Neil Warnock: Every Leeds player did their bit against Tottenham on kind of day us managers live for
When you defy the odds – and most of my career I have been the underdog – it is a great feeling
Monday 28 January 2013
Related articles
I came back from exchanging team-sheets in the referee's room before Sunday's FA Cup tie with Tottenham, handed theirs to Mick Jones, my assistant manager, and said: "Look at that. We'll do well to get a kick." Andre Villas-Boas had picked a virtually full-strength side.
Fortunately, you don't win games on the team-sheet. We set up to try to nullify their strengths, every player really pulled their weight, the fans got right behind us and the early goal settled us down. I was especially pleased it was Luke Varney who scored as I'd put him in instead of Luciano Becchio, our top scorer. Luciano's been the subject of a lot of transfer speculation and I made up my mind midweek not to play him, but Luke's not exactly a fans' favourite. So all credit: he stood up to be counted, not just taking his goal well but contributing all the way through. When you are up against wide players such as Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale you need your own wide players to help out and they did.
A terrific goal by Ross McCormack gave us a cushion but Bale produced a great piece of skill to get Spurs back into it. Our centre-half Tom Lees said he was the one who headed Gareth's cross in, but as no one seems to have noticed Tom's happy to let Clint Dempsey have the goal.
I expected the Alamo after that but it did not materialise. Then Michael Brown, who'd been magnificent, gave away a daft free-kick in injury time. I turned to my coach, Ronnie Jepson, and said: "If they score he'll never kick a ball for me again." Jeppo said: "I'm just crossing all my fingers for him, gaffer."
Then I realised Brad Friedel had come up for the free-kick and no one had picked him up. Inevitably, Friedel got his head to it but we managed to clear and should have had a third on the breakaway, but the spoilsport referee blew for time before Rudy Austin could score.
To beat a strong Tottenham side everyone had to do a bit more and they did. I did not have a man of the match, everyone was a nine out of 10 for me as they had all done their jobs. And when one did make a mistake, their mate got them out of it.
It's a match to remember because we've had a difficult few weeks. Even though we've won six on the trot at home the fans have been a bit restless; they cheered sarcastically when we had a shot against Bristol City, which these players don't deserve, they try their hardest.
I had some guests and we were about to leave when one of them said, "The fifth-round draw's in a few minutes, let's wait for it." I knew which teams I didn't want – mainly from our division. The first few names it was "we don't want them". Then Manchester City came out. Everyone went "Yes!", I went "Oh no". After the initial shock I think it is a great draw. It's good financially and Manchester City v Leeds has a big-match ring to it. We've we'll try to get it right tactically and give them a game. I wonder if my old mate Carlos Tevez will play?
Yesterday sums up why I've been in football all these years. When you defy the odds – and most of my career I have been the underdog – it is a great feeling. To send the fans home happy, knowing they'll be buzzing all week, is what keeps us managers going. These are the days I'll miss when I pack it in.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth
McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...
by Gareth Purnell
23 May 2013 09:13 AM
Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!
Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!
by Luke Wilkins
22 May 2013 05:00 AM
iBet: Bale and Rooney transfer specials
The dust is barely settling on the Premier League season and the bookies are looking to persuade us ...
by Gareth Purnell
22 May 2013 02:01 AM
-
Roy Hodgson shuts the England door on Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry
-
On-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still believes in Chelsea youth policy
-
After racist remark, Sergio Garcia fights for reputation as Tiger Woods slams 'hurtful' fried chicken joke
-
Manuel Pellegrini must decide on futures of Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott as Manchester City name starting date for new manager
-
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll delays over West Ham move
- 1 Breaking: Soldier killed in Woolwich machete attack named as Drummer Lee Rigby
- 2 'Sickening, deluded and unforgivable': Horrific attack brings terror to London’s streets
- 3 Grace Dent: I’m not sure how these people can avoid being called ‘bigots’. And the more ‘civilised’, the worse they are
- 4 Woolwich murder: They killed, then they performed - these men should be starved of our attention
- 5 Woolwich attack: The EDL will seek to exploit this evil crime for their own evil ends
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’



Comments