Obvious error but Kayembe not hung out to dry by his head coach
The error from Edo Kayembe that led to Leeds taking the lead was something you cannot get away with against the top teams, but was one that his head coach will not castigate him for.
The midfielder’s attempt to pass the ball square across the back line was intercepted by Dan James who raced into the box and tucked the chance away.
“We’ve not had many individual errors leading to a goal this season so it’s something we’ve not suffered from too much,” said Tom Cleverley.
“You can’t get away with it in the league above, you can get away with it against some of the teams in this division.
“But tonight they punished us, heavily, and that comes with pace, quality and a very high calibre of player.
“I’ll always take responsibility for what happened with the first goal – Kayembe showed for the ball and I would never criticise that.
“Ok, he made a misplaced pass and he made a couple tonight, but he always wanted the ball and he was always showing.
“I will never criticise that and I will always take responsibility for it.”
Being hammered at home is a miserable experience, but Cleverley said he will use it as a form of inspiration.
“It certainly inspires me to try and get my team to those sort of levels,” he explained.
“It’s a little bit unfair on some of our players, we’re a little bit thin at the minute and we played Saturday and they didn’t.
“Obviously it’s a very expensive squad that they have, so it’s a little bit unfair for me to compare my players to them and to really judge us against them.
“Like I said, this weekend and the weekend after are more where it’ll be a fairer judgement of my players.
“But what I must say is we can do better in certain aspects of tonight’s performance.
“I was pleased in certain aspects, I thought we showed personality to try and get on the ball.”
Having got the opening goal, Leeds then very quickly ended the game as a contest with two more in the following 15 minutes.
“Structurally I need to look at the second goal and did we commit too many bodies forward against a team that can really hurt you in transition,” said the Watford boss.
“That will be one I have to look at.
“The third goal I’m super disappointed with because how we deal with throw-ins against is something I demand highly.
“We were too flat-footed, similar to the Sunderland set pieces.
“Leeds will punish you. They smelt blood and really went for the kill in that period after the first goal.
“They looked a fresher outfit than us this evening.”
If there was a positive, it was a return to action for Rocco Vata who has been laid low with a virus.
“It was good to blow the pipes a little bit for Vata,” Cleverley said.
“He lost four or five kilograms over the last week so he’s slowly building himself back up to get in contention to start.
“I think a run-out for half an hour would have done him good.”
