Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds: Cherries run riot as visitors' week goes from bad to worse

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Mail 25/3/14
By SAM CUNNINGHAM
It took merely 66 seconds for a disastrous week in the history of Leeds United to get even worse against Bournemouth.
Then it got worse. And worse. And worse still.
The first goal was relatively scrappy, former Leeds legend Ian Harte spraying a corner to the edge of the box which was met on the volley by Simon Francis and poked in by Yann Kermorgant.
By 18 minutes Bournemouth had scored a slightly more refined effort, this time Francis bursting down the right and crossing low for Lewis Grabban to steer into the bottom left corner.
When the third came 10 minutes later they were so well-practiced it was even better, right-back Francis again marauding down the wing, this time passing into Grabban who took a touch before firing past Leeds goalkeeper Jack Butland.
It was as if the away defence had given up when they allowed Kermorgant to nod in a fourth, completely unmarked, on 52 minutes.
What on earth must Phil Beeton, attending his 2000th consecutive Leeds game, have thought?
The travelling supporters certainly made their feelings known when they started chanting 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' at their own team.
At least they had a consolation goal to cheer when Ross McCormack struck a low shot into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box with 20 minutes to play.
Dean Court looks very different to when Leeds beat Bournemouth 1-0 here to win promotion from the old Division Two into the top flight back in 1990.
There they stayed for the next 12 years, enjoying title challenges and glorious Champions League nights during a period when Harte, now seeing out the end of his career at Bournemouth, used to score his trademark left-footed free kicks for fun.
They had never been beaten by Bournemouth and recorded three wins in their previous three games since promotion that day.
In 10 games previously Leeds had won eight and drawn two.
How times have changed.
After the Football League blocked Massimo Cellino's proposed takeover of Leeds earlier in the week, it left the club's future shrouded in uncertainty.
The fans at least deserved a performance on the pitch to ease the pressure. They got nothing.

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