Leeds United suffered a fourth straight defeat in the Premier League as they were beaten 3-2 by Fulham at Elland Road. The Whites had taken the lead through Rodrigo Moreno but were undone by a series of sloppy errors at the back with their winless run now up to eight matches.
Pressure is now ramping up on manager Jesse Marsch with Leeds now into the bottom three following comprehensive wins for both Aston Villa and Leicester City. Here is how the national media reported Leeds' latest defeat.
'He will doubtless wonder if his turn is coming'
Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail said: "As they had here against Arsenal last week, Leeds were progressive for periods against a Fulham team looking increasingly comfortable back in the top division under Marco Silva. Leeds even took the lead through Rodrigo in the 20th minute.
READ MORE: Leeds United news as Marco Silva hails Fulham after 'deserved' win at Elland Road
"But there continues to be a sense of chaos about this Leeds team at times and it continues to cost them. They subsequently created chances they didn’t take and ultimately gave up three pretty dreadful goals to have lost the game convincingly by the time substitute Crysencio Sunmmerville pulled one back in added time.
"The first two Fulham goals were headers. One, soon after Leeds had taken the lead, was converted at the near post by Aleksandar Mitrovic and went straight through the hands of goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The second, with sixteen minutes left, came off the head of the smallest man on the field, Fulham defender Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Soon after that Leeds lost the ball inside their own penalty area and the Brazilian Willian tidied up for Fulham.
"A 3-1 scoreline was to become 3-2 but that will not comfort Marsch. Teams around him at the bottom have been sacking managers, with varying degrees of success. He will doubtless wonder if his turn is coming."
'Most untypically, he did not celebrate that opener'
Louise Taylor of the Guardian said: "Marsch had spent much of the early part of game standing in his trademark alpha male touchline stance, legs planted wide apart, but, most untypically, he did not celebrate that opener. Instead he stood impassively, suggesting this was not quite the right moment to jump for joy with characteristically extravagant abandon.
"Such circumspection looked wise once Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised. The Serbia striker was outstanding throughout, linking play superbly, and his ninth Premier League goal in 11 games arrived after he sneaked in front of Luke Ayling to connect with Andreas Pereira’s corner and head Fulham level.
"The look on Illan Meslier’s face suggested the Leeds goalkeeper thought he should have saved it but the Frenchman subsequently proved more than equal to the danger when the otherwise excellent Pereira shot straight at him after being put clean through by Willian’s clever counter-attacking pass.
"Marsch’s side were ceding control of a midfield in which the 20‑year‑old Sam Greenwood, a former striker, had been drafted into an anchoring role in place of the injured Tyler Adams and the general mood turned correspondingly fractious.
"Perhaps responding to the heat generated by a series of niggling on‑pitch altercations allied to the increasingly edgy home support, Silva removed his coat, revealing a smartly understated black polo neck jumper beneath."
'Leeds United is not a happy club right now'
Phil Dawkes of BBC Sport said: "It started with cheers and ended in boos, hope giving way to outright hostility.
"Leeds United is not a happy club right now. Without a win since August, they have taken just two points from a possible 24 and sit inside the Premier League’s bottom three. They don’t take enough of the chances they create and give away sloppy goals at the other end.
"At Leicester on Thursday, their fans voiced their discontent. At Elland Road on Sunday this became outright mutiny, with boos and chants aimed at both manager Jesse Marsch and the board who hired him as manager.
"If the American holds on to his job, four of his next five league fixtures are against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle.
"The latest defeat came at the hands of Fulham, who provided a template for how to do it, showing calmness and composure, even after going behind, a defensive robustness to see off the best an opponent could throw at them and a cutting edge when it was required.
"In the summer, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani stated it was "impossible" that his club would be relegated this year. Only one side at Elland Road on Sunday looked like making good on such a prediction. It was not the team in white."
READ NEXT:
- 'Stay calm' - Luke Ayling sends message to Leeds United supporters as winless run continues
- Ayling and Rodrigo's blame-game inquest, Elland Road anger boils in Leeds United moments missed
- Jesse Marsch hits defiant Leeds United tone as board conversations become clear in Fulham loss
- Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch shown Elland Road anger as Patrick Bamford's day gets worse
- Supporters losing patience with Jesse Marsch after Fulham loss lands Leeds United in drop zone
