Leeds United captain Liam Cooper says they've been prepared to play ugly to move up the table.

Cooper is well aware the performances have not been pretty, but the squad must be very satisfied given how much more precarious the table could look.

Writing in Saturday's matchday programme ahead of the Manchester City clash, Cooper said: “Over the last few matches, we have been much more of a unit and hard to break down. We were really pleased to record clean sheets against Watford and Crystal Palace, back-to-back.

“Even against Southampton, we were a lot more solid, only conceding courtesy of a James Ward-Prowse free-kick, which he scores like penalties. While we know our performances can improve, sometimes, as I've said before in the past, it is about doing it the ugly way and grinding out results and earning points.

“This is what we have been doing, and must continue to do, going forwards until the end of the season."