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Championship: Neil Redfearn hails Leeds win over leaders Bournemouth

Leeds United caretaker manger Neil Redfearn looks on at the start of the match between AFC Bournemouth and Leeds United September 16 2014
Image: Neil Redfearn: Delighted with win over Bournemouth

Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn declared the club was "alive and kicking" after turning in one of their best displays of the season to beat Sky Bet Championship leaders Bournemouth 1-0.

Luke Murphy crashed home a superb first-half goal at Elland Road but Leeds were left hanging on at the end as Bournemouth spurned a string of chances.

The visitors had a goal controversially ruled out for offside, hit the post and also missed a late penalty after home defender Giuseppe Bellusci had been sent off for his challenge on Callum Wilson.

But Redfearn was delighted his players responded to this week's latest off-field turmoil with such a timely win after president Massimo Cellino had lost his appeal against the Football League's ruling to disqualify him from being the club's owner. It was Leeds' first league success in eight matches.

"It's business as usual," Redfearn said. "I spoke to Massimo on Monday and obviously he was a little bit flat, you can imagine so.

"But he basically said nothing changes. He said it's still my football club, I'm still in charge of it, somebody else will sign the cheques, somebody else will be in front of it, but it's business as usual.

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Luke Murphy scored the only goal of the game as 10-man Leeds beat Championship leaders Bournemouth 1-0 at Elland Road

"He wants it to do well. He's as focused and driven as ever and the good thing is the performance shows this club is alive and kicking.

"It was a great performance. (Bournemouth are) the best footballing side in the division. First-half in particular we pressured them to death."

Redfearn was furious with referee Oliver Langford's penalty decision and Bellusci's dismissal as he argued the Italian defender's challenge on Wilson was "blatantly three yards outside" the area.

He also added that outstanding teenage midfielder Lewis Cook was the best player he has seen progress through the club's academy.

"He was the best player on the pitch by a mile," Redfearn said. "You forget he is 17 years old, but what an immense talent."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe felt his side were let down by a slow start and some poor finishing.

The south-coast club slipped to only their second defeat in 17 Championship matches and their first on the road in the league since the end of September.

"The big disappointment for us was the way we started and the way we gave Leeds the chance to get their crowd behind them early in the game," Howe said.

"Our game-plan was to quieten the crowd and try and make a fast start, but Leeds put us under pressure and they played well in the first half.

"They scored a good goal and unfortunately for us it just seemed to be one of those nights when the ball wouldn't go in for us."

Bournemouth winger Marc Pugh struck a post with a curling 81st-minute shot and substitute Yann Kermorgant crashed his 87th-minute penalty against the crossbar.

Howe also felt Brett Pitman's disallowed effort in the first half was questionable.

He added: "I had a gut feeling at the time that it was a really tough call for us because I felt there was a defender between Brett and the goal. If that's the case we'll be bitterly disappointed.

"We got into some great attacking positions and some of our forward play was very strong, but for that final part."

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