FURIOUS Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell apologised to the club's fans after last night's 2-1 home defeat against Burnley.

"We showed contempt for a team that went a goal down after 12 seconds. We thought it was going to be a cakewalk and we took liberties," blasted Blackwell.

"We did everything we could have done for Burnley bar scoring their goals. We gave them everything on a plate.

"I will not defend the players for an inept performance like that because I owe it to the fans to tell it how it is, not pussyfoot around and hide behind bulls*** - and I won't.

"We were poor and I apologise to the fans who have been magnificent this year. We got what we deserved and if anyone thinks he can pull on the white shirt of Leeds United and have the right to win he is sadly mistaken."

The frustrated Elland Road faithful booed their team off as Leeds, with just one win in nine games, continued their slide down the Championship table. They are just four points above a relegation slot and will drop lower if they continue to play like they did last night.

Things could not have started any better as Jermaine Wright fired Leeds ahead after just 12 seconds - believed to be the fastest-ever United goal.

But the quickfire lead vanished by half-time through disastrous defending against a Burnley side lacking five regulars.

A poor Sean Gregan header, under-hit Clarke Carlisle back-pass and indecisive goalkeeping by Neil Sullivan enabled Lee Roche to knock the ball in to an empty net for a ninth minute comedy-of-errors equaliser.

On the half-hour the unmarked James O'Connor's header was pawed away by Sullivan but Richard Duffy, on loan from Portsmouth, reacted far quicker than any home defender to steer the loose ball home.

Brian Deane headed a chance to level wide and after the interval Leeds finally started to up the tempo.

Julian Joachim almost equalised when Frank Sinclair's clearance hit the Leeds forward and cannoned off both bar and post.

There was still a third of the game to go when Deane was replaced by the ineffective Michael Ricketts - a move Blackwell most have regretted as Leeds lost any momentum they were generating.

Further substitutions left United looking a confused, unbalanced rag-bag outfit and had not Robbie Blake spurned two good chances the margin of defeat would have been embarrassing.

Blackwell said he felt all the talk of a takeover was unsettling his squad. Should the American takeover led by Sebastien Sainsbury go through then Blackwell's own position could be undermined as he is coming under increasing pressure.

The resources he has available at his disposal are unquestionably thin but Steve Cotterill probably had less to work with last night and managed to extract more skill, passion, energy and organisation from his patched-up squad.

Leeds United 1, Burnley 2 Coca-Cola Championship (at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle (Lennon 67), Butler, Kilgallon, Joachim, Wright, Gregan, Pugh (Simon Johnson 75), Deane (Ricketts 56), Healy. Subs (not used): Carson, Walton. Cautions: Pugh, Butler. Goal: Wright 1

Burnley: Jenson, Roche, Sinclair, McGreal (Sanokho 80), Camara, Grant, Hyde, O'Connor, Duffy (O'Neill 86), Blake. Subs (not used): Pilkington, Scott, Yates. Cautions: Sinclair, Duff. Goals: Roche 9, Duffy 31.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffs)

Attendance: 27,490

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, November 04, 2004