Leeds boss Neil Warnock has been left to bemoan bad finishing and bad luck as his Leeds side slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against npower Championship leaders Southampton.
Rickie Lambert scored the only goal against a Leeds side who twice hit the woodwork, twice missed open goals, had a strong penalty appeal turned down and were persistently repelled by Southampton’s brilliant goalkeeper Kelvin Davis on Sunday.
“You don’t always get what you deserve, I know that from experience,” Warnock said.
“It’s whetted my appetite, though. I think the players have surprised themselves if I’m honest, not just the way we played, but the style.
“Their goalkeeper could have won five man-of-the-match awards, but the finishing could have been better.
“When you’re top of the league, like Southampton, you get the rub of the green. We had a certain penalty at 0-0 when the lad (Jose Fonte) put his hand up to block Snodgrass’s shot.
“We dominated the best side in the league for 89 minutes and that’s fantastic.”
Saints boss Nigel Adkins said: “We looked second best to a very good, very spirited Leeds side and our goalkeeper had an outstanding evening.
“It was backs to the wall, but the players defended resolutely.”
Reading boss Brian McDermott praised his side’s “guts” after they boosted their promotion hopes thanks to Adam Le Fondre’s winner in a 2-1 victory at Millwall.
Andrew Keogh put the home side on course for a shock victory against the league’s third-placed side before Hal Robson-Kanu equalised for the Royals in first-half injury time and Le Fondre completed the turnaround.
McDermott said: “We are on a great run and we are really pleased. We are trying to win every game, that’s all we’re concentrating on.
“The players have fantastic guts, they know how to win games, they know what’s required and there’s a really good camaraderie between everyone.”
Birmingham surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Derby.
Erik Huseklepp and Marlon King put Blues in control, before Steve Davies pulled one back after 61 minutes and Theo Robinson equalised shortly after.
Birmingham boss Chis Hughton, said: “It was very frustrating.
“At 2-0 up the fact you’re playing at home, you fully expect to go on and win.
“But what we have done perhaps in the last couple of games is conceded uncharacteristic goals.
“We have to learn from it and look to pick it up again for the next league game.”
Portsmouth boss Michel Appleton vowed his side would carry on fighting after 16,000 fans turned out to see them being beaten 3-1 by 10-man Middlesbrough.
Pompey’s administrators warned this week that the club may not be able to afford to see out the season and their troubles continued on the pitch when Boro raced in to a 2-0 lead after goals from Barry Robson and Matthew Bates.
Greg Halford gave Portsmouth a glimmer of hope from the penalty spot but Marvin Emnes dashed any hopes of an upset with an 83rd-minute goal. Boro had defender Rhys Williams sent off at the end.
“Obviously it’s difficult,” said Appleton. “From our point of view, you have to keep the belief, no matter how hard you get knocked.
“If you get knocked down you’ve just got to keep picking yourself up. Again today there were a few contentious decisions out there which cost us.”
El-Hadji Diouf’s second-half penalty gave Doncaster a 1-1 draw against Brighton after Gus Poyet’s side had taken the lead through Craig Mackail-Smith.
Goals from Nyron Nosworthy, Alex Kacaniklic and Troy Deeney saw Watford come from 2-0 down to beat Burnley 3-2 at Vicarage Road.
Nosworthy had earlier headed into his own net after Jay Rodriguez’s opener for Burnley.
Craig Davies’ second-half strike for Barnsley denied Nottingham Forest a third straight win at Oakwell.
Forest had gone ahead in the 32nd minute through Garath McCleary but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Elsewhere, Leicester beat Coventry 2-0, Ipswich were 3-0 winners against Bristol City and Crystal Palace edged out Peterborough 1-0.
