Tel : 'I feel like we've been mugged'

Leeds manager Terry Venables suffered what he described as a “cruel blow” yesterday – now it remains to be seen if chairman Peter Ridsdale delivers the knockout punch.

Scott Parker’s sensational injury-time solo strike handed Leeds a fifth successive Elland Road defeat in the Premiership to leave Venables hanging onto his job by the slenderest of threads

Venables was left stunned, as were the majority of the 35,547 fans who had chosen to answer a call to arms by backing the team from first whistle to last, rather than attack their manager.

Venables believed with the support of a vocal, united crowd behind them, his players would respond by stopping the rot, but it continues to rapidly set in.

Following his re-election as a director at the AGM on Friday, and after appearing to distance himself from the man he only appointed five months ago, Ridsdale now faces a tough decision over whether to sack Venables.

The 59-year-old stated in his programme notes he would “not throw in the towel,” although in his post-match media conference he refused to stand by such comments.

Venables, it appears, will now take time to do some soul searching, but in the immediate aftermath he was again left to reflect on another case of ’if only’.

“I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m stunned. I feel like we’ve been mugged,” said a bemused Venables after the 2-1 defeat.

“There are some days when you talk (with the players) after a game or argue about it. Sometimes, when you are so bitterly hurt, you can get into it and a lot can be said which could be irreparable. But that’s never happened here.

“I certainly didn’t feel like talking after this game. Instead I praised them for a lot of it because the football was a lot more confident, and that came from the crowd, only for that cruel blow which actually beat us.”

The hate mob which had chanted “Venables out” at previous home defeats were instead right behind the players, and now the former England coach will be hoping Ridsdale and the rest of the board do the same for him.

“The players did well and I have to say I thought the crowd were fantastic,” added Venables.

“Fair play because they were excellent from the first minute through to the end. They were positive, they didn’t change and that is a major plus point.

“They got behind the players and it showed. The players played with confidence, played some good football and defended well until right to the end. I’m disappointed for the players and the fans.

“I still don’t think we are far away, but we’re saying that a bit too regularly. As with a lot of clubs, if you get three points then you can move up very quickly, but it just keeps slipping away from us.”

Leading until 10 minutes from time courtesy of a stunning 25-yard strike from Harry Kewell in the 43rd minute for his eighth goal of the season, Leeds were on course for a priceless three points.

But Kevin Lisbie first beat Paul Robinson, who had already pulled off three superb saves, for his first goal since April 27, with Parker then ending an 11-month drought at the death to give the Addicks a third successive league victory.

How Venables must wish his side could do something similar, but despite Leeds being 16th in the table – their worst position since the end of the 1992-93 season – and three points off the relegation zone, Charlton boss Alan Curbishley feels Leeds will stay up.

“I heard (West Ham boss) Glenn Roeder the other week and he said he keeps hearing West Ham are too good to go down,” said Curbishley.

“I think that sort of statement is only made by people like the media. I don’t feel any manager thinks that because it’s a results business and you’ve got to get results.

“It’s a long season and I wouldn’t say any team is too good to go down. If you ask me specifically about Leeds then I think the players they have at their disposal when they are all fit should give them a real chance of not going down.”

:: The odds on Venables being the next Premiership boss to lose his job have been slashed.

William Hill have cut him from 7/2 to 2/1 second favourite – only even-money shot Glenn Roeder of West Ham is more likely to go – with Manchester City’s Kevin Keegan 11/1 third favourite.

The odds on the crisis-hit Yorkshire club being relegated have also been cut from 28/1 to 14/1, with WBA 2/7 favourites.