IT IS a long way back to the Premiership and Leeds United were handed another reminder of how tortuous the trip may be when they were beaten by Cardiff City at Ninian Park last night. Slumming it in the Coca-Cola Championship is no fun for the top-flight leaders of only 3½ years ago and the throwing-away of a 1-0 half-time lead against a resilient Cardiff side did little for their self-respect, either.

Still hamstrung by the debts accrued during the boom-and-almost-bust era of Peter Ridsdale, their former chairman, Leeds made little headway in their efforts to return to the Premiership at the first attempt last season. Although at one stage flirting with the play-offs, a closing run of one win in ten matches meant that they had to settle for fourteenth place.

Leeds opened their 2005-06 account with a 2-1 home win against Millwall on Sunday, but it took an age for them to reproduce the promise shown at Elland Road in the Welsh capital. Cardiff could have taken the lead, after the brightest of openings, but Kevin Cooper drove straight at Neil Sullivan.

Gradually, Leeds asserted control, with Shaun Derry to the fore in midfield. In the 22nd minute, Gary Kelly initiated a swift move along the right flank and David Healy crossed for Robbie Blake to guide in his first goal since joining the club from Birmingham City for £800,000 during the summer.

“Ridsdale, Ridsdale, what’s the score?” the small band of Leeds fans crowed. Ridsdale is now No 2 to Sam Hammam, the Cardiff owner. His embarrassment almost increased on the stroke of half-time when Healy, scorer of both goals against Millwall, blazed over the crossbar from close range.

Jermaine Wright also squandered a decent opening early in the second half, after Darren Purse had blocked a fierce shot from Healy, when his low drive skidded narrowly past a post with Neil Alexander beaten.

The home supporters grew more vociferous and, encouraged, the Cardiff players responded with gusto. Jason Koumas had been on the pitch for only three minutes when, on the hour, he lashed in a left-foot shot from 20 yards. Six minutes later, Matthew Kilgallon, a half-time replacement for Paul Butler, thrust a hand inadvertently at Neal Ardley’s cross and Purse thundered home the penalty. From a position of strength, Leeds had inexplicably crumbled.

CARDIFF CITY (4-4-2): N Alexander — J Darlington, N Cox, D Purse, C Barker — K Cooper (sub: P Mulryne, 90min), J Whitley, W Boland (sub: J Koumas, 57), N Ardley — P Parry (sub: A Lee, 86), C Jerome. Substitutes not used: A Warner, G Loovens. Booked: Jerome.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): N Sullivan — G Kelly, P Butler (sub: M Kilgallon, 46), S Gregan, D Harding — J Wright (sub: F Richardson, 76), S Derry, E Bakke, E Lewis — R Blake, D Healy (sub: M Ricketts, 63). Substitutes not used: I Bennett, G Einarsson. Booked: Butler, Derry.

Referee: S Tanner.

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football