Leeds 2-3 Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Willian strike to pile extra strain on Jesse Marsch

Leeds had been booed off by their very own followers after a 3-2 residence defeat to Fulham dropped them into the Premier League relegation zone and elevated the strain on under-fire supervisor Jesse Marsch.

In an eventful first half, Rodrigo put Leeds in entrance on 19 minutes however Aleksandar Mitrovic’s close-range header from a nook equalised issues simply six minutes later.

The match remained on a knife edge till late within the second half when Fulham administered the killer blow with two targets in 10 minutes. First, Bobby Decordova-Reid glanced Andreas Pereira’s cross into the far nook, earlier than Harrison Reed arrange Willian for a easy tap-in.

Substitutes Joe Gelhardt and Crysencio Summerville mixed for the latter to attain in stoppage time to present Leeds some late hope, however the full-time whistle arrived to sign widespread discontent from the house followers round Elland Road.

Despite the criticism, Marsch has vowed to hold on.

“I understand their frustration we’re all in that boat,” mentioned Marsch. “I’m chargeable for making this group higher. I’m going to work tirelessly to attempt to assist them [the players] acquire their confidence.

“I’m here for the long term. I love this club, I’m investing everything I have to try to make us better.”

Leeds have now gone eight league matches with out a win and drop to 18th, whereas newly-promoted Fulham rise to seventh – above Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – after a powerful begin to the season beneath Marco Silva.

How Fulham turned the tide

The tempo of this sport confirmed no indicators of a gradual affair from the off, with Leeds doing the early working however Fulham having fun with pleasure on the break.

It was the guests who had the primary main probability of the match, with Antonee Robinson’s cross flicked on by Mitrovic to the advancing Reed on the fitting.

The Fulham midfielder slammed the ball previous Illan Meslier and was anticipating the online to bulge, just for an outstanding last-ditch intervention by Marc Roca to disclaim him from beneath the crossbar.

With Fulham seeking to flip the screw, Leeds hit them on a devastating break for the opener. Brenden Aaronson fed Jack Harrison down the fitting and the Leeds winger skipped away from Robinson with ease.

Tim Ream received throughout to dam Harrison’s effort however the ball scooped up within the air to Rodrigo, who beat Tosin Adarabioyo within the air to nod the hosts in entrance.

But Fulham would draw themselves again stage with an analogous model of aim. Pereira’s nook floated into the close to submit and Mitrovic bustled Luke Ayling out of the best way to look a header in for his ninth of the marketing campaign.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Fulham had been inches away from a second and a first-half turnaround. After Leeds did not capitalise from their very own free-kick, Pereira was launched for a one-on-one with the whole half to himself.

The midfielder had loads of time to consider his choices, however might solely hearth into Meslier’s midriff in a significant let-off for the hosts.

Just like towards Arsenal final weekend, Leeds got here out firing within the second half as Aaronson, Rodrigo and Ayling spurned some half-opportunities to regain the lead.

The introduction of Patrick Bamford on the hour mark raised the depth for the house aspect, with the striker denied a one centesimal profession league aim by a powerful close-range cease by Bernd Leno.

But as Leeds seemed all set to show the screw, Fulham struck. Pereira’s pinpoint cross from the fitting fell into the trail of Decordova-Reid, who had the straightforward activity of nodding previous the rooted Meslier.

Ten minutes later, and following little Leeds resistance, it was three for Fulham. Some glorious work from Reed in the fitting channel of the penalty space noticed him feed Willian, who stretched to prod residence on the far submit to seal the factors.

Leeds followers started to flood out of Elland Road and those who stayed booed and chanted “What is going on?” – and regardless of Summerville prodding residence previous Leno following Gelhardt’s deft flick – the outlook shouldn’t be a very good one for Marsch.

Marsch: Defeat painful and unacceptable | Silva: Fulham are grounded

Amidst chants of “What is going on?” and “Sack the board”, Marsch vowed to hold on at Leeds regardless of the extraordinary strain on him.

“We always knew the league is incredibly difficult – we never took anything for granted, even staying up last year,” mentioned Marsch. “We’re going to use our mentality and our commitment – even today we pushed until the end – and we’re going to use that character we have in the group and figure out ways to get better.

“I do not assume our followers wish to hear loads of tactical evaluation proper now. We had a very good begin to the sport and you’re feeling after the aim, we’d begin to get management of issues.

“But we find ways to hurt ourselves and give up goals in ways we don’t think we should be – and we put games in balance. In the second half, at 1-1, you can see that our confidence is at its highest and then we gave the game away.

“Set-piece defending, we take loads of pleasure on. It’s two corners and a throw-in and we do not defend nicely sufficient and we’re not prepared for these moments. It’s painful and unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, regardless of Fulham sitting on the lofty heights of seventh place, supervisor Marco Silva insisted the west Londoners will stay grounded of their unbelievable begin to the marketing campaign.

“What a comeback, starting at this stadium, losing 1-0,” mentioned the Fulham boss. “The way they did it really impressed me. They showed character and personality to play at this level. Even the way they reacted, equalising and commanding the game.

“I’ve to be sensible, I’m not loopy. I do know the standard that we face each single time. I do know what it means to play at Elland Road and these followers could make an additional participant for them. We knew it might be powerful, however it’s powerful for different groups to play towards us as nicely.

“The main thing for me is they can realise every single match that our players can do everything to make them proud and to win a football match.

“The place within the desk is good, however it’s not the principle factor. Two weeks earlier than after we misplaced towards Newcastle and at that loopy sport at West Ham, we weren’t in panic. And now we’re not in over the moon. We hold our ft on the bottom.”

Analysis: Marsch really up against it

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

Four straight defeats for Leeds and no wins in eight under Jesse Marsch. Fans booing, players out of confidence and goals flying in at the wrong end. How much worse can it get?

Well, take a look at Leeds’ fixture list and it could be quite a lot. Next on their agenda is Liverpool next weekend, then Bournemouth at home the week after. Either side of the World Cup break is Tottenham and Manchester City.

You do struggle to see where the points are coming from, especially given Bournemouth at home will contain a lot of pressure.

In their final 4 video games, Leeds have put in various ranges of efficiency – however there is a frequent denominator. Marsch’s aspect ought to have been 3-0 up towards Crystal Palace however threw away their lead, Leeds had been unlucky towards Arsenal however gifted the Gunners their winner. At Leicester they had been abject however actually put targets into their very own internet, and Leeds had been so open that Fulham might have left Elland Road with a hatful of targets.

It appears that it doesn’t matter what Leeds do now, they can not assist conceding through their very own means. Once and Marsch can cover behind particular person error. Four straight video games? That’s greater than coincidence.

A leaky defence was the story of the tape behind Marcelo Bielsa’s sacking – and his successor appears to be like to be heading down an analogous route.

What’s subsequent?

Saturday twenty ninth October 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Saturday twenty ninth October 7:30pm


Kick off 7:45pm

Leeds can be again in Premier League motion on Saturday once they journey to Liverpool, dwell on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.45pm. Fulham are additionally on Sky Sports on October 29, welcoming Everton to Craven Cottage; kick-off 5.30pm.