Leeds United and Birmingham City faced each other in the Championship on Saturday.
Birmingham’s Clayton Donaldson
Birmingham City striker Clayton Donaldson has suggested to The Yorkshire Evening Post that Leeds United need to give time to head coach Garry Monk.
Monk was appointed as the Leeds head coach in the summer following the departure of Steve Evans at the end of last season.
The former Swansea City manager is the West Yorkshire outfit’s seventh head coach in just over two years under owner Massimo Cellino.
Cellino is known to be impatient with managers, and Donaldson has urged the Leeds owner to give Monk time.
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino
The Birmingham striker, whose family are Leeds fans (according to The Yorkshire Evening Post), made the comments following the Championship game between the two sides at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues won the match 2-1 to inflict upon the Whites their second successive league loss this season.
“It’s a running joke with Leeds United,” Donaldson told The Yorkshire Evening Post. “I think when we went 1-0 up you could hear our away fans singing ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning.’
“Obviously Monk has been in the Premier League recently. He’s a young manager and an English manager as well. You want to try and give those managers time.”
Leeds United head coach Garry Monk
Donaldson has also commented on the atmosphere at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, suggesting that Leeds fans need to get behind the team even when they are losing.
“Before we scored you could feel the pressure,” the Jamaica international striker told The Yorkshire Evening Post. “The crowd was behind them, getting louder and louder. You could see their tails going up.
“When we went 1-0 up it kind of slowed things down. The crowd weren’t as loud as they were before. It’s a great atmosphere here when you’re winning.
“It’s a shame that it’s not the same when you’re losing. That’s when you need the fans the most.”
Birmingham took the lead against Leeds at Elland Road on 15 minutes through Jacques Maghoma.
Hadi Sacko equalised for Leeds on 27 minutes, but Michael Morrison wrapped up the points for the visiting team 10 minutes into the second half.
Birmingham City’s Clayton Donaldson
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