Lowly Wigan add to struggling Leeds' woes

NEIL Redfearn thought his Leeds side were unlucky to lose to Wigan in a real six-pointer at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.

Leeds dominated the majority of the clash at Elland Road, Billy Sharp's effort that hit the bar the closest they came to scoring.

The home side fell behind to an own goal from Liam Cooper in the first half before James McClean secured a 2-0 win near the end.

"I thought we got in front of goal enough, we had enough of the general play, and we made all the running," said Redfearn.

"The first goal is a mistake, and how many times have we said that after being in a good position?

"Obviously that gives Wigan a bit of impetus and something to defend, and to be fair they defended well.

"I think had we got it back to 1-1 we would have gone on to win the game.

"Their second goal is disappointing, you've still got to keep an eye on the back door.

"They get down the sides of us too easily, and it puts a false reflection on what actually happened."

Redfearn also insisted he had no problem with Sharp's reaction to being substituted, heading straight down the tunnel rather than taking his place on the bench.

"I've done it myself - I was far worse than Billy when I played, I was a nightmare," Redfearn added.

"He wants to play, and I understand that.

"But for me looking at it from this side, it's important he understands it's a team game and sometimes you need to change it around to chase it.

"We just wanted to freshen it up, put a different perspective on it.

"I'll speak to him about it, but I haven't got a problem with it."

On the flip side, Malky Mackay could not hide his delight at seeing Wigan record a first win under his stewardship at the sixth attempt.

"Any time you come to Elland Road, with the atmosphere here and the size of the club, and come away with a win is really pleasing," the Wigan manager said.

"Even more so for our supporters to come over here on Boxing Day and see us get a win that was deserved.

"We've been playing okay, we've lost to single-goal margins with individual errors.

"Today one of the big differences was we made the correct decisions on most occasions."

Mackay's men are next in action against Sheffield Wednesday next Tuesday and the Scot cannot wait to build on a much-needed three points.

"We'll take confidence from coming here and getting the win and a clean sheet," he recognised.

"For the last four weeks we've worked hard, but this time we showed those extra bits of quality that at times we have been missing."An own goal from Liam Cooper and a belter from James McClean gave Wigan a 2-0 victory at Leeds in what was a real six-pointer at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.

McClean was claiming the assist for the opening goal on 10 minutes, when his cross from the left was knocked past his own goalkeeper by Liam Cooper.

But there was no doubt over the second goal, McClean taking delivery of a nice ball from Don Cowie to smash into the back of the net, securing Wigan's first win under Malky Mackay at the sixth attempt.

Leeds bossed the majority of the game, but found Wigan's new-look back-five formation - plus goalkeeper Scott Carson - in unbeatable mood.

After Leeds started the busier of the two sides, the visitors took the lead with their first attack on goal.

McClean did all the damage down the left-hand side, and his cross was bundled into his own net by an unsuspecting Cooper.

Stung into action, Leeds raised their game and Wigan's rearguard had to be on their guard to preserve the advantage.

Mirco Antenucci was seeing plenty of the ball down the left, and one cross was headed goalwards by Billy Sharp only for Scott Carson to flick the ball over.

Carson then had to be alert to cut out an Antenucci cross aimed at Sharp, before Tommaso Bianchi fired wide of the mark.

Marc-Antoine Fortune almost made it 2-0 just before the break only to be denied by the legs of Marco Silvestri.

Leeds made a double change at the interval, throwing on Rodolph Austin and Steve Morison.

And the big striker was the focal point for much of what followed as Leeds threw everything at the visitors.

Antenucci fired wide before Giuseppe Bellusci saw a shot tipped over by an increasingly busy Carson.

Wigan were looking dangerous on the counter and McClean's shot was parried by Silvestri and helped away by Bellusci with Cowie sniffing around for scraps.

Ivan Ramis did likewise at the other end as Morison tried to play in Sharp, with the substitute then seeing a header tipped over well by Carson.

Leeds knew it was not their day when Sam Byram somehow scooped over the bar from a yard.

Then McClean, who had just tested Silvestri with a low strike, sealed the win with 10 minutes to go with a rasping drive from close range.

ends