Gallery: 18 photos of Leeds United fans in the stands against Aston Villa

The Whites went down to a 1-0 defeat after promotion chasing Villa.

Phil Hay wrote in his match report: “The final games of this season are akin to watching a picture fade; the last days of a team which will surely be pulled to pieces over the summer.

“Precisely who oversees that surgery remains to be seen after suggestions this week that the club’s head coach, Paul Heckingbottom, might pay with his job for the way in which the season has flagged.

“What dissent there was at Villa Park last night was aimed at director of football Victor Orta rather than Heckingbottom, implying that the greater share of public opinion is weighted against someone else, but Leeds cannot shake the feeling that so much about them needs to change.”

Phil Hay: Narrow defeat can’t hide gulf in class between Leeds and Villa

Heckingbottom has now tasted victory only twice in 19 games since his arrival from Barnsley.

He admits, though, that he is getting a “better idea” of his players all the time.

He said: “We learned a lot about the players and I am reluctant to make any negative judgements on the youngsters. We need a hunger and drive and for the players to earn their place.

“Whatever changes are made we want to produce a stronger squad and I am getting a better idea of the team every day.”

Regarding his side’s performance at Villa Park, where Leeds slumped to a third loss in four games, Heckingbottom said: “We gave away the ball too cheaply in the first half and it cost us. That is what was disappointing in the first period.

“We generally defended well but we should have been tighter to have prevented the goal. We lost the ball too cheaply.

“In the second half we had more possession and needed to score in our best spell in the first half hour of this spell when we chased the game.”