Leeds United fell to their third straight Premier League defeat on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers to emerge from the clash.
Winners
Liam Cooper
Back in the starting XI for the first time since Gracia’s appointment, Cooper was one of Leeds’ best on the day. It wasn’t one of his best performances, nor was it a performance to remember particularly, but he added plenty to Leeds’ backline in terms of stability and composure.
Read more: Leeds United player ratings with Aaronson, McKennie and Rodrigo poor again in Fulham loss
Cooper led by example by throwing himself into challenges, getting his head on balls over the top and he even had a say in Leeds’ only goal of the game, putting the ball in the box for Patrick Bamford to eventually turn home. Once again, picking out strong Leeds performers is tricky but Max Wober fared relatively well on his return from injury, while Luis Sinisterra looked lively down the left after stepping off the bench in the second half.
Losers
Wilfried Gnonto
Javi Gracia confirmed at is press conference on Thursday that Gnonto was considered fully fit in the build-up to the clash at Craven Cottage and that led many to expect the Italian to feature in the starting XI. As such, it came as a surprise to see him left on the bench yet again.
Gnonto has started just two games since Gracia’s arrival at the club with the Spaniard preferring him to play more of a bit part role. Given his importance to the side before the head coach’s arrival, that’s been hard to fathom for most, but it seems he has work to do to convince Gracia that he deserves a starting spot.
The teenager did eventually come on in the 80th minute but he couldn’t make an impact.
Victor Orta
Victor Orta and the Leeds United board took the brunt of the fans' frustrations on Saturday afternoon. After seeing their side fall behind at Craven Cottage, supporters began directing a number of chants towards Orta.
The sporting director could be seen watching from the directors’ box in the corner of the ground, but he wasn’t seen to respond to supporters, as he has done in the past. It’s not the first time Leeds fans have turned on Orta and the rest of the board this season and it might not be the last if the club continue to slip towards the bottom three.
Weston McKennie
The American just hasn’t looked settled since arriving at Elland Road and he was way off the pace in west London, struggling to make any sort of lasting impact on the game. In truth, it was a poor display from Leeds’ midfield in general, with Marc Roca and Brenden Aaronson doing little to convince, but McKennie was the man that seemed to provide the least.
He offered next to nothing in possession and he could regularly be seen lagging behind play as Fulham broke through the space in the middle of the park. With Adam Forshaw fit, it has to be said that McKennie’s spot in the side is at risk.
READ NEXT:
Graeme Souness tells Javi Gracia to use '1970s Yorkshire grit' amid Leeds United relegation verdict
The worrying issue Leeds United can only solve with time they don't have
Javi Gracia highlights problem posed by Tyler Adams' Leeds United absence in latest injury update
Leeds United loanee opens up on 'great' spell away amid Championship playoff chase
Javi Gracia addresses Illan Meslier position and admits Leeds United are looking for intervention
