By Alex Stevens
Liam Cooper was recalled to the Leeds team for their 2-0 Championship defeat to Cardiff on Saturday – and fans took to Twitter to destroy him as a liability.
The centre-back, 25, was named in the starting XI after defensive mainstay Pontus Jansson missed out due to illness.
With Jansson and Kyle Bartley in the centre of defence, Leeds had been impregnable at home in recent months and had not conceded a goal at Elland Road in six matches.
But that impressive sequence ended as Second half goals from Sean Morrison and Kenneth Zohore secured the victory for Cardiff and condemned Leeds to a second consecutive league defeat after their setback at Huddersfield six days earlier.
Supporters laid some of the blame at the door of Cooper, who has borne much of the criticism from fans this season when Jansson or Bartley has been unavailable.
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Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
I’ve been saying it for 12 months now, Cooper is a liability, absolutely shocking today again #lufc
— Sean Field (@field_sean) February 11, 2017
We played like Reading today. Cooper slows us down so much, such a frustrating watch. #lufc
— Josh Underwood (@junderwood_19) February 11, 2017
Another poor performance when @PJansson5 is out. Cooper not good enough. We miss Taylor. And no decent back up striker to bring on #lufc
— Lliam Brocksom (@lliambrocksom) February 11, 2017
Anyone know when #lufc last won when Cooper played?
— Tom Newcombe (@thomasnewcombe) February 11, 2017
Not conceded in over 500 minutes at ER. Liam Cooper plays. Leeds concede two. It’s not a coincidence. #lufc
— Charlie Sopp (@soppy13mot) February 11, 2017
Liam Cooper leave our club please, one of the worst defenders we’ve ever had #lufc
— CJ (@BazingaCJ) February 11, 2017
@SteveLTurner @Graemeb11 @PhilHayYEP Cooper is miles off Jansson / Bartley standard #lufc need backup CB who isn’t such a drop in quality
— Rob James (@realrj80) February 11, 2017
Despite a second consecutive defeat, Garry Monk’s side remain well established in the play-off spots.
The are fifth in the table and four points clear of seventh-placed Norwich, who destroyed Nottingham Forest 5-1 on Saturday.
In other Leeds news, the club are eying a stunning triple transfer swoop as three players headed into the training ground.
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