All the misery nearly at an end for Leeds

LEEDS...1 PORTSMOUTH...2: The misery is almost over. Leeds United still cling to the possibility of preserving their Premiership status, pointing to the mathematics teasing those at the foot, but even faint hope is cruel. Relegation is becoming a reality.

It could effectively be confirmed next weekend, with Yorkshire's top-flight representatives condemned as much by a painful lack of self-belief as a crippling goal difference. The club is a tortured shadow of its former self, haunted by the heady days of the Champions League semi-finals. Portsmouth's second away win in the league this season, plundered ruthlessly and deservedly here, virtually performed a kindness.

"This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career," said manager Eddie Gray. "It was a game we needed to win. If you're realistic, it's going to be really difficult now. We lacked the quality to break them down. My team worked hard, but if the quality isn't there . . ."

The admission that Leeds are simply not good enough was fair. Three games remain - trips to Bolton and Chelsea, with Charlton's visit to Elland Road sandwiched in between - though defeat at the Reebok next week could leave them six points adrift with two to play.

Portsmouth, whose own Premiership position appears assured, will still be pinching themselves at their dominance here. Where Leeds laboured in central midfield with the creaking limbs of Dominic Matteo and Lucas Radebe, two injury-dogged converted centre halves, Portsmouth were all fluid movement.

Steve Stone and Nigel Quashie were too industrious down the flanks for comfort and Alexei Smertin and Amdy Faye too mobile in the centre. The Senegalese's magnificent crossfield pass after nine minutes had Stone gathering and cutting inside, with his cross headed beyond Paul Robinson by Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Arjan de Zeeuw and Stone might have added a second before the break with Leeds painfully becalmed. So anaemic had been their display that it seemed perverse for the home players to fight among themselves at the interval, jostling and swearing with each other as they retreated to the dressing-room: such fight might have been more useful on the turf.

Five minutes into the second half Portsmouth got a second when, from Matthew Taylor's corner, Yakubu's free header was blocked by Robinson but Lomana Lua-Lua nodded in on the goalline.

Seven minutes from time Michael Duberry crumpled under a faint tug by Linvoy Primus which was deemed worthy of a penalty. Ian Harte spanked that home.

"My boys will be down tonight," added Gray. On this evidence, his club could be down next week.