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Murphy sees Red as Whites crash out

Ten-men Leeds United fall to League Cup giant-killers.

Luke Murphy became the latest Leeds player to see red as he became the fourth Leeds player to pick up a sending off with the season less than three-weeks old.

The former Crewe man picked up two yellow-cards for reckless challenges and can have no complaints really, neither can Hockaday with the effort of the other players who managed to stay on the pitch.

However it seems unlikely that their endeavour will spare the under-fire Hockaday from the sack and two sets of supporters who spent most the night taunting each other were agreed on one-thing, Hockaday is getting sacked this morning!

That remains to be seen, the man who's decision it will ultimately be, Massimo Cellino watched on but ominously had left his seat before the final whistle as the Bantams crowed their first victory over us on this ground in nearly 82 years.

I thought we bossed the game early-doors and prior to Murphy's wanton act of stupidity, you'd never have guessed there had been suggestions the players had lost faith in their coach, we seemed to pass the ball about quite a bit too which suggested Hockaday is vainly trying to win over his detractors with good football.

Having contained their hosts who could smell blood with the man-advantage, City also found stand--in keeper Stewart Taylor in pulsating form and had Leeds snook through then Taylor unquestionably would have been man-of-the-match.

But on 82 minutes, Matt Smith, so often a cup hero in his Oldham days powered home the header that looked to have saved Hockaday's bacon. However the players seemed to think it was job-done also and backed off to allow Billy Knott to equalise two minutes later with a stunning strike.

On 86 minutes it was 2012 all over again, or 1932 even when the reliable head of James Hanson finally broke the whites' spirit, Smith had a chance to send the tie into an energy sapping period of extra time but his header in the 9th and final minute of time added on plopped just over the bar.

By then, Cellino had disappeared into the night no doubt contemplating whether or not to sack Hockaday, a decision he claimed he had made in the wake of the 4-1 loss at Watford last weekend but changed his mind on the Sunday.

But despite the gallant effort from Leeds and again reckless indiscipline from a member of his playing staff, I think Hockaday and Junior Lewis will be relieved of their duties this morning with Cellino already on his third managerial change since back in January when he agreed to buy the club from GFH capital. Although you couldn't fault the effort to climb the self-inflicted mountain, Hockaday clearly should have made changes after edging in front rather than wait until we were behind and throw Dominic Poleon on for his customary couple of minutes?

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