By George Overhill

28th Jan, 2023 | 9:40am

Jim White challenges Martin Keown on criticism of Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch live on talkSPORT

Martin Keown stuck by his criticism of Leeds United and manager Jesse Marsch after being challenged by Jim White live on talkSPORT.

Following the Whites’ goalless draw with Brentford last Sunday (22 January) Keown, appearing on Match of the Day 2, had stuck the boot in on the American for his positive assessment of the way his team was developing, dismissing it as “codswallop” and “propaganda” from a man who as “clinging on”.

The pundit continued his criticism of the “frantic” style of play when appearing on White & Jordan on Friday morning (27 January), and stuck by the propaganda accusation on the basis that Leeds aren’t getting the results to back up Marsch’s claims.

Speaking live on talkSPORT, Keown said: “There needs to be a calmness and a pattern of play to score the goals, that’s all I’m been critical of. And when you hear it from the manager that, ‘We’re building, we’re going the right way.’

“There’s a script for the players who say the same thing. It sounds like codswallop because you can’t be believing that inside the dressing room. You’ve got to get results.”

White cut in to say: “What do you mean ‘propaganda’? That’s quite an inflammatory word though.”

“Not really”, Keown replied. “Because you’re just trying to send a message to the rest of the world that all is good on the inside, when actually two wins in 16 isn’t very good on the inside.

“I don’t want to hear that. I want to see results on the pitch.”

Fair?

Marsch’s relentless positive spin rubs even some United fans up the wrong way, and when the results don’t match up it will inevitable invite criticism.

Unless or until the manager gets a few more wins on the board the likes of Keown aren’t going to change their minds.

And with extensive expenditure in the January window, along with a number of players returning from injury, there are fewer and fewer excuses not to start getting three points out of games.

The defence has been a weakness throughout the season, so it was typical that as soon as the introduction of Max Wober to the backline saw a much-improved performance it was then the attack that failed to get going against Brentford.

If Georginio Rutter, and potentially Weston McKennie, can have the same sort of impact that Wober did in that mach then there is every reason to expect some better results soon.

Patrick Bamford staying fit, as ever, will also help in that regard, and on paper the Whites squad now looks pretty formidable.

But games are won on the pitch and the wild three game run that saw nine goals and six points recorded prior to the World Cup feels a long time ago now.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are fearing a late hijack attempt as they scramble to get a priority deal done before the deadline.