Mark Robins says his decision to leave Martin Paterson, Adam Clayton and Anthony Gerrard out of his derby-day squad was made “for the good of the club”.
The omission of the trio came amid rumours of a training-ground bust-up between striker Paterson and ex-Leeds midfielder Clayton, who had featured in all but two of Town’s previous 16 games in league and cup.
Northern Ireland striker Paterson has figured 11 times and Gerrard 13, but like Clayton, they didn’t even make the bench for Town’s derby win.
“There are bits and pieces happening in training up and down the country every day,” said Robins, who has now enjoyed wins in both his clashes with Leeds as Town boss.
“There’s nothing to report, nothing sinister, nothing serious. Their omission was nothing to do with what may or may not have happened on the training ground.
“My decisions are based purely on the good of the team and club. Every decision I make, I try to do that.
“It’s great to be sat here winning the game because those decisions are fully vindicated, so I’ll continue in the same vein.
“I’ll pick the team that I feel is capable of winning the game for us, but also to have a togetherness, team spirit and bond between the players – that’s massively important.
“The players concerned are aware of why I left them out.
“I have a pool of players, and all of them have to work hard and aim to be the best they can be every day they come into work.”
Owner-chairman Dean Hoyle was absent for Town’s first win in six Championship matches, their fourth of the campaign and their fifth in the last nine derby clashes with Leeds.
But Robins revealed: “Dean is in warmer climes, but I received a text from him at 4.20 on the morning of the match.
“It just said ‘good luck, it’s a big one for everyone’, so I was under no illusions what it meant to all connected with the club.
“To win was brilliant. We passed the ball at times, but we also stood firm in adversity. It was the right result.”
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