YOU didn’t need to be Celebrity Mastermind contestant Ben Shires to answer the following question correctly.

“What was the worst half of football you have seen this season at Elland Road?”

The children’s TV presenter, fresh from answering questions on Leeds United on the quiz show, was a guest of the club at Saturday’s game against Bristol City.

He may have scored ten out of ten on his specialist subject during his time in the famous black chair, but Leeds didn’t get a single thing right in the opening half against Championship strugglers Bristol.

Questionmaster John Humphrys’s phrase “no passes” was an idea description of the Whites’ opening 45 minutes.

Leeds head coach Steve Evans gave a brutal, but accurate, assessment. “The first half was like going to the dentist. It wasn’t pleasant and it was a long 45 minutes. It was a scrappy game and we were poor in quality all over the pitch in the first half – it was lazy and sloppy.”

When the referee’s assistant held up the board showing there were two extra minutes before the intervals there were groans of disappointment, followed shortly by a cacophony of boos.

Matters improved (they could not get any worse) after the arrival of Chris Wood from the bench to partner the isolated Souleymane Doukara in attack.

Wood, who had missed the last four games through injury, helped set up the only goal of the game, driven in by Doukara on 58 minutes. It was United’s only shot on target and Doukara’s third strike in four matches.

The 1-0 win leaves Leeds unbeaten at home in six games with an 11-point cushion both clear of relegation and adrift of a play-off spot.

But it didn’t feel like it after being outplayed by a limited Bristol side who missed several good chances, particularly when Aden Flint headed wide of an open goal 11 minutes from time.

Bristol, led by interim manager John Pemberton, the former Leeds defender, had the best player on the pitch in forward Jonathan Kodija, whose twinkling footwork took him past defenders with ease. In contrast, United’s players barely attempted to take on an opponent.

The transfer of Brentford’s defensive midfielder Toumani Diagouraga to Elland Road was expected to go through over the weekend if the midfielder passed his medical. The 6ft 2in Frenchman could be in line to make his Leeds debut at his former club tomorrow (Tuesday).

With long-term loanees Liam Bridcutt and Tom Adeyemi already occupying similar roles in the squad, Diagouraga seems more like a signing with next season in mind.

The big questions for Evans are what system and what personnel does he go with a Griffin Park after such a poor showing against Bristol?

Leeds United: Silvestri, Wootton, Bellusci, Cooper, Taylor, Bridcutt, Dallas, Murphy (Adeyemi 90), Cook, Carayol (Wood 53), Doukara (Antenucci 85). Subs (not used): Bamba, Phillips, Coyle, Peacock-Farrell.. Cautions: Taylor, Bellusci, Antenucci, Adeyemi

Bristol City: O’Donnell, Ayling, Flint, Baker (Pearce HT), Bryan, Smith, Pack (Wilbraham 76), Gladwin (Reid 61), Burns, Freeman, Kodija. Subs (not used): Little, Agard, Wagstaff, O’Leary. Cautions: Baker, Kodija

Ref: Charles Breakspear (Surrey) Att: 20,441