Warnock needs more firepower

It leaves Warnock with little option but to dig into the bargain basement or return cap in hand to his former employers, Sheffield United, looking for a favour.

It is the latter which seems most likely, with long-term target Danny Webber mooted as a possible target.

Warnock said: "I was talking to my old No2 Kevin Blackwell at Sheffield United and he's got six strikers there. Any one of them could get into my team."

Last night it was his defenders who let him down but worryingly, three of the back four - Matt Lawrence, Paddy McCarthy and Clint Hill - are probably his first choice.

None of them got close when Jonathan Douglas chipped in to put Leeds in front and Jermaine Beckford headed home from a corner for their second.

Luciano Becchio then headed past Darryl Flahavan after Frazer Richardson had crossed before substitute Enoch Showunmi completed the scoring 14 minute from time with a low shot.

And unhappy Warnock added: "You'd expect one of my teams to perform better than that. Some of them let me down and I've told them as much.

"Quite honestly we couldn't cope with the front lads. Once the second goal went in it was disappointing to say the least.

"If you defend like that you're going to get beat against any level of opposition and I thought the two centre-forwards bullied our defenders from start to finish.

"I'm not used to coming to Leeds and losing. I usually enjoy coming here and putting one over on them but they thoroughly deserved it."

And, as if that was not bad enough for Warnock, midfielder Ben Watson, who has been linked with a move away from Palace all summer, limped off with only two minutes remaining. His injury now casts a doubt over his proposed exit to either Queens Park Rangers or Birmingham.