STRUGGLING Leeds United looked set to make Sunderland defender Robbie Elliott their first signing when the transfer window opened at midnight.

The two clubs have agreed a deal for the 33-year-old, who played a trial game for the Elland Road club in the summer before joining Sunderland.

Elliott, who played for Bolton and Newcastle, is expected to go straight into Dennis Wise's squad for the today's home game against Coventry.

Wise knows he needs to wheel and deal on a large scale with the opening of the transfer window if United are to escape the indignity of dropping out of the Championship at the season's end.

Most of the players inherited from Kevin Blackwell have had their chance and been found wanting and Wise has long been working on a wish list of incomings and outgoings.

Just two points taken from the last 21 available tells its own sorry story and since Wise took charge there have been eight defeats, two draws and a mere three victories.

Ian Moore's goal in the 3-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday was the first by a Leeds player in five games and dealing with the lack of creativity from midfield has to be a priority for Wise and his assistant Gus Poyet.

After the defeat in the Potteries, Poyet said: "It is especially difficult because we need to convince players they can come here and help us do the job. The first half was good but it is up to the players to concentrate for the full game, not 45 minutes.

Stoke made a lucky start to the second half with Ugo Ehiogu's own-goal and everything changed.

"We have some mentally strong players and some weak ones so we need to work with the strong ones and part with the weak ones. I am not going to say who they are - that is the manager's work.

"We are paying for individual mistakes and we have to stop that. Players keep saying sorry for their mistakes but we can't afford any more sorrys - Saturday's has to be the last one."

The familiarity of chasing a game struck again when Mamady Sidibe headed Stoke into a 12th minute lead but when Frazer Richardson and David Healy combined well on the right, Moore headed his fifth goal of the season at the far post just four minutes before half-time.

When Ehiogu deflected Patrick Berger's shot past Tony Warner for an own-goal, United were struggling again and another mix-up involving Ehiogu and Warner enabled Ricardo Fuller to net Stoke's third.

Matthew Kilgallon's ankle injury keeps him out against Coventry who have refused to let Matt Heath play against them, so the defender has returned to Highfield Road after his loan spell.

Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship Stoke City 3, Leeds United 1 (at Britannia Stadium) Stoke City: Simonsen, Haefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Hill, Lawrence, Russell, Diao, Hendrie (Berger HT), Sidibe, Fuller (Pericard 81). Subs (not used): Brammer, Sweeney, Dickinson. Goals: Sidibe 12, Ehiogu 54 og, Fuller 77.

Leeds United: Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis, Westlake (Kandol 61), Douglas, Derry, Howson, Healy, Moore. Subs (not used): Sullivan, Carole, Rui Marques, Beckford Goal: Moore 41. Booked: Westlake.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 18,128.