Leeds United - Garry Monk reacts after victory in first pre-season outing
Thursday, 14th Jul 2016 09:47 by Lucas Monk

Leeds United head coach Garry Monk was pleased with “certain elements” of his side's game after securing a first win of pre-season over Shelbourne, but the former Swansea boss conceded there was still much work to do following the 2-1 success at Tolka Park.

Well-taken first-half goals from Souleymane Doukara and Hadi Sacko gave United a comfortable 2-0 lead going into the break, before Adam Evans pulled one back for the hosts just moments into the second period to make it more of a contest.

Monk decided to field two XI's — one playing the opening 60 minutes and the other playing the final 30 minutes — an approach that he plans to keep in place for Saturday’s visit to Shamrock Rovers, and he also decided to take a balanced view of his first game in charge of the Whites.

“I was happy with certain elements,” Monk told United's official site.

“Quite naturally, there was a little bit of rustiness, but that’s natural at this stage.

“It was their first game, their first minutes back out on the pitch.

“They’ve done a lot of hard work out here already, so physically they’re under a lot of stress, but it was a good result. Although it wasn’t really the result I was looking at — it was more about certain elements.

“There were good periods in the game where I liked what I saw, and there were other bits that we need to improve on. “We need to get better and improve on things, which we will do — but it was first minutes for the players and there was always going to be that little bit of rustiness.

“They’ve been working in a good way, now we just have to fine-tune things in the games that are coming up. Like I’ve said all along, it’s a work-in-progress.

“We have to improve on certain areas but I was pleased with some of what I saw tonight.”

Leeds will take on Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday. The Whites will then return to England to take on Guiseley at Nethermoor (22nd), and Peterborough at London Road (23rd), before ending their pre-season campaign with an intriguing clash against Serie A side Atalanta at Elland Road on the 30th.

Photo: Action Images

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