Terry Venables' future at Elland Road was looking increasingly bleak tonight after yet more misery and ill-fortune sent Leeds tumbling out of Europe. Despite their resolute no-score draw in Spain, Leeds never looked like overcoming Malaga in the UEFA Cup third-round second-leg and fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Any hopes of European competition providing something of a respite from Leeds' domestic troubles were dashed, and United have now lost six out of their last seven home games in all competitions.
To further compound Venables' woes, Michael Bridges - making only his second start after two years out with ankle and knee injuries - ruptured his Achilles tendon in an innocuous off-the-ball incident and is almost certainly out for the season.
Two goals from Dely Valdes either side of an Eirik Bakke strike settled a tie that the Spaniards dominated in large periods, and Venables left a dejected figure having spent the last few minutes of the game listening to the fans yet again calling for his head.
Filed by Johnny Proby
