'Forget about it' – Hasselbaink delivers worrying verdict on Leeds after 2-0 loss to Cardiff

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink delivered a worrying verdict on the Leeds United players after a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff.

It wasn't the start that Leeds were looking for and, after so many people had commented on Leeds' fitness and how they would look to start fast, Hasselbaink said that the Cardiff players deserved it and looked much fitter.

Talking on the Sky Sports coverage of the game (Sky Sports Football, Sunday, 1pm) Hasselbaink said, "They looked further in their fitness than Leeds, way further."

Hasselbaink went on to say: They [Cardiff] deserved to win. They looked sharp. Leeds looked a little bit slow at times even though they had more of the ball. It’s a big, big three points for Cardiff.

"We all know Leeds are about style but now forget about it. They need to get more businesslike, their final pass was just not good enough. Passes that are normally really simple for them, they went out."

Hasselbaink on the money

This was a completely fair reaction from Hasselbaink.

We wanted the Leeds that came out and beat Bristol City 3-1 in the first game of the season.

We got the Leeds that seem to only exist to frustrate. Passing was poor, quality of the ball in the final third was even worse.

With other results going our way, there's no harm done and Leeds go into the game against Fulham with a seven-point lead still.

That's massive. If we'd played like that and Fulham were four points behind, the jitters would really start.

However, Leeds need a massive improvement between now and Saturday. We don't think it was fitness - they were still running at the end.

It was just the same old problems resurfacing at the wrong time.

In other Leeds United news, 'I'm sick of this' – Adrian Durham comes out swinging for Leeds after major controversy emerges