Steve McManaman shares most frustrating thing about Leeds’ FA Cup win vs Birmingham
Steve McManaman expressed his frustration at Leeds United’s first-half display against Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon.
Despite being a division above Championship side Birmingham, Leeds were second-best for much of the FA Cup fourth-round contest at St. Andrew’s.
Had it not been for some excellent saves from goalkeeper Lucas Perri, Daniel Farke‘s side would have been comfortably behind at the break.
Thankfully for the Elland Road outfit, striker Lukas Nmecha produced a real moment of quality in the 49th minute when his fierce strike nestled in the corner of the goal to make it 1-0 against the run of play.
Patrick Roberts sent the game into extra time with an 89th-minute equaliser, before Leeds won the game 4-2 on penalties to progress to round five.
But way back in the first half, ex-Liverpool player McManaman criticised the away side’s negativity.
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Leeds’ negativity riles Steve McManaman
In the first 45, Birmingham had more possession, more shots on goal and on target, and looked the hungrier of the two teams.
While the Blues were playing some crisp, incisive football, either with neat interplay or long, direct balls forward, Leeds looked timid and out of ideas.
In one instance, Leeds won a rare corner, but instead of getting the ball into the penalty area, they passed the ball out and ended up conceding a free-kick near the halfway line.
This led to an exasperated McManaman laying into the Yorkshire outfit.
He said on TNT Sports’ commentary, “That typifies Leeds. They have got a corner, and they end up going all the way back to the halfway line and giving a foul away.
“I mean, talk about frustrating. Just get the ball in the penalty area.”
Leeds improved in the second half and eventually won a dramatic game on penalties, much to the relief of their travelling fans.
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How Leeds have turned their season around
In late November, Leeds were hovering around the relegation zone, and Farke was at risk of being sacked after a poor run of form.
But shoots of positivity sprang up in the second half away at Manchester City on 29 November when Leeds were 2-0 down.
A formation change from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 paved the way to Leeds drawing level, before ultimately losing the contest late on through Phil Foden.
That switch worked wonders in the following weeks as they beat the likes of Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest, along with battling draws with the Blues, Liverpool, Manchester United, and more.
Moreover, some of their summer signings, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, and Gabriel Gudmundsson, and more established players – Ethan Ampadu and Jaden Bogle – have stepped up when it’s mattered.
There is still plenty of work to do, though. West Ham are six points behind Leeds, but they have won three of their last five league games and could overhaul Farke’s side.
But the fact that they are so competitive in matches, bar the 4-0 home loss to Arsenal, gives them a great chance of beating the drop.
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