean sheet, they had the better chances and I'm glad we've got that performance out of the way before the real stuff starts.

"These are the guys who are trying to impress me and get in that starting XI. It wasn't enough. Of course it changes things and I just hope that the people who didn't start were looking at it and thinking about where they lie."

Last night's outing fulfilled the sixth and final away match arranged by McAllister this summer, and Leeds will complete their pre-season schedule at home to FCV Dender at Elland Road on Saturday before beginning the 2008-09 League One campaign at Scunthorpe United seven days later.

McAllister, who hopes to complete the signing of Argentinian striker Luciano Becchio on a free transfer from Spanish club Merida UD in the next 24 hours, has seen his squad negotiate their pre-season schedule so far without defeat, but he held an extended discussion with the club's players in their dressing room at the Darlington Arena after full-time last night.

"We've had a good chat in that dressing room," he said. "We know the standards.

"Teams are going to try and frustrate us like Darlington did, and this is what it's going to be like. It's not going to be easy.

"We're better than that and we know we're better than that. Come the game at Elland Road on Saturday, we want to show that we can perform a lot better.

"Attitude is massive in games like this and although Darlington are in a division below us, they've got a lovely stadium and the pitch is beautiful.

"We don't have any excuses. Apart from David Prutton, I don't think anybody comes out of it looking good at all.

"It's comes as a surprise to me because things have been bobbing along not too badly.

"We know we're favourites (next season) and we're going to be under pressure. Teams are going to frustrate us and put men behind the ball but we've got to show more bottle. The players accept that.

"We'll chat about it in the next couple of days, but the pressure starts to come on us from now."

Becchio watched last night's goalless draw from the stands, having featured in United's friendlies against Shelbourne and Barnet, and the 24-year-old striker's transfer to Elland Road is now on the verge of completion.

"We should be sorted in the next couple of days, and we just need the international clearance," said McAllister. "The little formalities of the signing should be all done and dusted, hopefully by Thursday."

United's manager, meanwhile, confirmed that he is interested in bringing Dougie Freedman back to Elland Road admitting the striker is "still a player on our minds".

Freedman is under contract for another season with Crystal Palace but is not certain of a first-team role under Neil Warnock next term, and he revealed to the YEP last month that he would make a decision on his future after his testimonial with Palace, which was staged at Selhurst Park last night.

But United's hopes of signing Liverpool striker Krisztian Nemeth on loan appear to have faded after the Hungarian's agent ruled out the possibility of a temporary switch from Anfield to Elland Road.