Leeds Utd 1 Southend Utd 3Dennis Wise becomes Leeds United's seventh manager in four years today. It is difficult to imagine a harder job in football. Six years ago last night, Leeds played Barcelona in the Champions League.
Their fall from grace has been astounding and last night the humbling came from Southend. From the comfort of an executive box, Wise could see the formidable size of the job that awaits him. Long-term watchers insist it is the worst Leeds side since Don Revie took over in the 60s.
They should have been behind before Steve Hammell's 34th-minute penalty and two minutes later Tony Warner was picking the ball out of his net again when a clearance from Matthew Kilgallon deflected to Gary Hooper, whose shot slipped through Warner's hands into the goal.
At least they had a glimmer of hope by half-time as Ian Moore shot home.
A third Southend goal was inevitable, and in the 64th minute it arrived. It took brave defending from Stephen Crainey to block Luke Guttridge's header. The ball, however, fell to Hooper, who hooked his shot into the Leeds goal.
LEEDS: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey (Cresswell 69), Richardson, Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Bayly 69), Healy, Moore (Blake 87). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole. Booked: Crainey, Douglas. Goals: Moore 44.
SOUTHEND: Flahavan, Hunt, Sodje, Barrett, Hammell, Francis, Maher, Clarke, Gower, Paynter (Guttridge 22), Hooper (Wilson 89). Subs Not Used: Collis, Smith, Moussa. Booked: Paynter, Maher, Francis. Goals: Hammell 34 pen, Hooper 36, 64.
Referee: Michael Dean (England).
