Leeds United 1 Cardiff City 2

NEIL Redfearn gave Leeds' under-achieving senior players a "rocket" as jinx side Cardiff snatched victory at Elland Road.

Leeds haven't beaten the Welshmen, home or away, in 17 attempts stretching back to 1984 and Cardiff's latest victory was achieved without their fans, who boycotted the fixture in a ticket allocation row.

Sean Morrison fired Cardiff into a 14th-minute lead but three minutes later Leeds' academy product Kalvin Phillips, 19, scored on his home debut, the combative midfielder punishing a slip by keeper David Marshall.

Cardiff wasted a host of chances and Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri pulled off some desperate saves before Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson pounced in a congested goalmouth to force home Cardiff's 62nd-minute winner.

Leeds head coach Redfearn fumed: "That was a poor performance. At half-time they needed a rocket from me and they got one. It is nothing personal, but it is important that they understand when I am not happy.

"The thing that was missing more than anything was a desire and the effort needed to get us back in the game. It was a strange performance from us because all the things we stood for during the run that got us out of trouble were missing.

"They were two poor sides, to be honest, in a game that was strewn with bad decisions and mistakes. I was more unhappy with the senior players than anything.

"The kids give you effort and endeavour. They will make mistakes but you expect others to help them and that wasn't there."

There was an unusual atmosphere, with Cardiff backing their fans' boycott of the match in a row over the Bluebirds' ticket allocation. So when defender Morrison forced the ball home at point-blank range the goal was greeted in total silence.

Former Leeds captain Lee Peltier played his part in the build-up by being first to Peter Whittingham's corner from the left but Peltier's old club rapidly drew level in storybook fashion.

Scotland international keeper Marshall slipped as he came off his line and Phillips kept a cool head to slot Charlie Taylor's left-wing cross into an unguarded net before setting off on a jig of celebration.

Cardiff missed a number of good chances before Silvestri parried yet another shot in the congested goalmouth and

Gunnarsson got the final touch.

Leeds made a double substitution, sending on strikers Billy Sharp and Steve Morison in place of Mirco Antenucci and Phillips with 25 minutes remaining.

Sharp headed against the bar almost immediately and Morison sent a header into the crowd, but Leeds could not stave off a third successive defeat and are without a win over the Welshmen for 31 years.