Leeds United's Ross McCormack spared the pressure of taking second penalty (From York Press)

Leeds United's Ross McCormack spared the pressure of taking second penalty

10:53am Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport

Manager Neil Warnock revealed how he spared Ross McCormack the pressure of taking a second penalty and handed the job to Stephen Warnock as Leeds United kept their top-six hopes alive with a 1-0 home win over Millwall.

Warnock, signed from Aston Villa on a free transfer in January, kept his cool to ram home a 72nd-minute spot-kick after McCormack had seen his 28th-minute effort turned on to a post by David Forde.

“I didn’t want Ross to take the second penalty and put extra pressure on himself after missing the first,” said boss Warnock.

“I was going to send El-Hadji Diouf on to take it, but Stephen wanted to take it straight away.”

Leeds remain in the play-off hunt as a result of their eighth win in nine home League games, but now face a tricky week on the road that could prove crucial.

Warnock added: “It was all about getting three points. It was a must-win before going away to Leicester and Crystal Palace and we deserved it, though we could have made it easier for ourselves.”

Former York City winger Martyn Woolford twice went close for Millwall before setting up James Henry whose shot smacked against the near post in the 13th minute.

McCormack’s missed penalty came after York-based Sam Byram was brought down by Woolford 15 yards out on the right.