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Leeds United: Tactics key to Bristol City triumph - Lonergan
Andy Lonergan.
Andy Lonergan hailed the tactical input of caretaker-boss Neil Redfearn in helping to mastermind Saturday’s eye-catching 3-0 win at Bristol City.
Circumstances may have massively conspired in United’s favour at Ashton Gate, with the Robins reduced to nine men following the dismissals of James Wilson and Yannick Bolasie, but United skipper Lonergan insists the foundations for the victory were built in the first half when it was 11 versus 11.
United drew the sting out of the hosts with a professional, if not exactly eye-catching, first-half performance in difficult conditions, which was based on containment and counterattacking when the opportunity arose.
It worked a treat, according to Lonergan, with United going onto express themselves in an attacking sense after the interval against the hosts who were two light from the 57th minute.
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On a dream start for caretaker-boss Redfearn – who stepped into the breach following Wednesday’s axing of Simon Grayson – Lonergan said: “Neil’s quality. He’s a top man. I played a couple of times for him in the reserves when I was coming back from my finger injury and he was just very positive. I’m pleased for him (with the result).
“We worked specifically on our game plan and went 1-0 up in the first half against 11 men and you could see we were planning on soaking up the pressure and showing them out wide and then attacking them and I think it worked.
“I think the first 35 to 40 minutes won us the game when we were solid.”
He added: “It was a difficult week. It’s never nice when these things go on, but that’s football, isn’t it? It’s happened before and you have got to move on and you can’t dwell on it. Some people might be over the moon (at the decision to dismiss Grayson), others might not be. Who knows?
“We were just in Thursday and Friday focusing on Bristol City and obviously a few circumstances helped us (on Saturday). But you can only beat what’s in front of you.
“Even at 1-0 up against nine men, I was still thinking: ‘We do need another.’ Because they were always going to get a chance and they got one.
“It was a pleasing victory in difficult conditions. It can kick us on, we had a very similar performance at Doncaster, albeit they didn’t have a man sent off. But we were very professional and kept the ball.
“I think we’ve got some great games to go on and win now. The result can set us up for the rest of the season.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
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whitewolf
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:21 AMmust have been very tough against 9 men,still 3 points is 3 points.aah well maybe the gods will smile on us and the ref sends off 4 against brighton.
Chris R
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:30 PMYorkshire Lad, You have said everything that i was going to say!!! don't you just get sick to death of been patronized by playersmanagerboard who speak absolute nonsense at each and every opportunity. Not once in the game on Saturday did Leeds United control anything, i would have to say we would have lost has we played against a full Bristol side that were dominant throughout the game, even when they were down to 9 men we found our selves on the back foot... Lonergan had a good game for a change (was that his first clean sheet) and i still don't understand why he is the Captain... there is still so much wrong with this squad, and i doubt Redfearn is the man to turn things around...... lets see what happens on Saturday.....MOT
SOMERSETBAZ
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:28 PMWELL SAID YORKSHIRE LAD. Like I said earlier, show us and beat Brighton Saturday then we might start thinking - maybe. But players don't become good or bad players over night and the players we do have are not good enough and on this season to date confirms that.
Yorkshire Lad
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:54 AMTotal nonsense from Lonergan. We could have been 2 to 3 down before we scored. Bristol had all the play, so please don't patronise us with tactics talk. Would we have won 11 v 11 ? Who can tell, but beating 9 men for 33 mins is hardly down to tactics? Or, did NR work his tactics around a 9 man Bristol team ? C'mon Lonergan the outfield player's have been poor or average since Burnley, WHY ? Never mind using SG as an excuse, you player's need to look at yourselves. Personaly, I think alot of the player's are lazy and feel that turning up on match day's is sufficent. If you don't believe me, then look at LU's performances since the Burnley game. Crikey, the last five game you have played against 10 me. You lot need a Wilko from the 80's who kicked them all up the backside. Thousands of pounds aweek you lot earn, your pathetic !
Fighting the consensus
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:26 AMWell Andy, you kept us in the game at one point but as to tactics, yep, if we can ask opposing teams [very nicely of course] to start with nine men maybe...........maybe. However, joking aside, there were little green shoots of something happening, 1, we've got a right back at last, 2; Fab is fab, whatever he does, the passing is there now and Adam looks like he has a partner in the midfield, sure makes a difference to his play. What we need now is a central defensive player to complement Tom.
belfastwhite
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:24 AMMight as well c out season with him he has dressing room we're not going up with this squad :( bates out
Marti
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:22 AMHave the players been asked to back Redfearn at every turn as he's getting the job anyway? It's the propaganda show at ER. It had less to do with tactics and more to do with the fact that the opposition were playing with 9 men for a large chunk of the game. And can the players call the manager 'boss' or similar, not 'Redders'? The last thing we need is a matey manager or 'one of the boys'. We need a proven manager with respect.
SOMERSETBAZ
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:57 AMAll this talk. If we don't beat Brighton on Saturday then forget it. Still not convinced we are good enough after Saturday's game as we can only improve if we had different and better players signed in the transfer window. Having a new manager I feel will not improve matters either so let Redfearn have the job and blend some youth through and see the season out. I hope I am wrong but this is Leeds United!!!!!!!
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