A look at the latest Leeds United headlines this evening on Sunday, April 23.
Bleak statistics underline Javi Gracia's Leeds United tenure
Defeat to Fulham saw Leeds United's two point cushion to the bottom relegation zone halved ahead of an important run of fixtures, with no signs of immediate improvement. Since Javi Gracia was appointed as Whites head coach, his side have lost the most duels with 336, been tackled the most times with 217 and been dispossessed the most times with 110 dispossessions.
There was a brief reprieve for the Spanish head coach, with wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest, but they know they need to pick up a win sooner rather than later. Leeds have the fourth lowest percentage of duels won in the top flight with just 43% since Gracia was appointed.
The Whites have conceded 13 goals in their last three games - half of the entire amount under Gracia - making them worst defence in the top flight since late February. They've conceded the most big chances with 26 - the joint highest - while also having the worst XG on-target with 18.2.
'Could he do better?' Illan Meslier question marks emerge again in Leeds United defeat to Fulham
Former Swansea City defender Ashely Williams has raised questions over Illan Meslier's performance in Leeds United's defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. The Whites shotstopper has been out under the magnifying glass following a string of disappointing results, with the two goals conceded at Fulham making it 13 goals that've found the back of the net in just three games.
The results was Fulham's first league double over Leeds United since 1960 - a season which saw the Whites relegated. Javi Gracia and his side are now a point above the relegation zone having been dragged closer into the fight after Leicester City's win and Everton picking up a point.
It's been a disappointing couple of weeks for Leeds United supporters, who would have been forgiven for thinking their side had turned a corner following the wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest. Meslier is just one of a number of players to have been singled out for his poor performances in that time.
National media say Leeds United in 'state of emergency' after Fulham defeat as verdict delivered
A round-up from the national media following Leeds United's defeat to Fulham.
Relegation concerns deepen for Javi Gracia and Leeds United
Harry Poole wrote for BBC Sport : "Leeds United's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League were dealt another blow as Fulham condemned Javi Gracia's side to a third successive defeat at Craven Cottage. Second-half goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira proved enough to earn victory for the hosts, who reinforced their bid to seal a top-half finish and climbed one place to ninth.
"But for Leeds the loss, accompanied by victory for Leicester City and a point for Everton later on Saturday, means they are just one point above the relegation places in 16th. A quality first-time finish by Wilson, after Illan Meslier had got an unconvincing hand to Willian's cross, broke the deadlock after 58 minutes.
The Leeds United changes Javi Gracia must make to face Leicester City
Leeds United won’t have to long to dwell on their defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon. In just a couple of days they’ll be in action again with Leicester City travelling to Elland Road on Tuesday evening and it’s a game Leeds cannot afford to drop more points in.
Nothing less than a win will do for Javi Gracia and his side and he’ll be considering a heap of changes once again to take on Dean Smith’s Foxes. Here’s a look at the decisions he might have to make ahead of the clash
Goalkeeper
Illan Meslier has come under scrutiny in recent weeks and he did himself no favours with the mistakes he made on Saturday in west London. Flapping at a deep cross to the back stick, Meslier’s intervention gave Harry Wilson the chance to score Fulham’s first on the day and Andreas Pereira had him to thank, too, for Fulham’s second.
Leeds United are the lifeblood keeping the bottom four alive as they slip into their own coma
Walls are closing in
Rinse and repeat the points made after the Crystal Palace and Liverpool losses because Leeds United’s third consecutive defeat compounds an entirely unexpected disintegration in form. Again, cycle back to half-time in that Palace game and remember the quiet confidence inside Elland Road.
Leeds would see off Roy Hodgson’s side and be within three points of a total which all but guaranteed safety. Two-and-a-half matches later and the Whites are staring down the barrel of a stark relegation picture.
The most damning aspect of the Fulham defeat is the fear this insipid, lacklustre, error-prone, blunt, tired trend has become the norm. Palace could be written off as a freak, rabbit-in-the-headlights one-off, while Liverpool could be put down to the visitors’ expensively-assembled roster.
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