HEAVY disillusionment, and now a fear of the drop, hangs over Leeds United after their fourth successive defeat and only the second time in 20 visits that they have surrendered at Elland Road to Middlesbrough.

Indeed, had goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer not dropped two goals on a plate for his fellow Australian Mark Viduka, yesterday would have been a truly humbling embarrassment.

Around Elland Road hordes of people asked each other what they were coming for, how many broken promises and dreams they could withstand. Last summer, they were asked to greet Terry Venables as the messiah who would march them on to Europe; he has become the undertaker of their aspirations.

The lack of combative pace at least allowed each manager to bring a wounded and gifted player back into contention: for Leeds, Nick Barmby, for Middlesbrough, Juninho.

It was the latter who, after 15 minutes of virtually nothing, suddenly dropped a pearl into this game. His chip was delightful and full of vision, but Massimo Maccarone hit the side netting.

Jonathan Greening passed lamentably to nobody in the 24th minute. From that loose ball, Viduka and Eirik Bakke exchanged passes, and then Viduka was faced with a comedy of errors. Schwarzer came and did nothing. The nearest defender, George Boateng, attempted to get his body between Viduka and the ball, but was brushed aside and the Australian bundled the ball over the line.

In the 36th minute, Lucas Radebe was beaten for pace by Maccarone, and from behind his foul looked very close to the so-called “professional” foul that means a red card. David Elleray was lenient and Maccarone scored easily with the penalty.

In time added on, Middlesbrough took the lead with a majestic finish. Greening had found Juninho lurking 22 yards out, faced by a white wall of defenders, and his stupendous right-foot shot flew in off the post.

Shortly after the restart Middlesbrough again began to outplay Leeds, and it was fully justified when Geremi put them 3-1 ahead, beating Paul Robinson with a 20-yard curler.

“Excellent,” said Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren. “The difference between us when we went eight games without scoring a goal and now is quality epitomised by Juninho and Geremi — you saw today why we want to keep him here.”

Venables saw less that he liked, but insists there is no real concern of being dragged into relegation.

The game was all but won despite the second lapse of concentration by Schwarzer, who in the 76th minute allowed a tame shot from James Milner to roll out of his hands, inviting Viduka once more to tap the ball over the line.

But the promises (yes, more) from Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale that “there is total commitment here to deliver next season” beg the question, in which division?

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Radebe, Lucic, Bravo, Bakke, Okon, Wilcox, Barmby (Milner 67min), Smith, Viduka

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby (Cooper 41min), Ehiogu, Southgate, Murphy, Geremi, Boateng, Greening, Juninho, Maccarone (Ricketts 80min), Christie (Nemeth 83min)

Scorers: Leeds United: Viduka 24, 76

Middlesbrough: Maccarone pen 36, Juninho 45, Geremi 64

Referee: D Elleray

Attendance: 39,073

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