Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has admitted that he is "devastated" over David Nugent's 88th-minute winner in the 1-0 defeat to Leicester City at Elland Road today.
McDermott's troops looked to have done enough to have secured a point against the Championship leaders, only for the 28-year-old to pounce in the closing stages of normal time and steal the victory for Nigel Pearson's men.
The defeat to the Foxes is Leeds' second in the space of a week following the 6-0 demolition by Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.
Although McDermott admits his pleasure at watching a much-improved display today, the 52-year-old rued the missed opportunities which allowed Nugent's strike to prove decisive.
"The performance was chalk and cheese from last week but we still lost," he told Sky Sports. "They get a break right at the end, but we could've been three up at half-time.
"I said at half-time 'It's going to be a one goal game' and they just got it. They're top of the league and they got the break but we deserved to be in front, as from the first half we were much, much better.
"The players showed the character and the supporters appreciated the character shown, but we are devastated that we haven't got the result today."
Consequently, Leeds remain 12th in the standings ahead of next week's visit to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Shane Callaghan
