RUMOURS OF CHRIS COLEMAN’S demise have been greatly exaggerated. The Fulham manager was positively glowing as he dismissed reports that he had just nutmegged the Grim Reaper and pointed out that he was a course of antibiotics away from normality. On a day when health matters dominated, it was Leeds United who appeared to be nearing the last rites. Bottom of the league, ravaged by debt and clinging to the hope that Geoffrey Richmond is a white knight rather than a man synonymous with the downfall of Bradford City, the fans could be taking the tablets for many years.

Leeds are likely to be bought this week by a consortium that has been advised by Richmond. The supporters do not like that scenario, but the creditors do, raising the prospect of an internecine war between the new owners and a fan base that has suffered more than most. Desperate times evidently call for desperate measures. Unfortunately, Leeds took that adage a tad seriously on Saturday by turning in a desperate second-half display that cements their status as the club that fell to earth.

By contrast, Fulham are back on track after four matches without a win. “I feel great,” Coleman said on his return to the dugout after a virus. “I’m still on strong medication and go back to the surgeon on Monday to make sure everything is ticking over.”

That Coleman can talk about Europe without wearing a straitjacket exposes the vacuity of those fantasists who suggest that the Premiership is the world’s best league, but he has fashioned an efficient team founded on a strong midfield. Leeds, meanwhile, have virtually no midfield. James Milner and Jermaine Pennant are going to be very good players, but they are future stars who are being asked to grow up too fast. Stephen McPhail was once hailed as the best passer the club had had since Gary McAllister, but the game now passes him by, while Seth Johnson symbolises the extravagant transfer policy of the old regime.

On this form, it is hard to see Leeds surviving. “We’re running out of games,” Eddie Gray, the caretaker manager, said. Alan Smith is still a wonderful talisman, all guts and no glory, and Mark Viduka remains an hugely underrated player, but they may not be enough. Significantly, of all the players Leeds sold to paper over the cracks left by their tainted dreams, the one Gray would most like to recall is Olivier Dacourt. It is a year ago this week that Terry Venables, the man who discarded the Frenchman with reckless obduracy, was dismissed.

Had Fulham won 5-0, no one could have argued. The first half was even enough, but Leeds did not carve out one meaningful opening until the 89th minute, when Simon Johnson, another of a promising crop of fledgelings, prodded a shot against the bar. With Zat Knight looking to be one of England’s brighter defensive prospects, these are heady days for Fulham and their first goal was a gem. Steed Malbranque made it with a deft touch and Sean Davis finished it after controlling the ball with the outside of his right boot. The second came when Knight found Luis Boa Morte at the far post. Leeds never looked like recovering.

Fulham (4-3-3): E van der Sar 5 — M Volz 5, Z Knight 5, I Pearce 6, A Green 5 — S Davis 7, S Legwinski 6, M Pembridge 6 — S Malbranque 7, B Hayles 6 (sub: B McBride, 86min), L Boa Morte 6. Substitutes not used: M Crossley, J Inamoto, M Djetou, B Petta. Booked: Legwinski, Boa Morte, Green. NEXT: Chelsea (a). FORM: WDLLDW

Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 7 — G Kelly 5, S Caldwell 7, D Matteo 5, D Domi 5 — J Pennant 6, S McPhail 3, Seth Johnson 4, J Milner 4 (sub: Simon Johnson, 75) — A Smith 7, M Viduka 5. Substitutes not used: S Carson, I Harte, S Olembe, F Richardson. Booked: Caldwell, Pennant, Domi. NEXT: Manchester City (h). FORM: LDDWLL

Shots on target: (h) 7 (a) 9. Fouls: (h) 13 (a) 9. Offsides: (h) 1 (a) 3