Ethan Ampadu has brought on at half-time to help sort Leeds United out in Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Birmingham City.

Ethan Ampadu made a very honest Leeds United players admission after inspiring his side past Birmingham City in Sunday’s FA Cup epic.

Boss Daniel Farke made six changes to his team for Sunday’s fourth round clash at St Andrew’s in which Leeds survived a host of Birmingham chances to go in at half-time 0-0.

Farke then brought on Ampadu as his sole change during the break as Facundo Buonanotte was withdrawn and the Whites quickly improved before going ahead through a terrific Lukas Nmecha strike.

Birmingham, though, continued to create chances and an 89th-minute equaliser from Patrick Roberts ultimately sent the game to extra time and penalties, Leeds holding their nerve to progress 4-2 on spot kicks.

The Whites are now safely into the hat for the fifth round draw but Ampadu admitted the entire team failed to produce the required Leeds United standard in the first half as he saluted the efforts of Birmingham.

“That's what the fans want and we didn't do that”

Speaking post match to TNT Sports, Ampadu was asked what Farke had said to him at half-time in a bid to lift Leeds after the break and said: “Not just me but the whole team.

"We knew before he spoke that that wasn't the levels of our performance.

"We pride ourselves and you know what it takes to wear a Leeds shirt, you have to fight, you have to work hard, that's what the fans want and we didn't do that in the first half and they were the better team, probably maybe the better team throughout the game.

"They had some chances but for us we had to get back in the game, we had to fight, we had to show our character and that was it."

Ampadu soon made an impact after being brought on and the skipper even had a chance to win the game himself deep in extra time when blazing a shot over the bar inside a packed box from a corner.

“We were confident that the five could do it”

Pressed, though, if he was ultimately delighted to see his men reach the next round, Ampadu reasoned: “Yeah absolutely.

"I am still quite annoyed that I missed the target to be honest.

"Honestly, I think that was the first thing someone said to me after.

"But very delighted, that's what these games are about, it's about getting into the hat for the next round."

Leeds did do by ultimately proving perfect with their penalties, Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all converting after Birmingham missed two of theirs, one of them kept out by a brilliant Perri save.

Asked how far along he was if the penalties went a bit further, Ampadu quipped: “Eleventh?!

"I'm not sure, he gave the five and I think we were confident that the five could do it and then I think six, seven, eight, nine and ten would have just been whoever wanted it."