oh dear

Woody · oh dear

What the heck is going on?
By Phil Hay
Talking frankly is a trait of Yorkshire's natives, and supporters of Leeds United are not in the habit of mincing their words.
In light of their vocal performance at Elland Road last night, Ken Bates can be certain that the wolves of dissent are knocking on his door.
Kevin Blackwell felt their teeth last month, and John Carver and his players suffered a public mauling on Saturday, but the search for answers is now leading to United's chairman.
What indeed is going on? With eight defeats from 12 games, a league position that can barely worsen, and performances drawn from the lacklustre bracket, the club's fans are obliged to ask.
Moreover, they are entitled to an explanation. Bates' comments in last night's match programme failed to even mention United's hazardous position, and made no hint at plans to reverse the decline. At this moment in time, the darkness is complete.
Alarming
Consider, for example, that at this stage last season Leeds held 21 points and fourth position in the Championship. Consider also that the Elland Road club have lost more league games at home since August than they did during the whole of the 2005-06 campaign, and that five months ago they were contesting the Play-off final.
No-one can deny that United's regression has been quick and alarming.
The endeavour and heart that had been missing from Carver's squad against Stoke City on Saturday returned last night, but the fact that Leicester left Yorkshire with a victory they deserved proved beyond doubt that the rot has gained a hold.
Losing is an easier habit to develop than winning, and a far harder one to kick, and United's recent results are indicative of a culture of defeat.
Leicester's cautious approach to yesterday's fixture should have given Leeds a welcome chance to dictate the game but, as with several games this season, the concession of an early goal saw the initiative surrendered.
City had refused to show their hand before Danny Tiatto's vicious volley after half an hour, but his goal allowed Rob Kelly's side to chip away patiently at United's defence.
The crossbar, the post and Neil Sullivan restricted their lead before Iain Hume settled the game 10 minutes from time, and it is telling that, like Stoke on Saturday, another club short of form were able to gel so convincingly at Elland Road.
United's stadium is no longer the fortress it was, and a crowd of 16,477 last night did not heighten the level of intimidation.
United had lost Matthew Kilgallon to a harsh red card by the time Hume beat Sullivan and, more importantly, had fallen victim to a poor decision from referee Colin Webster's assistant.
A 75th-minute header from Robbie Blake appeared to cross the line with the scoreline balanced at 1-0, but his effort went unrewarded despite replays providing contradictory evidence.
Carver was honest enough to admit that Leicester could have been out of sight by then, but United's caretaker would not object to any sort of favourable break.
His mood will have been heightened by the opening 30 minutes of the game when Leeds pressed Leicester effectively and prevented the visitors from enjoying time on the ball.
Elvis Hammond lifted two shots over Sullivan's crossbar but the visitors preferred to defend in numbers until Tiatto's goal stirred them into life.
Leeds were caught out by a high and misplaced cross from Hammond which rebounded off Andy Welsh and Hume, and rolled into the path of Tiatto. The Australian lost Shaun Derry with a sudden run into the box, and his left-foot volley flew into the roof of the net.
The clinical nature of Tiatto's goal was contrasted 60 seconds later when Josh Low ran onto Hammond's through-ball but lifted a woeful lob wide of the post with only Sullivan to beat.
Immediate
The miss was a necessary reprieve for the hosts, though less so than the header from Gareth McAuley that looped onto the bar a minute before the break.
The opening goal had renewed the crowd's dissatisfaction and the break gave Carver's players a chance to regroup, but the second half brought further and immediate woe to the home fans.
Patrick Kisnorbo forced Shaun Derry to clear the ball off the line with Leicester's first chance after the restart, and the odds on an away win shortened when Kilgallon was dismissed by Webster in the 53rd minute.
The young centre-back was penalised for bringing down Hammond as the striker chased Hume's pass but, despite being Leeds' last man, the foul did not seem clear-cut.
Kilgallon had already disappeared down the tunnel by the time the resulting free-kick from Hume saw Sullivan turn a brilliant save against the outside of his post.
Leeds' keeper produced another alert reaction to block Hume's low shot two minutes later, and the importance of his interventions looked clear when Blake's header threatened Leicester's goal with time running out.
Richard Stearman dived to head Blake's effort away from the net having already scrambled a cross clear, but the ball appeared to have sailed a yard over the line.
Unfortunately Webster took his linesman's negative advice, however, and Leicester responded in a flash as Hume tucked a shot beyond Sullivan after breaking away from the home defence.
United's game performance with 10 men deserved better, but recovering a two-goal deficit was beyond Carver's players.
Paul Butler reduced the lead by converting Gary Kelly's cross at the far post with four minutes to go, but five minutes of injury time failed to offer up an equaliser.
The result sent supporters away with the realisation that these are dark days in the history of Leeds United, and the light at the end of the tunnel is far from obvious.
Only one man knows what lies ahead, and great is the desire for reassurance from Bates.

When you read some of those stats , it really does make for grim reading.