'One direction of travel' - National media verdict on Leeds United's defeat to Portsmouth
Leeds United's hopes of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League were dented on Sunday afternoon after losing away to Portsmouth.
A second-half goal from Colby Bishop handed Leeds a 1-0 defeat and secured the three points for the home side at Fratton Park. United remain top of the Championship table on goal difference and are now level on points with second-placed Sheffield United.
Daniel Farke's side had not lost a Championship match since November prior to their defeat to Portsmouth. That was an unbeaten run of 17 matches, but Leeds are now without a win in their last two league fixtures following their draw with West Bromwich Albion.
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Here, Leeds Live takes a look at how the national media have reported on United's defeat to Portsmouth in the Championship.
'One direction of travel'
Beren Cross wrote for The Athletic: "Leeds fans have seen spring unfold like this so frequently that their muscle memory only points in one direction of travel when the daffodils bloom. If you have a Leeds fan in your life, it’s times like these you need to remind them the other teams will lose games again this season.
"If they traipsed all the way down to Hampshire for Sunday’s 12pm kick-off, their nine-hour round-trip was not even rewarded with decent football at Fratton Park. From the start, it was plain to see why Portsmouth had only lost one of their previous 11 home matches and won eight of those.
"Portsmouth were more combative. They seemed to want it more. The duels went their way throughout the afternoon. Ilia Gruev had been drafted back into the side for Farke’s routine away-game setup but, just like Ao Tanaka and Brenden Aaronson, he was overrun."
'A wasteful Leeds'
Aadam Patel added for the Daily Mail: "In the spring sunshine, the all too familiar chant rang around a bouncing Fratton Park as the Portsmouth fans began to sing, 'Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again.'
"When Leeds welcomed West Brom last weekend, they had the opportunity to go 10 points clear of the play-offs. By the time Daniel Farke's side next play on Wednesday against Millwall, they could be out of the automatic promotion places.
"Here on the south coast, Leeds's grip on the Championship was loosened by John Mousinho's spirited Portsmouth side who were deserved winners thanks to Colby Bishop's second-half goal.
"For a wasteful Leeds, this was a first defeat in the league since November and one that ended an impressive 17-game unbeaten run. They remain top of the league on goal difference alone."
'Fratton Park erupted and shook'
Dan George of BBC Sport wrote: "Championship leaders Leeds United's 17-game unbeaten run ended with defeat at Portsmouth as Colby Bishop hit Pompey's second-half winner.
"Bishop's dinked finish over Illan Meslier just after the hour mark was his sixth goal of the season.
"Leeds missed some big chances in the game, but they remain top of the table, level on points with second-placed Sheffield United.
"Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid also made a number of crucial saves to deny the visitors, including a brilliant effort to palm over Sam Byram's thumping header in stoppage time."
Before he later said: "Fratton Park erupted and shook with the cheers that followed as Bishop rolled up his sleeves and flexed his muscles in celebration.
"Leeds responded and looked set to equalise 15 minutes later after Junior Firpo was played through, but he was denied by another fine close-range save from Schmid.
"Moments later, Firpo struck the bar from a header to the despair of the travelling fans behind that goal.
"Leeds mounted a late charge but Schmid saved his best until last with a spectacular stop from Byram's header deep into stoppage time to preserve the victory."