LOSSES at Leeds United are mounting – on and off the pitch.

After hearing of their club’s expected £23 million loss for the 2013/14 year, fans needed some pre-Christmas cheer.

But Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to a revived Fulham just deepened the gloom at Elland Road where owner Massimo Cellino has said he is to step down temporarily.

This was United’s tenth defeat of a stuttering Championship campaign and leaves them far too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

There as little to choose between the two sides but ultimately the Cottagers’ experience proved the telling factor.

The Whites went close in the first half when Alex Mowatt’s header shook the crossbar, but home chances were few and far between.

Fulham had opened up United’s left flank several times but could not find that final pass until Lasse Vigen Christensen’s cut-back on the hour was converted from close range by Hugo Rodellega.

Manager Neil Redfearn sent on Billy Sharp for the disappointing Souleymane Doukara and the substitute triggered a good Leeds response.

He provided the cross which somehow on-loan Brazilian striker Adryan failed to head home and after that Leeds were unable to mount a grandstand finish.

Fulham, well served by a strong defence, eased home in the end, picking their moments to retain possession before springing on the counter and should have doubled their advantage but for a bad miss by Rodellega.

Leeds clearly have midfield promise in teenagers Mowatt, Adryan and Lewis Cook, but need more experienced heads to guide them. With a transfer embargo on the horizon because of the big losses, Redfearn may have to work within the players at his disposal.

Said the Leeds boss: “I’m disappointed with the result and for the first time at home, we lacked that conviction and that devil.

“I thought our passing was a little bit tatty and we left ourselves open on the counter-attack.

“We got ourselves to that stage where we had some momentum at home but I thought we looked tentative in and around the box.”

Leeds’ status as 19th in the table ensured Redfearn felt any defeat on his watch carried extra weight.

“Whatever headway you make, when you do get a blip it magnifies the defeat,” he said.
 

Leeds United: Silvestri, Byram, Pearce, Cooper, Warnock (Beradi 88), Bianchi, Cook, Mowatt, Adryan (Dawson 75), Doukara (Sharp 61), Antenucci. Subs (not used): Taylor, Tonge, Sloth, Del Fabro. Caution: Mowatt.

Fulham: Kiraly, Grimmer, Hutchinson, Bodourov, Staflydis, Hyndeman, Christensen, Fofana (Zverotic 86), Ruiz, McCormack, Rodellega (Woodrow 82). Subs (not used): Roberts, Williams, Kavanagh, Burn, Rodak.

Referee: Scott Duncan.

Attendance: 27,264.