Leeds United boss Steve Evans was told not to talk to the media by owner Massimo Cellino, following the Whites 4-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Leeds were put through the mincer in the first-half with a Tomer Hemed double, Liam Cooper own goal, and Lewis Dunk consigning Evans’ side to a fourth defeat in ten before the second-half had begun.
Cellino did not stay to watch the second-half and later ordered Evans not to talk to the media, though the Scot did travel back on the team coach.
Evans’s assistant Paul Traynor was left to carry out media duties after what he classed as a ‘shambolic’ display.
“We are trying to give answers to the players on what we think of that first-half performance which was absolutely shambolic, not good enough, and certainly not good enough for Leeds United,” Traynor said.
“Our defending was atrocious and the manager is going to dissect it with the players.
“We only had 15 minutes at half-time to try and put a shape together and to show a bit of pride and commitment and heart out there, and I felt we did that in the second half.”
Traynor also commentated on Cellino leaving the ground early, saying: “We can’t worry about the chairman. If I was him I would have gone as well to be fair, because he doesn’t want to see his football club playing like that and I don’t blame him for that.”
Leeds have won once in their last 11 matches that has cast them down to 17th in the Championship, and the heaviest defeat of Evans’ tenure seemed to dampen the claims he made last week that the club could launch a promotion bid next season.
That 1st half performance wasn't good enough sorry to everyone who travelled all the way down we be looking to put it right on Saturday
— Toumani diagouraga (@toums20) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/Muzza_19/status/704442384109674496
