Sport 18-11-2002 Venables Feels The Heat who: Terry Venables what: Running out of time as Leeds crash 2-4 at home to Bolton where: Elland Road, LEEDS when: Yesterday snippet: "What the **** is going on?" chanted the Leeds faithful after watching their side crash 2-4 at home to basement side Bolton yesterday. "Their anger was entirely justified," reckons The Guardian. "Five home defeats in seven Premiership matches, with none surely as abject as the one suffered against Bolton yesterday, leave Terry Venables`s much trumpeted return to management in a state of deepening crisis." The Telegraph commends Venables for making "no reference to the fact that he was forced to field the weakest Leeds line-up of the season. They were without 10 international players yesterday and it showed in an emergency back four and an inexperienced midfield quartet." This was a fact not overlooked by Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, who admitted afterwards it was a good time to visit Leeds: "Their injuries and the heavy schedule they`ve had meant we were in with a good chance." A good time to play Leeds, counters The Guardian? "Which time has not been? Leeds have looked a soft touch all season." Gerard Houllier, meanwhile, was left "shaking his head in disbelief" says The Times after an 0-0 home draw with Sunderland - "absurdly one-sided game in which his team somehow contrived to waste the chance to return to the top of the Barclaycard Premiership." The Sun is furious with Sunderland for their defensive tactics, which failed to register a single shot or corner in the Black Cats` favour. "Any more negative displays like this and the punters will be bored rigid," grumbles SunSport`s Mike Ellis. [... more]

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