Leeds United needed penalties to beat Championship side Birmingham City in the fourth round of the FA Cup and ensure progress in the tournament.
Sean Longstaff’s decisive penalty in the shootout decided the game as Leeds progressed in the FA Cup at the expense of Birmingham City, who pushed the Whites until the end.
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The much-maligned Lucas Perri emerged as the hero as he made some good saves during the game and in the shootout to ensure there was no upset at St. Andrew’s today.
However, former Liverpool star Steve McManaman has not been impressed with what he saw from Leeds against a Championship side today in the FA Cup.
Steve McManaman hammers Leeds for the performance at St. Andrew’s
The former Liverpool star insisted that Birmingham City were the better team and, on the balance of performance, should have beaten Leeds at home today.
McManaman was already fuming at the Leeds performance during half-time and stressed that the Premier League side showed little ambition to attack Birmingham.
He insisted that the home side were under no pressure from a Premier League team who are supposed to be much better than them.
McManaman said on TNT Sport: “On the balance of the game, I think the better team lost.
“But when it comes to penalties, it is about pressure and who can hold their nerve – Leeds did that today, and they come away with the victory.
“Leeds have been really poor, shocking really. Daniel Farke will not be happy with what he has seen from his team in that first half.
“It has been so negative.
“Sideways, sideways and mostly backwards. They have not even tried to put any pressure on Birmingham or attack.
“The home side have been the better team, and I think the Leeds manager will be having words with his team, they have not been at it at all.”
Leeds need to be better if they want to get anywhere near Wembley
Leeds are in the hat for the fifth round and that is what matters at the moment. However, the performance was not good enough against a Championship side.
The Whites have not made it beyond the fifth round of the FA Cup since 2003, and if they want to have a deep cup run, Leeds need to be much better.
Survival is still the focus for Leeds, but a deep cup run is something the Leeds fans will enjoy and have not experienced in close to quarter of a century.
However, if they want to get anywhere near Wembley, Leeds cannot produce such lethargic cup performances against the better teams left in the competition.