Leeds United boss Neil Warnock thought the scoreline flattered Chelsea after Leeds bowed out of the Capital One League Cup at Elland Road.
Chelsea scored five times in the second half after Leeds had gone in at the break ahead and Warnock said he had no complaints about the defeat but he thought the 5-1 scoreline was harsh on his side. Speaking on Sky Sports, Warnock said, “I thought the scoreline flattered Chelsea but I have no complaints about the result.
“I thought we played some good football tonight and it was a great cup tie, which had a bit of everything.”
Luciano Becchio had given Leeds the lead on 37 minutes after a sweeping move.
Michael Tonge broke through the middle, giving the ball out wide to Jerome Thomas and his well-weighted pass to Becchio in the middle and he gave Petr Cech no chance in the Chelsea goal with a well-placed finish.
Defender Tom Lees went close to doubling the Leeds lead a minute before the break and Warnock says it could have been a totally different second half had it gone in. “I think if Tom Lees header had gone in just before half time to make it 2-0, it could have been a totally different game.
“To concede as early as we did in the second half to world class players, we were going to be in trouble,” continued Warnock
Jamie Ashdown in the Leeds goal had made a number of good saves in the first half to thwart the Chelsea attack but he will have been disappointed with the goal that drew Chelsea level in the first minute of the second half.
Ashdown couldn`t keep out a Juan Mata from the edge of the area, the ball squirming under his arm to find the back of the net.
The game could have still gone either way in the first hour but the introduction of Eden Hazard on the hour changed the game for the visitors.
Branislav Ivanovic headed Chelsea ahead a couple of minutes later and Victor Moses put Chelsea firmly in control two minutes later when he fired past Ashdown from long-range.
Leeds continued to look for a way back into the tie, a Chelsea breakaway inside the final ten minutes found Hazard in behind the Leeds defence, and he made no mistake.
Fernando Torres scored a fifth a few minutes later when he was teed up, a scoreline that did flatter the visitors.
Leeds can now concentrate on the busy Championship programme over the festive period, starting with a home game against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Vital Leeds are the proud sponsors of the Thames Valley Whites Regional Supporters club
The fastest growing Leeds United supporters club in the South of England, with over 200 members since its formation in April 2009, travel to all games home and away.
The branch has pick up points at Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot, Abingdon, Oxford, Bicester and Banbury and will consider other pick up points on request.
Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Leeds .
Vital Leeds is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!
Vital Leeds on:
Vital Leeds on:
Join Vital Leeds
It’s easy to REGISTER HERE, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!