Leeds United: Whites showed character in victory over Robins '“ Bridcutt

Liam Bridcutt praised Leeds United for overcoming a poor first half and a barracking from the Elland Road crowd to end a run of five league games without a win on Saturday.
Souleymane Doukara celebrates his goal with manager Steve Evans.Souleymane Doukara celebrates his goal with manager Steve Evans.
Souleymane Doukara celebrates his goal with manager Steve Evans.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder said Leeds had shown “great character” to respond to back-to-back defeats against Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.

United were booed from the pitch at the end of a goalless first half – a period head coach Steve Evans compared to “being at the dentist” – but Souleymane Doukara’s 59th-minute goal inflicted a narrow defeat on managerless City.

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Leeds’ Championship campaign had lost momentum after trips to Portman Road and Hillsborough yielded no points but Bridcutt insisted there was still time for the season to “change quickly”, despite the table showing United down in 16th.

Bridcutt said: “We ground out three points and we knew beforehand that we had to win. It didn’t matter how we played. It wasn’t the greatest performance and it wasn’t the greatest to watch but it’s results that matter.

“I’m not too sure how the season will pan out. This is the Championship and a few wins can get you right up there. Likewise, a few defeats can drop you back down the table. We’ve come off the back of two defeats and won the game. It was a great show of character.

“Every game we go into, we have fight and desire. We set our standards so high that we want to win every game.

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“That’s the bottom line. The fans weren’t happy with how we played in the first half but they were happier when we got the result.”

City produced the better chances in the first half, with striker Jonathan Kodjia going close on two occasions, and Evans’ players were abused by a crowd of just over 20,000 as they left the field having failed to produce a shot on target.

Doukara’s goal, his third in four games, improved the mood and Leeds held on for a narrow win after Aden Flint missed a glorious chance to equalise late on.

Bridcutt said: “Personally I don’t take notice (of fans booing). I’ve witnessed it before. It’s part and parcel of football.

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“It doesn’t help some of the young players, those who are inexperienced. It can knock their confidence so at half-time I said to the boys ‘don’t take any notice, just keep doing what we’re doing and you’ll get the result.’”