Leeds United drew 2-2 at Derby County on Wednesday night.
Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom has told Sky Sports that his players were ‘flat’ after the final whistle of their 2-2 draw draw against Derby County on Wednesday night.
After roaring back from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City on Sunday evening, Leeds were on the road as they travelled to take on Derby, and weathered an early storm before Pierre-Michel Lasogga headed the Whites in front.
A mix-up between Liam Cooper and Laurens De Bock allowed Andreas Weimann to equalise, but when Ezgjan Alioski found the net at the second attempt from a counter attack, Leeds appeared to be heading for three points at Pride Park.
However, there was a sting in the tail for the Whites, as they failed to clear Tom Huddlestone’s hopeful chip into the box, and Kasey Palmer was on hand to stab home a late equaliser for the hosts.
It was a sickening late blow for Leeds, who have yet to win under new manager Heckingbottom, claiming two points in his three games in charge having drawn twice on lost once.
Leeds now lie eight points adrift of the play-off places and look unlikely to finish in the top six, having now gone nine league games without a victory.
After the final whistle, manager Heckingbottom told Sky Sports that Palmer’s late goal hurt him, and he feels for his players who were ‘flat’ in the dressing room after the game when they should have been receiving plaudits for a fine win.
Heckingbottom added that he told his players they should have taken more points from the last three games, but must now focus on the next game; the weekend visit of Brentford to Elland Road.
“It does hurt,” said Heckingbottom. “I’m feeling it for the players if I’m honest, they are flat in there, they’re down but they’ve got to come out with their heads held high. I’m stood there thinking about how well they’ve done and the things I want to show them that’s won them the game and then to get caught at the end is disappointing, it’s sickening.”
“But I’ve looked back through the season and that has been the trend. At the minute we are working really hard for our goals and giving soft ones away at the other end. I said to the players we think we should have had more points from the last three games but we haven’t and we’ve got to be ready for the next game,” he added.
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