'You can't...' - Phil Hay makes worrying Leeds claim after first half 'hammering' by Spurs (edited)

Phil Hay was unimpressed with Leeds United’s first-half display in the Premier League clash with Tottenham, with the unfamiliar sound of boos echoing around Elland Road.

The Whites were hoping to bounce back from their 6-0 drubbing away to Liverpool on Wednesday night, with a relegation battle looking increasingly on the cards.

It didn’t pan out that way in the opening 45 minutes against Spurs, though, with Antonio Conte’s side going 3-0 up before the half-hour mark in front of a stunned Elland Road crowd.

Leeds’ defending yet again left a huge amount to be desired and understandably the home faithful grew increasingly restless as the minutes ticked by.

Taking to Twitter during the first half, Hay bemoaned Leeds’ performance and made the telling observation that boos were ringing around the stadium, something he hadn’t heard at Elland Road all season until today despite the Whites’ struggles.

Just after Dejan Kulusevski gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, the journalist lamented: “Confidence, judgement…it’s all taking a hammering. A few boos after that second goal which is the first time we’ve heard that at ER this season. You can’t concede goals as easily and regularly as this.”

Leeds are arguably the most out-of-form team in the Premier League currently, with goals being conceded by the bucket load – they have now let in three or more in each of their last five league games – and confidence looking shot.

Having also lost 4-2 to Manchester United last Sunday, Marcelo Bielsa’s team have conceded 13 goals in less than 144 hours – for context, Manchester City have shipped 17 in the league since the start of the season in August.

Question marks could be raised about Bielsa’s current performance as manager, with his tactics naive