Seventy-two hours after beating Lokomotiv, Leeds United ran out of steam yesterday. David O'Leary's young side, who have so impressively threatened the status quo at the top of the Premiership, paid for their success in the most frustrating way.
Having made their triumphant retreat from Moscow just 48 hours previously, the boys from Elland Road simply lacked the energy to cope with a Wimbledon side ominously rediscovering much of their old cussedness after a slow start under the guidance of Egil Olsen.
As a result Leeds suffered their first defeat in 14 games and thus failed to reclaim the top place in the Premiership table.
O'Leary, rarely one to make excuses, simply stated the obvious when he said: "There was no sparkle or cutting edge to our play. It's not possible to compete in Moscow on a Thursday, travel back with a three-hour time change and compete on a Sunday."
Olsen was sympathetic. He added: "We were the better team but I know Leeds played in Moscow on Thursday and it was not the best time for them to play us. They were tired. I thought we should win it."
O'Leary is reported to possess a transfer kitty approaching £40 million. But unless he starts spending soon in order to beef up his flagging squad David's place among the Goliaths may have to wait for another season.
One defeat, however, is a poor measuring stick, and Leeds were without the injured Michael Bridges. But the team's plight yesterday was summed up by the fact that they allowed Wimbledon to boast their first clean sheet in 30 games and only their third league win of the season.
Leeds rarely tested Neil Sullivan in the home goal and had it not been for some desperate defending, some wayward finishing and a great save from Nigel Martyn at the other end, the margin of victory could have been much wider.
With Kenny Cunningham raiding rampant down the right and John Hartson living up to his growing reputation up front, it was Olsen's gang who drove Leeds crazy.
They opened the scoring on the half-hour in typical fashion. The goalkeeper's long kick was nodded down by Carl Cort and out to Cunningham. The fullback crossed from the right of the area, the defender Ian Harte and Cort both appeared to miss it and the ball fell to Hartson, who swept home from 12 yards.
Cort scooped an excellent chance over the bar just after the break before Wimbledon extended their lead on 65 minutes.
The otherwise impeccable Lucas Radebe conceded a needless corner which Cunningham swung onto the head of the unmarked Marcus Gayle who found the net at the near post.
The question now is: can Leeds recover?
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Hreidarsson, Thatcher, Kimble, Cort (Andresen 90), Earle, Andersen, Euell, Gayle (Badir 81), Hartson (Leaburn 89). Subs Not Used: Blackwell, Davis. Booked: Kimble, Hreidarsson. Goals: Hartson 31, Gayle 65.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate (Duberry 46), Radebe, Harte, Bowyer (Bakke 62), Batty, McPhail, Kewell, Smith (Hopkin 78), Huckerby. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Mills.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
