Roofe: Preston defeat summed up Leeds United's season of failure

LEEDS UNITED forward Kemar Roofe has admitted the current campaign has been a failure, saying the Whites are guilty of 'spoiling' things and that this year's squad 'should be doing better than we are.'
Kemar RoofeKemar Roofe
Kemar Roofe

Roofe returned to the Whites XI following a recent calf injury for Tuesday night’s Championship clash at Preston North End in which the striker netted after 13 minutes to put Leeds 1-0 up.

But United then crumbled after the interval en route to a 3-1 defeat and Roofe admitted the loss at Deepdale typified his side’s season as a whole.

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Tuesday night’s defeat was United’s 18th Championship loss of the season with the Whites lumbering down in 14th and now 14 points off the top six with just four games left to go.

Chairman and owner Andrea Radrizzani set United the clear goal of finishing in the top six this term having narrowly missed a play-offs place when finishing seventh under Garry Monk last year.

“We should be doing better than we are,” said Roofe, who made no attempt to use United’s current widespread injury problems as an excuse.

“Obviously our plan was promotion this season and we haven’t got that so we have failed. But we have still got a few games to go and we need to end the season on a high or on a positive at least.

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“We are upset that we can’t really get in the play-offs but we have got to end the season on a high and at the end of the day we have got to prove ourselves for next season as well.

People that are serious about playing and want to keep improving, you want to give it your all, 100 per cent and first and foremost you have got to do your own performance and help the team that way.”

Reflecting on Tuesday night’s loss at Deepdale in which the striker netted his 13th goal of the season, Roofe admitted: “I think it was just the story of the season so far. There are good spells in the games and then we always end up spoiling it.

“Everyone is disappointed, everyone is angry and sad as at the end of the day we want to get three points and we want to win every game.”

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Roofe also admitted that United’s fans had every right to feel upset and disappointed with this season, with Roofe also unhappy despite having already netted ten more goals than his tally of three last term.

He admitted: “It’s been disappointing because we have not made the play-offs or been promoted.

“I have scored 13 goals this season compared to the three goals last season so I’m fairly happy with what I have achieved this season.

“I’m just obviously a bit disappointed in not making the play-offs or promotion.”

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Asked if he could understand the anger and upset felt by the club’s fans, the forward said: “Of course they are upset and they have every right to be.

“They want promotion, the same as us, and we haven’t got promotion.

“We are hurting so they will hurt as well.

“But they keep coming and watching us every week and supporting us which is massive. It’s hard to get.”