Fulham 1-0 Leeds
Fulham ensured that the hits just kept on coming for Terry Venables and Leeds United. As comprehensive a one-goal defeat as is imaginable condemned him and them to their fourth consecutive Premiership defeat. How much longer the Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, who spent much of the second half with his head buried in his hands, will allow it all to go on remains the burning question.
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Fulham Manager Jean Tigana played Malbranque just behind Boa Morte where he could do most damage
|
|
He got plenty of advice from the travelling fans. 'Terry, Terry, time to go,' they sang, but Venables is unlikely to quit without a financial settlement, something they can currently ill afford. 'What the f*** is going on?' they also wondered as only Paul Robinson stood between Leeds and several additions to Martin Djetou's early goal for a comfortably dominant Fulham.
Leeds's misfortunes were clear before the game, with Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Lee Bowyer added to the long list of injuries, meaning a first start up front in more than two years for Michael Bridges.
Fulham had their own problems up front with Barry Hales now ruled out for the rest of the season, Louis Saha and Facundo Sava injured and Steve Marlet suspended.
The home side made the lighter of the losses, though, their confidence high, despite a midweek Worthington Cup defeat at Wigan, as a result of victory over Liverpool in their last home game. By contrast, the visitors' body language was patently gloomy. Where Fulham were eager and energetic, Leeds were tentative.
Error-prone, too. Fulham almost had an early lead when Gary Kelly miskicked the ball straight to Steed Malbranque - a sure sign of a team lacking self-belief, as Kelly sought nervously to get rid of it as soon as he could - and the young Frenchman sent in Luis Boa Morte for a shot just wide of the far post.
Fulham manager Jean Tigana had indeed cleverly made a virtue of a defect by playing Malbranque just behind Boa Morte where he could do most damage to a Leeds side uncertain who should be picking him up. When Pierre Wome swung in a corner from the right, no Leeds player attacked the ball, Djetou instead getting ahead of Michael Duberry to power a header from close range into the roof of the net to put Fulham ahead in the 10th minute.
How Leeds then managed to survive until the interval just a goal down almost beggared belief. First, Bjarne Goldbaek sent a low shot just wide, before an effort from Boa Morte hit the covering Duberry and rebounded to Malbranque, whose shot hit the bar.
Then Robinson took over, clawing away Sean Davis's header from Steve Finnan's cross and making a double save from Wome and Malbranque.
Little had been seen of Leeds as an attacking force, save for tame shots by Smith and Bridges at either end of the half which Edwin Van Der Sar collected comfortably, and for the second half, Venables predictably brought on Robbie Fowler but surprisingly to replace Smith, rather than Bridges who is still finding his way after a career-threatening injury.
Bridges did reward the faith with a gusty display of running and holding the ball up as Leeds, realising their fortune at being only a goal down, gradually imposing themselves on the game. Bridges, indeed, came close to an equaliser, sidefooting a volley from Ian Harte's cross just wide.
Fowler then forced Van Der Sar into a save under his bar with a header from a cross by the 16-year-old substitute James Milner but though they were now going forward with more conviction, Leeds continued to look vulnerable in defence, despite Jonathan Woodgate's commanding presence.
Indeed, Boa Morte wasted a glorious opportunity to make the game safe when he streaked past Duberry but elected to shoot rather than square the ball to the unmarked Goldbaek. Robinson saved again and Goldbaek, driven wide, blazed the rebound over the bar. Malbranque then missed his kick in front of goal when Andy Melville's ball forward found him.
Boa Morte did square the ball the next time, after rounding Woodgate but this time Paul Okon, otherwise anonymous, took the ball off Davis's toe and cleared, via his own bar.
No matter ultimately. Fulham had the points, leaving Leeds again to wonder where they go from here.
Fulham
Van der Sar; Brevett, Finnan, Melville; Davis, Goldbaek, Legwinski, Malbranque; Djetou, Wome Nlend; Boa Morte.
Leeds United
Robinson; Duberry, Harte, Kelly, Woodgate; Wilcox; Barmby, McPhail, Okon; Bridges, Smith.
Referee: Durkin, P. A. (Portland)
Attendance: 17,494
Bookings
Fulham: Legwinski (13) Davis (30) Wome(48)
Leeds United: Bakke (39) Fowler (48) Wilcox (81)
Sent off
None