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Matty Hewitt

Match of The Day 2 pundits scratching heads over Leeds United's post-match comments

Match of The Day 2 pundits Jermaine Jenas, Micah Richards and Ben Mee were all left puzzled by Leeds United's post-match comments following their defeat to West Ham United. Sam Allardyce said his side couldn't defend or score goals in his post-match interview with the BBC, while defender Luke Ayling said the Whites had not been fit enough throughout the entire season.

Leeds have spent the majority of the campaign battling to avoid the drop, with the defender claiming the lack of fitness has been a problem since the outset.

Richards told Match of The Day 2: "I'm very much surprised. Basically saying they can't defend and they can't score and then Ayling saying they aren't fit enough. I'm surprised.

READ MORE: Allardyce exposing mismanagement in Leeds United inquest whether boardroom like it or not

"Ayling has been in some really good form of late as well and he's just said they're not fit enough. We know how with Bielsa they used to run up and down the place and carried on with Jesse Marsch.

"With Javi Gracia there was a little bit more composure in the way they press but to say they're not fit enough."

Jenas interjected: "I honestly think the not fit enough comment was quite fair. They didn't look anywhere near the levels where you'd expect Leeds to be at, in the second-half in particular.

"With regards to body language after the game, you saw players on their knees dejected, almost given up and accepted they're going down. The messaging from the manager and the players, all I can hope is the internal message is very different.

"It's quite damning and I don't know if it's reverse psychology but it's very strange. He's [Sam Allardyce] got one game just to get them all together."

Brentford defender Mee was in agreement with Jenas, he said: "To try and get a reaction they need to turn their heads. They've got a massive game at the weekend so they can't be too down about it this week, maybe he's trying to get a reaction out of them."

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