Leeds United are preparing to look forward after suffering FA Cup disappointment on Saturday when they lost 2-0 at Elland Road against fellow Championship side Millwall. Daniel Farke made several changes to his line-up to ensure that his big players were fit for the league game against Watford on Tuesday night but the side paid for it by exiting the FA Cup on the fourth round. The Leeds changes meant that the home side produced a disjointed performance but Millwall boss Alex Neil is not prepared to take any credit away from his team who have entered the fifth round of the FA Cup this season at the expense of the Whites.
The Whites exited the FA Cup on Saturday at the hands of Millwall who produced a solid performance to beat the home side 2-0 and progress in the competition.
A changed Leeds line-up struggled to get into any sort of rhythm against a Millwall side who came to Elland Road on the back of a solid run of form.
It seems Farke made too many changes to the Leeds starting eleven and it resulted in a performance that lacked any flow or control, two things we associate with the German’s team.
Leeds have a bigger fish to fry in terms of earning automatic promotion but an FA Cup exit disappointed the fans who wanted a deep cup run from the team.
However, Millwall boss Alex Neil has lambasted suggestions that his side progressed because Leeds didn’t field one of their more strong elevens.
‘Highest scorers at home in Europe’ – Alex Neil gloats about beating Leeds at Elland Road
Leeds have been terrific at Elland Road this season and their form at home maintained their high position in the league when they were struggling to get results on the road.
Their away form has improved over the last month but they have also remained a tough nut crack at home until they faced Millwall on Saturday.
Neil pointed out how good Leeds have been this season at Elland Road and stressed they have been scoring for fun at home all season.
The Millwall boss insisted that to get a clean sheet and win against Leeds on their turf is no mean feat regardless of it being a cup game where several changes were made to both teams.
“They have lost one game at home all season against Burnley and the highest scorers in Europe I think, averaging three goals a game at home”, Neil said on talkSPORT.
“So to go there and keep a clean sheet to win 2-0 and the manner which we did is extremely pleasing for us.”
“I changed half the team too” – the Millwall boss ignores the Leeds changes
Farke made as many as nine changes and might have gone too far with the rotation of his squad as Leeds crashed out of the FA Cup at home.
Their focus is on getting promoted and if Leeds are in the Premier League next season, not many would care about this defeat to Millwall at Elland Road.
However, Neil indicated that talking about the changes Leeds made is disrespectful to the performance his side produced to get the win at Elland Road.
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The Millwall boss pointed out that even he changed half the team against Leeds while the narrative is all about the team the home side fielded on Saturday.
“We made five changes to the team as well”, Neil continued.
“A lot of people have made a lot about the fact that Leeds made changes but we changed half the team.
“Some through necessity because some are cup-tied but also we gave some other players an opportunity.”
It is clear Millwall enjoyed knocking Leeds out of the FA Cup and while the home fans were left disappointed, the result would be forgotten if Farke’s men reached the promised land of the Premier League at the end of the season.
