MEDIOCRE IS NOT A WORD that sits comfortably with Terry Venables. Unless, of course, there is the opportunity for closer scrutiny of the Leeds United manager’s achievements since he hung up his boots and loosened the top three buttons of a variety of vivid multicoloured shirts. Flamboyance, individualism and an ability to smile in adversity have become the trademarks that have helped to increase his stock despite a distinct lack of any tangible evidence to support his reputation as a guru among football’s tacticians.

Venables will require those attributes and more if he is to extend his tenure in West Yorkshire much longer after this latest defeat at Elland Road, Leeds’s fifth consecutive reverse in the league at home. The pity is that since replacing David O’Leary in the summer, Venables has been unable to imbue any of his more entertaining and enterprising virtues into his new charges. Elland Road was awash with mediocrity yesterday, mainly emanating from the men in the all-white strip although Charlton Athletic, rightly, will argue that this third consecutive victory which has hoisted them to mid-table in the Barclaycard Premiership was richly deserved regardless of how their opponents performed.

For long periods, the London club trailed to a gem of a strike by Harry Kewell, a thrilling run and finish into the top corner by the Australia forward securing a 42nd-minute lead and nourishing hopes of a first success on their own territory since September 14. Those aspirations were dashed when Kevin Lisbie volleyed an equaliser with ten minutes remaining and, with 90 seconds of the three minutes of time added on having elapsed, Scott Parker’s right foot delivered a winner that was merited, especially as Charlton had argued that Gary Rowett, the defender, had been fouled by Kewell as he gained possession shortly before his opening goal. Shaun Bartlett’s header had rebounded off the crossbar as the visiting team enjoyed a supremacy and the better chances during the first half, while Paul Robinson, outstanding in goal for Leeds, denied Lisbie and Jason Euell.

Parker’s diagonal run, eluding Jonathan Woodgate then Eirik Bakke, exposed the frailties that had been apparent at the heart of the Leeds defence all afternoon. Yet, as Venables reflects this morning, shoring up a tentative back four is perhaps not top of his priority wish list. Peter Ridsdale, his chairman, has already issued a “must do better” mid-term report at the club’s annual meeting on Friday about the man he appointed with such gushing praise five months ago. Furthermore, the agent of David Batty, the Leeds midfield player whom Venables believes is no longer fit to play at the highest level, has threatened to sue Ridsdale for remarks that the chairman made about Batty during Friday’s meeting. If Leeds officials are not worried by the prospect of a law suit, their present league position, sixteenth, should give cause for concern.

Not since November 1996 has the team slumped to that nether region, the lowest point during Ridsdale’s stewardship. Those disposed to omens have eked out the statistic that during Leeds’s last relegation from the top flight, 20 years ago, they had not lost a league game at Elland Road at this stage of the season. They have lost seven out of nine so far.

“We played with confidence but this was a big blow,” Venables said. “I’m still stunned. I thought we would win it.” He refused to discuss his future; his programme notes did that as the manager called for people to respect him while insisting he would “not be throwing in the towel”. At least Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager, thinks that Leeds are too good to be in their present predicament. “When they are all fit, with the players they have at their disposal, they have a good chance of not going down,” he said.

The crowd reaction — a chorus of support for Leeds after Charlton’s winner — pleased Venables and had a shot in the 89th minute by Michael Bridges not bounced out instead of in from the right hand post, that vocal chant surely would have been more emphatic and heartfelt. “There were no great post-mortems because some days, when you are so bitterly hurt, things can be said which are counter productive,” Venables said.

Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 8 — G Kelly 6, M Duberry 6, J Woodgate 6, I Harte 4 — E Bakke 5, L Bowyer 6 (sub: R Fowler, 81min), S McPhail 5 (sub: M Bridges, 81), J Wilcox 5 — A Smith 6, H Kewell 7. Substitutes not used: N Martyn, T Lucic, D Mills. Booked: Wilcox. NEXT: Fulham (a). FORM: LLLWLD

Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): D Kiely 6 — L Young 5, G Rowett 5, M Fish (sub: J Fortune, 20 5) — R Kishishev 6 (sub: C Jensen, 75), S Parker 7, J Euell 7, P Konchesky 6, C Powell 5 — S Bartlett 5 (sub: M Svensson, 90), K Lisbie 6. Substitutes not used: B Roberts, C Bart-Williams. Booked: Parker. NEXT: Liverpool (h). FORM: WWWLDL Shots on target: (h) 7 (a) 12. Fouls: (h) 14 (a) 15. Offsides: (h) 4 (a) 1

Referee: A D’Urso 4. Attendance: 35,537

HOME BREAKERS

Yesterday’s defeat was Leeds’s sixth in eight league matches under Venables at Elland Road and fifth on the trot.

Aug 28
Sunderland 0-1

Sept 28
Arsenal 1-4

Oct 19
Liverpool 0-1

Nov 3
Everton 0-1

Nov 17
Bolton 2-4

Dec 1
Charlton 1-2