Paul Heckingbottom comments on Leeds United tactics

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Leeds United drew 2-2 against Bristol City on Sunday.

Leeds United’s winless run in the Championship stretched to eight games, but Paul Heckingbottom’s side can take pride from the superb comeback in the 2-2 draw against Bristol City on Sunday at Elland Road.

The home side got off to a terrible start. They twice failed to deal with long throw-ins, allowing Famara Diedhiou and Bobby Reid to score within the first 16 minutes.

It was a lacklustre opening 45 minutes from Leeds and the half-time break was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home fans.

The performance improved after the break, and Pierre-Michel Lasogga gave the home side a glimmer of hope when he scored from close range, his fourth goal in last five games.

Kemar Roofe sent the home fans in a state of pandemonium when he scored in the 80^th minute after coming off the bench. Lasogga came close to securing the winner but he could only hit the bar in the dying seconds of the match.

When Heckingbottom was asked what he said at half time, he said he just pointed out the mistakes and the players responded well.

“I’m not going to say what I said to the players it’s just for me to be really clear with the players, not drone about insignificant things, just what’s wrong, what do we need to see right and then be really specific,” said Heckingbottom to Leeds Live, when asked about his half time team talk.

“Individual players need to know what they need doing, they need telling the players need to be told what we need to see more off, they need telling, so it was just really to the point,. It was really clear to me what was wrong and the players responded well.”

Heckingbottom also gave a glimpse of his tactical plans, saying he prefers 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 while defending.

“Yeah, lots has been said about formations, but I don’t mind saying it. Our formations are only really when we’ve not got the ball,” he said on Leeds’ formation.

We either defend in a 4-4-2 or defend in a 4-3-3 and with the ball we want to see similar movements, no real straight lines. I’d love it if anyone stopped the video and paused it and what formation you’re playing they couldn”t tell because we want to have that freedom when we play.

But without the ball we want to make it black and white for the players and this is how we defend so really the less said about the set-ups but the only decision we’ll make if we change between is because of what i want it to look like without the ball.”