Saturday, 23rd August, 2014



Leeds United manager David Hockaday has blasted Italian defender Giuseppe Bellusci for costing his team the game in their afternoon 4-1 defeat at Watford.

Hockaday's men had been level with the Hornets in the Championship fixture, locked at 1-1, until the 57th minute, when Bellusci was sent off and Watford striker Troy Deeney converted the resultant penalty kick.



The Leeds boss instantly reshuffled his pack to play a 4-4-1 formation, but the damage was done and Watford struck a further two times before the final whistle, with the visitors' misery being compounded by a sending off for Sam Byram in injury time.

Hockaday believes his side were well in the game before Bellusci's moment of madness and has pulled no punches with the defender.

 


"Anger and frustration [are my emotions]. With the squad we've got we've come here to a fancied team and up until the sending off I thought we looked pretty comfortable. The boys were passing and moving very well", he told LUTV.

relatedNewsStory

"Listening to the Watford bench they were getting frustrated because they were having to change things and didn't know if they were going to win the game. Then a double moment of craziness and we're ten men down and 2-1 down and that changes the game.

"I've told him in no uncertain terms that that's not acceptable; he's apologised to the players, for what it's worth. And it just gave us a mountain to climb and we couldn't climb it", Hockaday added.

Leeds have now lost three of their opening four Championship games, but are next in action in the League Cup in midweek when they travel to neighbours Bradford City.

It is a game Hockaday will be desperate not to lose.

Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.