Leeds United boss: ‘I know my team for Saturday’

Leeds United may have ended their first team pre-season fixtures with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to FC Nurnberg, but manager Brian McDermott got enough out of the game to declare that he knew his team for the big kick-off against Brighton this Saturday.
Paul Green in action during Leeds United's pre-season game against FC Nurnberg.Paul Green in action during Leeds United's pre-season game against FC Nurnberg.
Paul Green in action during Leeds United's pre-season game against FC Nurnberg.

A goal in either half from set pieces by Daniel Ginczek proved enough to ensure a win for the German visitors in front of a healthy 9,455 crowd at Elland Road with United worryingly creating little, although they were up against a side that finished 10th in the Bundesliga last term.

McDermott was publicly not too concerned with the result.

He said: “I know my team for Saturday and what my 18 will be too. There’ll only be decisions to make if something goes wrong – an injury or something like that.

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“You want to win games in pre-season, obviously you do, but we’ve got 46 league games ahead of us and that’s what this is all about.

“Friendly games are what they are. On Saturday, Elland Road will have a different complexion and atmosphere. It’ll be a different place. I can’t wait to get going.

“We were playing a good side, a top 10 Bundesliga side, but it’s disappointing to lose a goal after three minutes, especially from a set-play. Then we lost another from a set-play. That’s something to be aware of.

“We need to create more chances, get more crosses and shots. It’s going to come over time and we’ve got work to do, but while we’re doing that, we’ve got to try and win games as well.”

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Leeds United: Kenny, Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Warnock (Drury 63), Green (Tonge 63), Murphy, Poleon (Smith 75), McCormack, White, Varney (Hunt 63).

Nurnberg: Schafer, Pogatetz, Balitsch, Feulner (Stark 81), Gebhart (Frantz 75), Ginczek, Kiyotake (Drmic 69), Mak (Esswein 85), Dabanli, Pinola (Plattenhardt 64), Chandler.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 9,455.