Venables won't talk about his future after Charlton loss

Leeds 1

Leeds were just 10 minutes away from what would have been a priceless victory after Harry Kewell had given them the lead, only to succumb to goals from Kevin Lisbie and Scott Parker.

Venables had stated in his programme notes he would not throw in the towel but the 59-year-old was reticent following this latest setback.

When asked whether he stood by his comments in the programme, Venables simply stated: ''I am not going to talk about things like that; I am here to talk about the game.''

In fairness to Venables, who was able to select an unchanged team for the first time this season, his players at least performed with a great deal more confidence and determination.

That was in part thanks to the backing of the Leeds fans, who had previously turned on Venables following recent home defeats. Throughout the 90 minute match they were right behind the team.

Only at the final whistle were there any boos, while a small demonstration took place outside the ground soon afterwards. But the overwhelming majority of the support went Leeds' way.

Venables will be hoping chairman Peter Ridsdale and his board give him similar backing this week, for after just five months in charge he is now holding onto his job by the slenderest of threads.

Leeds are currently 16th, their worst league position for nine years, and are now just three points off the relegation zone.

After watching his side beaten by Parker's amazing solo strike in injury-time, Venables added: ''I feel like we have been mugged.

''The players have done well and the crowd was fantastic. They got behind the players and it showed because they played with confidence and some good football.

''They defended well right up until the last 10 minutes but even then it looked like we were going to win 2-1 until Michael Bridges' shot hit the post.

''But then they go straight down the other end and we lose 2-1. I am stunned. I am still in a frame of mind thinking we're going to win it.

''But fair play to our fans because I thought they were absolutely excellent and that was a major plus point for me from this game.''

Charlton, in contrast, are staging the kind of revival Venables must dream of, for this was their third successive victory which has lifted them up to a mid-table.

In truth, Charlton deserved the win for despite Harry Kewell's stunning goal the majority of chances fell the way of the visitors and Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson made three exceptional saves.

But then in the 80th minute Charlton made their breakthrough when Lisbie half-volleyed a shot off the turf for his first of the season prior to Parker's dramatic winner.

Boss Alan Curbishley can understand the predicament Venables finds himself in but believes Leeds have enough quality in their squad to stay up.

''They had a hard game in midweek (against Malaga in the UEFA Cup) and they have plenty of injuries but these things happen during the season,'' said Curbishley.

''We all have these problems as managers as we go along, just perhaps not as acute as Leeds where the expectations are a lot higher.

''Everything seems to be going against them because they've got these injuries and they're not winning at home. I know Terry's desperate to get players fit again and get a settled side.

''But I wouldn't say anybody is too good to go down. The players Leeds have available when they are all fit should give them a real chance of not going down.''

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Duberry, Harte, Bowyer (Fowler 82), Bakke, McPhail (Bridges 82), Wilcox, Kewell, Smith.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Fish (Fortune 20), Rowett, Powell, Kishishev (Jensen 74), Parker, Euell, Konchesky, Bartlett c(Svensson 90), Lisbie.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex)