The Tanner Report: Leeds 4 Fulham 3

With no points and seven goals conceded you might have thought I would feel dejected but not a bit of it.

It’s early days but there is a spirit in Scott Parker’s side that was lacking 18 months ago.

When we went 4-1 down I received a text from our cycling correspondent Guy Danaway that I should now watch a classic stage of the Tour de France in which Pogacar overhauled the 57 second deficit of Primoz Roglic to take the yellow jersey.

I did so but I could not face the adverts of meerkats, charitable appeals and incomprehensible car journeys so I returned to the game.

Just as well as Fulham scored 2 more and Neeskens Kebano came really close to equalising.

You have to admire Marcelo Bielsa’s game management as his pressing style then stifled Fulham and the game ended 4-3.

Our defence needs urgent attention.

New right back Kenny Tete gave Helder da Costa the freedom of Elland Road to trap and score Leeds’s first.

Tete, like his predecessors Steven Sessegnon and Cyrus Christie, looks far better coming forward then defensively.

Joe Bryan made a silly penalty box shove on Patrick Bamford, who went to ground as strikers do, and though the resultant penalty was a tad harsh it was correct.

There was a distinct lack of any defensive organisation and Michael Hector – at the heart of it – had another poor game.

I understand efforts are are being urgently made to bring in at last one defender but negotiations are always tricky. Needs must.

The positives were the spirit of the side: 18 months go we would have capitulated and lost 6-1.

Zambo Anguissa had another dynamic game and was the pulse of midfield.

Alex Mitrovic has scored 3 goals since his comeback.

Against that we need to see improvement from Josh Onomah, Ivan Cavalleiro and Joe Bryan.