Leeds United 0 Fulham 1: Leeds fan McCormack glad to make trip back

It proved a special day for the former Whites’ striker on his first return to Elland Road since his £11m transfer in July, with the 28-year-old handed the captain’s armband in the absence of the ill Scott Parker.

A low-key game was settled on the hour when Hugo Rodallega struck from close-range after good work from Lasse Vigen Christensen – as disappointing Leeds slumped to their second successive defeat.

Leeds, whose best moment came on the half-hour mark when Alex Mowatt headed against the bar, had a frustrating afternoon, but they still have a fan in McCormack, regardless of some stick he received from the home supporters.

McCormack said: “Some of the fans had their say and that is fine, I take that on the chin. At the end, I walked around the stadium and applauded them and that is it. It is done.

“It did not hurt because I expected it for the way I left.

“I happened to be the one who someone came and paid big money for. Let’s be honest, you can’t turn that down. I can’t, the club can’t. That is football.”

Revealing his continued affection for Leeds and desire that Redfearn is given the time necessary to turn around their fortunes long term, he added: “My missus is always quick to remind me that I am not a Leeds player any more. I am always looking at the results and reading up about them.

“Believe it or not, after the way I left, the club still means a lot to me.

“It is a special place and I will always be a fan. I will always come back.

“Whether as a player or not, you never know, but definitely later in life, I will be back.

“This league finds you out pretty quickly, so it is really important they stick with Neil.

“You could see on Saturday they are actually playing good football – a lot better than we played last year that is for sure – and they are definitely going in the right direction.”

Leeds United: Silvestri, Byram, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock (Berardi 89), Mowatt, Cook, Bianchi, Adryan (Dawson 76), Antenucci, Doukara (Sharp 60). Unused substitutes: S Taylor, Tonge, Sloth, Del Fabro.

Fulham: Kiraly, Stafylidis, Bodurov, Hyndman, Grimmer, Hutchinson, Fofana (Zverotic 85), Christensen, Ruiz, Rodallega (Woodrow 82), McCormack. Unused substitutes: Roberts, Williams, Kavanagh, Burn, Rodak.

Referee: S Duncan (Northumberland).

Man of the match: Hugo Rodallega.