IN THE TIME-HONOURED tradition befitting the famous old club, Leeds United are beginning to choke. It should come as no surprise that the incumbents of the playing strip that Don Revie changed to all white in tribute to the Real Madrid team of the 1950s are stumbling in sight of achievement.

Comparisons between the Leeds of Eddie Gray and Eddie Lewis may cause offence in some corners of West Yorkshire, yet a sequence of three matches without a goal and five without victory mirrors the failings of old.

Revie’s kit selection was also inspired by hope, one that his Leeds would emulate Los Galácticos, but a recurring stage fright blighted that ambition and its legacy seems to have sabotaged the quest for automatic promotion.

In keeping with historical precedent, Leeds passed with precision but without purpose as Hull City celebrated a win that surely has ended fears of relegation. After two successive promotions, a season of consolidation beckoned on Humberside and Jon Parkin’s far-post header in the 76th minute secured his fifth goal for the club and a merited success over their fierce rivals.

Parkin is a centre forward who controls a ball farther that most players can kick it. Whisper that out of earshot of the imposing former Macclesfield Town centre forward, though.

Urban myth or local gossip hinted at the “new John Charles” during his formative years with Barnsley — another slight against Elland Road, no doubt, because from noon at the KC Stadium on Saturday his style was more Rambo than Gentle Giant.

“It is part of the game I enjoy but I don’t think they did,” Parkin said, talking about the robust approach that rattled Sean Gregan and Paul Butler. As well as a physical harassment, the pair were equally intimidated by Craig Fagan’s pace and an early effort by Parkin was wrongly disallowed for offside, while the goalkeeper Neil Sullivan’s legs denied him another in the first half.

Robbie Blake and Liam Miller fluffed easy chances before Hull scored, a frustrating groundhog day for Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, who has yet to savour a win since signing a new two-year contract. He introduced a dash of innuendo in his press conference to illustrate his players’ inadequacies and inability to score. Get it?

The bedroom comedy was a welcome relief, yet unless there is a swift reversal in form he knows that a dramatic season of progress may be curtailed in the play-offs. A premature ejection no doubt. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.