Leeds United boss Simon Grayson says it is time for his players to take responsibility after another poor performance and not just turn up and take their wages.
After the woeful performance at Watford last week, where Leeds somehow salvaged a point in the dying seconds, the side once again put in a well below par performance, this time in the home defeat to Reading.
Leeds trailed after just two minutes when Simon Church took advantage of some slack defending and poor decision-making as he ended up with time and space to calmly lob Andy Lonergan from an acute angle.
Grayson Says the players now need to raise their game if they are to stand any chance of winning promotion with Leeds.
Speaking in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Grayson said, “Too many of our players have been below par over the last couple of games. We are still in a good position with half the season to go but as individuals we have to raise the bar.
“We can`t give away early goals like we did today and expect to win football matches. The players have to accept responsibility.
“Everybody wants to get promoted but you can`t just expect to turn up, get your wage and think ‘if we win today, happy days, but if we don`t we are not particularly bothered`. You have to earn your money.”
The whites rarely troubled Adam Federici in the Reading goal with Ross McCormack wasting Leeds best opportunity when he headed straight at the Reading keeper from close range.
The side lacked a creative spark as Reading closed and harried Leeds into mistakes and long balls.
The visitors could have quite easily have scored two or three more with Jobi McAnuff twice going close in the first half and Gorkss heading over from close range.
The Reading defenders were rarely troubled aerially and as Leeds became increasingly frustrated, long balls were meat and drink for Pearce and Gorkss in the centre of the Reading defence.
Despite Grayson throwing on three substitutes halfway through the second half, Leeds continued to create very little and the last ten minutes were played almost solely in the Leeds half.
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