ENDEAVOUR CLEAR BUT QUALITY ABSENT - EVANS

ENDEAVOUR CLEAR BUT QUALITY ABSENT - EVANS

The head coach reflects on Saturday defeat to Rotherham...

Steve Evans felt his side showed "plenty of endeavour" but ultimately paid the price for not taking their chances in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Rotherham United.

Alex Mowatt was denied by a fine save from Lee Camp inside the first half, while Mirco Antenucci and Chris Wood were among those who came agonisingly close after the break.

Rotherham broke the deadlock against the run of play through Joe Newell’s 54th-minute header, and from there on in the Millers defended firmly to deny a wave of late Leeds attacks to clinch the three points.

“I thought we had plenty of endeavour but we had a real lack of quality in the middle of the park and in the final third,” Evans said.

“When you talk about being brave for Leeds United, you have to get on the ball and take the sting out of it at times, pass it around and invite a Rotherham side to come out from defending.

“We never did win the authority today so it ended up being more of a battle than a football match.

“They had one chance and they took it. We had four or five – certainly two or three clear-cut chances – but we didn’t take them and it’s fine lines.”

Both sides were reduced to 10 men for the final 15 minutes as Leon Best and Gaetano Berardi were shown straight red cards following an altercation by the touchline.

Rotherham striker Best caught Berardi with an aerial challenge, leaving the Leeds full-back with a bloody nose and shirt, but Berardi’s reaction also saw him dismissed.

Evans said: “I’ve been down and spoken to the referee and I think he’s got an issue with the Rotherham lad (Best) on two occasions.

“I think he sent him off for the elbow and then after Berardi got up and chased after him, Best headbutted him. I think they’re going to report him on two things.

“When Berardi gets an elbow in the face like that, though, you can’t react and go running and pushing people. You have to get up and get on with the game.”

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