Proud Neil Harris praises Cardiff City for never 'throwing the towel in' as he makes Leeds United crowd claim
The Bluebirds boss was beaming with pride following the match, with his team having fought back from 3-0 down to earn a tremendous point at Elland Road
Harris: “Leeds outclassed us for 32 minutes”
Sunday 15th December 2019
The Bluebirds boss was beaming with pride following the match, with his team having fought back from 3-0 down to earn a tremendous point at Elland Road
Neil Harris praised Cardiff City's character after they earned an unlikely draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.
With the Bluebirds having gone three goals behind following a calamitous hour, they looked finished. The fat lady was warming up.
But the visitors showed commendable resilience to claw their way back into the tie, first through Lee Tomlin, then Sean Morrison and, finally, Robert Glatzel's right boot .
It's not the first time they have come back from the brink under Harris, either. They showed tremendous heart to draw against Charlton and brilliant spirit to beat Barnsley at the death.
This team fights until the end and it is a characteristic Harris takes immense pride in.
"I'm really proud of them for that," Harris said after the match.
"They don’t throw the towel in. Even at 3-0 they kept going, they kept the belief. We took belief from the Charlton game, the adjustments we made at half-time against Charlton.
"Leeds outclassed us in the first 32 minutes. We made a tactical change then to switch (Lee) Tomlin and Joe Ralls over and it gave us a foothold.
"In the 10 minutes before half-time we could have scored four goals. We had four very, very good chances. And I think that tactical change gave the boys the belief.
"I expected better second half. Poor to give third goal away, has he bought it (the penalty), Patrick (Bamford)? He's clever in those situations. If there is contact then there is a foul.
"But we kept going. The fourth goal was key, getting back to 3-1 on the front foot. I knew the crowd would get edgy at 3-2."
Harris acknowledged that Leeds were the better team on the day and few would disagree.
Some of the football they played only served to highlight that City still have a long way to go if they are to challenge at the very top of this division. Harris knows that, though, and is begging for time on the training ground to put that right.
But the substitutions he made at Elland Road really made a difference. Gavin Whyte was lively and Glatzel, of course, provided the drama late on.
Neither player had played under Harris until the Leeds clash and the manager was quick to praise their impact from the bench.
"Glatzel, Whyte, Will Vaulks, Joe Ralls, people I've not seen on the pitch for us since I've come in. That was one of the reason to give people opportunities - Morrison, the same.
"I want to give them opportunities to impress because a lot of players have had opportunities.
"At 3-1, you're looking at Glatzel and Whyte and saying, 'Go on and make an impact' and they both did."
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