Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Leeds news: Thomas Christiansen slams ‘horrible’ Birmingham City game
LEEDS UNITED head coach Thomas Christiansen was left frustrated by his side’s “horrible” defeat to Birmingham City.
Leeds United head coach Thomas Christiansen
Blues winger Jacques Maghoma settled a scrappy game at St Andrew’s by tapping home a rebound in the 83rd minute.
The defeat sees Leeds fall further off automatic promotion pace while their buffer to seventh-place has been cut to just one point.
Christiansen said: ”No, it was in my point of view a horrible game.
"With direct play, challenges, not really big opportunities during the 90 minutes.
"There was one very good save of each goalkeeper in the game, but that was not our game today."
Christiansen claims he was prepared for Birmingham’s direct approach but admitted his players lost the battle for second balls.
It was in my point of view a horrible game
“Well, it was a difficult game,” he said.
“We knew the opponent, what they were going to do today with Gallagher up front who was the target man.
“It was always being attend to the second balls and we didn't stay too close to pick off these balls and when we did, then we lost them immediately with some difficult and dangerous passes that gave them possibility to go in transition.”
Leeds were missing midfield duo Eunan O’Kane and Ronaldo Vieira due to injury so Christiansen played Conor Shaughnessy out of position.
Birmingham goalscorer Jacques Maghoma celebrates
Christiansen said: ”Well, they were both with problems so I couldn't have them available for the game so that was the decision that I took.
"So and for the game, Conor could pass very good in because we wanted to have one close to Gallagher when the long balls came but it was a difficult game."
Leeds will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day.
And Christiansen said: "It's always good to have a game close after a bad result but my team is ready to bounce back and especially at home with our fans we are going to make a good game."