Leeds United 1 Crewe Alexandra 1

Last updated : 06 April 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Gary McAllister hinted he may need to bring new players in on loan after watching Leeds make it seven games without a win.

McAllister has gone through a sharp learning curve since taking over from Dennis Wise and the Leeds manager admitted: "I learned a lot on Saturday but I will keep those bits to myself. You learn a lot more when things are not going well.

"The players in the changing room, the two coaches and myself know it has to be better than that, though I couldn't fault the team for effort."

The absence of 17-goal top scorer Jermaine Beckford didn't help, of course.

Midfielder Neil Kilkenny also suffered a setback which delayed his comeback and McAllister added: "We are missing some big players, including Beckford, Kilkenny and Jonathon Douglas, but I am not going to use that as an excuse.

"We have a big squad so players who come in have to show their worth.

"Tresor Kandol kept going and got us a vital goal which earned us a point. He had gone a lot of games without a goal and this one will do him the world of good.

"We need to improve in the final third of the pitch. I have seen an improvement since I came but it doesn't matter what happens on the training ground; it's what people produce on match day that counts.

"We have 13 games left and we need points. Dropping points at home is not going to get us where we want to be.

"There is a lack of technique and a lack of belief that we are going to score. We created chances but Crewe created quite a few as well.

"In the last third of the season we need people with character to really push on.

"There is so much to play for and so much at stake for this club. We are looking at many different areas where we can improve and get back where we should be."

United made a bright start, Tore Andre Flo and Kandol going close, but as midfielder David Prutton confessed: "We played in fits and starts. It is as frustrating for the fans as it is for us."

Crewew were unfortunate to go in at half-time with the score goalless after Kenny Lunt, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, struck a free-kick against the bar and Nicky Maynard fired over an open goal.

But two minutes into the second half, Maynard atoned with a deadly finish from 12-yards after being played through on the counter-attack by Lunt and Gary Roberts.

Bradley Johnson, Seb Carole and Anthony Elding were sent on in place of Peter Sweeney, Darren Kenton and Flo and it was Carole's free-kick from the left that enabled Kandol to beat keeper Ben Williams to the ball and head the 86th minute equaliser.