LEEDS United’s wait goes on for both Premier League points and a new manager.

Despite bettering Manchester United for large chunks of the game the relegation-threatened Whites fell to a late 2-0 defeat at Elland Road on Sunday.

The match was watched for former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder, who has emerged as the new favourite for the club’s vacant managerial role following the sacking of Jesse Marsch last week.

Schreuder saw that he would have plenty to work with at struggling Leeds, who gave their in-form cross-Pennine rivals a real run for their money for the second time in five days.

In both matches Leeds lost points because they were undone by late goals.

They paid for a failing to take their opportunities when they were on top in Sunday’s scrappy encounter and remain in deep relegation trouble.

50-year-old Schreuder was axed by the Amsterdam giants last month after a poor run of results so is available to take over immediately, particularly as

Leeds want to appoint their new man before Saturday’s crunch battle at fellow strugglers Everton.

At Ajax he replaced Erik Ten Hag, who is now reviving the fortunes of Manchester United, particularly Marcus Rashford.

After scoring the Red Devils’ first goal in midweek as they came back from 2-0 down at Old Trafford to draw against Leeds, Rashford broke the deadlock on 80 minutes by heading in his 21st goal of the season.

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho soon added a second as Leeds’ run without a Premier League win stretched to nine games, with a meagre four points from the last 27 available.

That tally is not a fair reflection on the two performances under caretaker manager Michael Skubala, who felt the result was harsh on the Whites.

“I actually thought we were on top for long periods at the start the second half and we created quite a lot of chances. The first goal has changed the game. So I’m deflated. We haven’t got anything out of the game, but we had a good performance.

“I think top, top players at the top, top level can change games. I think that’s one moment of class from Rashford in the box.

“They’ve got good players that can change moments. But I think as a group and tactically we set up a really good plan and we just tweaked things at half-time and I think we should have scored first.”

Once again Leeds were without injured senior trio Liam Cooper, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra, while Pascal Struijk was forced to miss the game because of concussion protocols.

Asked if he expected to be in charge for the Everton game, Skubala said:

“I’m not expecting anything at the moment. I think it’s quite clear. I’ve been quite clear about trying to do the best job I can in the short space of time and set the team up.

“I think it’s helpful for everybody (that a new appointment is made soon). I think it’s helpful that everybody knows which direction of travel we’re going in,” he said.