An ecstatic Steve Evans oversaw Leeds United's first win at Elland Road since March, as his side beat Cardiff City 1-0 in the Sky Bet Championship thanks to a super strike from Alex Mowatt.
The result was Leeds' first home win since beating Ipswich Town last season, and their first under the recently-appointed Evans.After the match the 53-year-old admitted to being very proud, and was full of praise for his players.
FT: #lufc 1-0 @CardiffCityFC. The wait is over! Alex Mowatt’s 63rd-minute stunner wins it at Elland Road! GET IN!! pic.twitter.com/QJFMznjW2K
— Leeds United FC (@LUFC) November 3, 2015“We were all down after the Blackburn game and my birthday on Friday was the worst birthday I have had. I then spoke to the players about having some passion and drive.
“I’ve always had a phrase that if two teams turn up with equal ability then it’s passion and drive that wins football matches.
“I’m very proud now. I was so down after last Thursday but had to lift them and I told them the minimum we needed was effort.”
Evans has good reason to be pleased - United ended Cardiff's run of four successive clean sheets and picked up all three points against the Bluebirds for the first time since February 1984.
It was a stunning goal from Mowatt that settled the encounter and Evans had encouraged the midfielder to start shooting more at the half-time break.
“I think it was a special goal worthy of winning any match.
“I have seen Alex score from that kind of range with ease with such quality as an opposition manager and I told him at half-time to take one on. Alex is on the way back up.”
The result came after they had their pitch blessed, and it saw Leeds rise to 17th in the Sky Bet Championship table ahead of a Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town this weekend.
READ | Monsignor Philip Moger of St Anne's Cathedral blesses the Elland Road pitch: https://t.co/TV2uzyN7pS#lufcpic.twitter.com/Ltw2U51pig
— Leeds United FC (@LUFC) November 4, 2015