THE FRONT PAGE OF Saturday’s Yorkshire Evening Post reported how fire stations in the west of the county are to be downgraded and engine numbers slashed as part of a radical shake-up of resources. Firefighters warned that lives will be lost if the controversial measures are given the go-ahead. Should those presiding over the decision need any advice about how to downsize as smoothly as possible, while juggling resources, then they could do worse than meet with the men now trying to restore stability and respect at Leeds United.

Players have left, managers been sacked and finances stretched to absurd degrees in the soap opera that has been Elland Road, but amid the chaos that has seen the club go from the Champions League to the bottom half of the Coca-Cola Championship, it would appear that Leeds, seriously downgraded but still determined to bounce back, are finally on the mend.

The healing process may take some time, but the return of Peter Reid to the club for the first time since his brutal sacking ten months ago at least provided Leeds fans with an uplifting reminder that the worst is now behind them.

The Coventry City manager was given a standing ovation by the home supporters in recognition of the sterling work he undertook in near impossible circumstances during his 22-match reign at the club.

The kindness, however, did not extend itself to the pitch as Coventry were comfortably beaten 3-0, courtesy of goals from Clarke Carlisle, Julian Joachim and Danny Pugh. “The Leeds supporters were brilliant, although I’m not sure about being asked for a wave by them when I’m 2-0 down,” Reid said.

If Reid is to be believed, then Kevin Blackwell, his former No 2, is the man who will make Leeds “great again”, although judging by this turgid performance it could be a long process.

Winning, ultimately, may be all that matters, but pity the supporter who has to watch something as poor as this again. Leeds had looked more like relegation fodder than potential title challengers until they took the lead shortly before the break when Carlisle sent a header from Jermaine Wright’s floated free kick looping over Scott Shearer in the Coventry goal.

The second half was not much better and the visitors could easily have drawn level before Julian Joachim put Leeds 2-0 in front against his old club. Pugh’s cross from the right was met by the onrushing Wright, whose header Shearer could only palm into the path of Joachim, who poked the ball home from three yards.

Coventry’s hopes of getting back into the game were dashed a minute later when Luis Carey was sent off for a second bookable offence after the defender chopped down Pugh on the halfway line.

Pugh completed the rout deep in stoppage time when he bundled the ball home after Shearer had spilled a weak shot by Wright.

The win doubled Leeds’s goal tally for the season and Blackwell is confident that his team will go from strength to strength once the new players have settled in.

“There are 16 new players at the club so it’s going to take time for them to find their feet,” he said. “There is so much expectation from fans and the media that some of the lads are carrying a weight on their shoulders, but I’m just proud everyone is working their socks off and trying to achieve something. We have to start from somewhere.”

Downgraded, certainly, but not down and out.