A typical Leeds performance saw the Whites lose yet another midweek game as they allowed Derby to come from behind and snatch all three points.

The first half was a cagey affair with neither team really dominating. If anything Leeds were probably just edging it on chances with Barry Bannan shooting wide and Jonny Howson forcing a good save from ‘keeper Brad Jones after linking up with Luciano Becchio.

The second half saw an improvement from Derby but like so many times this season Leeds had Max Gradel on hand to pop up with the goods. The winger scored with a great driven shot from outside the area.

Only Leeds, however, would be capable of throwing away a winning position in a matter of minutes. Within five minutes of Gradel’s goal, the Whites were 2-1 down. The first Derby goal came from Sheffield United loanee Jamie Ward as he converted a cross at the far post. Stephen Pearson had beaten former Derby man, Paul Connolly to set up the goal and was involved again for Derby’s second two minutes later. His delivery from a corner was good and it was matched with a great finish from midfielder Ben Davies.

I’d say it was an unbelievable position to find ourselves in but it’s just the Leeds way – especially this season.

Simon Grayson reacted immediately by bringing Bradley Johnson on for Jake Livermore and Davide Somma on for the yellow carded Becchio. Ross McCormack was introduced not long after and despite piling men forward we couldn’t break down Derby. Grayson later claimed that “we contributed to our own downfall with some naive football.”

The defeat is the third in four games and sees us drift away from the rest of the teams in the play-offs, now five points behind Reading and just one point ahead of seventh placed Nottingham Forest. Something needs to be done to stop the rot as soon as possible as we could quite easily slip out of the play-offs places if this continues.