Sheffield Wednesday were beaten by Redfearn’s old side Leeds United on Saturday.
Former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn
Former Leeds United boss Neil Redfearn has told Radio Yorkshire that Sheffield Wednesday were deserving of a draw in Saturday’s derby at Elland Road.
Chris Wood’s first-half goal was enough to give Leeds all three points against their promotion rivals, who squandered an opportunity to overtake Garry Monk’s team in the Championship table.
Wednesday applied plenty of pressure after that, but were unable to breach Leeds’ back four and goalkeeper Robert Green, who saved Jordan Rhodes’ penalty shortly after half-time.
And Redfearn does not believe the Owls, who are still five points clear of seventh place, should feel too down-hearted by the result.
“I’ve seen Sheffield Wednesday on quite a few occasions this season and I haven’t been that impressed. I think they’ve been bang average, but they’ve managed to grind out results. The league table doesn’t lie, they’ve got themselves in there on merit obviously. But I was pleasantly surprised by them on Saturday,” the 51-year-old said.
“I thought they were the better of the two sides. They got about Leeds, I thought Leeds… I don’t think they played the football we know they can play. (In the) second half I thought Sheffield Wednesday dictated, and in the end it was a great result for Leeds, because Sheffield Wednesday probably deserved something out of it.”
Wednesday were without their former Leeds centre-back Tom Lees in West Yorkshire, and the 26-year-old’s replacement failed to make a positive impression on Redfearn.
“Centre-backs; they missed Tom Lees, there’s no two-ways about it, because he’s more cultured, more organised and a little bit more diligent than either of the other two (Glenn Loovens and Vincent Sasso),” he added.
“I’m not a big Sasso fan, I think he’s a car crash. The other fella’s a straight, up-and-down, head-the-ball (type), but he misses his mate Tom Lees.”
Frenchman Sasso was at fault for Leeds’ goal, having inexplicably ducked out the way of Gaetano Berardi’s cross, allowing Wood an easy tap-in.
Leeds United striker Chris Wood
The 26-year-old is experiencing his longest run of consecutive league appearances since moving to Hillsborough in 2015, initially on loan, but has failed to convince in recent weeks.
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