Simon Grayson was relieved after seeing his side keep their first clean sheet of the season in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Saturday.
It was Leeds first clean sheet in all competitions and they have one of the worst defensive records in the championship.
They came in for much criticism in the week leading up to the game after letting a 2-0 half time lead at Brighton slip the week before. The game finished 3-3 and Leeds were guilty once again of some sloppy defending for all three goals.
Grayson made just the one change after the Brighton game, bringing Paul Connolly in at right back and moving Tom Lees into the centre of defence.
The switch seemed to work as Leeds looked more disciplined in defence against Portsmouth and Grayson admits that one or two players were in last chance saloon when he said, ‘One or two of them were on their last warnings after last week.
‘I criticised the back four and I don’t normally do that, but I felt it was time that people took responsibility for what’s happened and they responded in the right manner.
‘It was a good performance from us, I’m delighted that we kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.
‘The players have taken on board what we have worked on this week.
‘When they were called on the defenders defended and the goalkeeper made some good saves. We’re trying to get the right balance between attacking and defending and we’re delighted to keep the clean sheet.”
Leeds now have no game until October 14th due to the international break when they will travel to Doncaster Rovers who have seen their form improve since a change of manager last week.
The win on Saturday saw Leeds move up just two places to eleventh in the championship but with a game in hand.
In a once again wide-open championship, a win in their game in hand at Birmingham would see them climb into the play off places.
Leeds will now be hoping to have rectified their defensive frailties and they will be aiming to keep back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since February.
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