Leeds United first team coach David Hockaday said he felt Leeds could have got something from the game at Millwall after being relieved to only go in 1-0 down at half time.
Leeds eventually lost 2-0, as Millwall scored a late penalty to confirm the win but Hockaday felt they could have got something had they taken their chances in the second half.
Speaking to LUTV, Hockaday said, “We didn`t start well and we didn`t play well in the first half.
“We lacked intensity, a purpose in our play and we lacked intelligence.
“To concede a soft goal from a corner, that shouldn’t be happening and it was poor marking.
“I was delighted to get in at half time just 1-0 down if I am being honest.
“In the second half we changed things around. We had more chances, we caused them more problems, and we had a lot of chances.
“We had three or four good chances and we didn`t finish them. Although we didn`t play well, we had chances to get something from the game and we didn`t take them.”
Leeds went behind after just 8 minutes when Mark Beevers fired home after being left unmarked in the penalty area. Leeds created very little going forward and they were almost undone again from a set piece just before half time when Alan Dunne headed straight at Marco Silvestre when he found himself unmarked in the penalty area.
Noel Hunt wasted Leeds best chance of the game early in the second half when he fired straight at Dunne on the goal line after Millwall keeper David Forde had dropped the ball.
Matt Smith, Michael Tonge and Dominic Poleon all had chances to bring Leeds level whilst Silvestre was busy in the Leeds goal, keeping out a Martyn Woolford effort.
With Leeds pushing for an equaliser late in the game, they were caught out with just two minutes remaining when Lewis Cook brought down Lee Gregory in the penalty area after initially giving the ball away. Shaun Williams fired home from the spot to condemn Leeds to their first opening day defeat in three years.
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