Luke Ayling has admitted that one of Leeds United's most feared assets has abandoned them this season, as the Whites' stand-on skipper braved the media following the 3-1 defeat at West Ham which has left the club needing a final day great escape if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Leeds made their way to east London on Sunday knowing that anything but a win would leave them needing results to go their way in next week's final round of fixtures.
While the Whites began well and took the lead through a 17th-minute Rodrigo volley, the hosts pegged them back when Declan Rice struck just after the half-hour and goals from Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini in the second half condemned Leeds to their 20th defeat of the campaign.
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The way in which Leeds faded away after half-time was extremely disappointing, especially considering they were playing a West Ham side that were playing their 55th match of the season, just three days after a physically and emotionally sapping European semi-final in the Netherlands on Thursday evening.
Leeds' rise into the Premier League and subsequent success in their first season back was built on the back of the high-octane, hard-pressing tactics of Marcelo Bielsa, when there few fitter teams in the top flight. But after this latest defeat, Ayling was forced to admit that this physical advantage is now a thing of the past.
"Very disappointed," he said following the defeat. "We started the game well, we go 1-0 up, then we concede a goal again and then we come off at half-time and we feel ok but the second half just isn't good enough. We just couldn't seem to go again. We put so much into the first half and then in the second half we just had nothing. It's very disappointing
"I think in years gone past teams have feared us when it comes to a running point of view, we had our fitness and stuff, but it just doesn't feel like it's there. This season we start so well, we started bright, we scored a goal, then they score a goal. Just like that, it can happen at this level, but then we came out for the second half and we just can't go again. It's very disappointing."
Leeds now face a final day where they are reliant on Everton - and perhaps Leicester City, pending tomorrow night's match - dropping points, while Tottenham must be dispatched at Elland Road, otherwise their three-year spell in the top flight will be over.
