Leeds dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after Fulham came from behind to win 3-2 at Elland Road, a result which heaps the pressure on underfire manager Jesse Marsch.
In an eventful first half, Rodrigo put Leeds in front on 19 minutes but Aleksandar Mitrovic’s close-range header from a corner equalised matters just six minutes later.
The match remained on a knife edge until late in the second half when Fulham administered the killer blow with two goals in 10 minutes. First, Bobby Decordova-Reid glanced Andreas Pereira’s cross into the far corner, before Harrison Reed set up Willian for a simple tap-in.
Substitutes Joe Gelhardt and Crysencio Summerville combined for the latter to score in stoppage time to give Leeds some late hope, but the full-time whistle arrived to signal boos from the home fans around Elland Road.
Leeds have now gone eight league matches without a win and drop to 18th, while newly-promoted Fulham rise to seventh – above Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – after an impressive start to the season under Marco Silva.
Bobby Decordova-Reid celebrates after putting Fulham 2-1 in front at Elland Road
How Fulham turned the tide
The tempo of this game showed no signs of a slow affair from the off, with Leeds doing the early running but Fulham enjoying joy on the break.
It was the visitors who had the first major chance of the match, with Antonee Robinson’s cross flicked on by Mitrovic to the advancing Reed on the right.
The Fulham midfielder slammed the ball past Illan Meslier and was expecting the net to bulge, only for a superb last-ditch intervention by Marc Roca to deny him from underneath the crossbar.
With Fulham looking to turn the screw, Leeds hit them on a devastating break for the opener. Brenden Aaronson fed Jack Harrison down the right and the Leeds winger skipped away from Robinson with ease.
Rodrigo celebrates after opening the scoring for Leeds against Fulham
Tim Ream got across to block Harrison’s effort but the ball scooped up in the air to Rodrigo, who beat Tosin Adarabioyo in the air to nod the hosts in front.
But Fulham would draw themselves back level with a similar style of goal. Pereira’s corner floated into the near post and Mitrovic bustled Luke Ayling out of the way to glance a header in for his ninth of the campaign.
Buoyed by their equaliser, Fulham were inches away from a second and a first-half turnaround. After Leeds failed to capitalise from their own free-kick, Pereira was released for a one-on-one with the entire half to himself.
Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after equalising for Fulham at Elland Road
The midfielder had plenty of time to think of his options, but could only fire into Meslier’s midriff in a major let-off for the hosts.
Just like against Arsenal last weekend, Leeds came out firing in the second half as Aaronson, Rodrigo and Ayling spurned some half-opportunities to regain the lead.
The introduction of Patrick Bamford on the hour mark raised the intensity for the home side, with the striker denied a 100th career league goal by an impressive close-range stop by Bernd Leno.
But as Leeds looked all set to turn the screw, Fulham struck. Pereira’s pinpoint cross from the right fell into the path of Decordova-Reid, who had the simple task of nodding past the rooted Meslier.
Willian celebrates after scoring Fulham’s third goal against Leeds
Ten minutes later, and following little Leeds resistance, it was three for Fulham. Some excellent work from Reed in the right channel of the penalty area saw him feed Willian, who stretched to prod home at the far post to seal the points.
Leeds fans began to flood out of Elland Road and those that stayed booed and chanted “What is going on?” – and despite Summerville prodding home past Leno following Gelhardt’s deft flick – the outlook is not a good one for Marsch.
What’s next?
Saturday 29th October 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Saturday 29th October 7:30pm
Kick off 7:45pm
Leeds will be back in Premier League action on Saturday when they travel to Liverpool, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.45pm. Fulham are also on Sky Sports on October 29, welcoming Everton to Craven Cottage; kick-off 5.30pm.