Haven't we met before? Leeds United's last five Craven Cottage meetings with Fulham

The Cottagers have often been present in Leeds' less than enjoyable seasons throughout the last four decades and it remains to be seen whether both sides will still face each other next season with Fulham holding very strong hopes of a return to the Premier League.

For now, however, they remain joined together in Championship status with Leeds and with the Cottagers now up next for Paul Heckingbottom's side, we take a look back at the last five times Leeds have made the trip down to Craven Cottage.

Fulham 1 Leeds United 1 – 7th March 2017

It was a result that was both very hard to take but also equally hard to have any complaints over, as Garry Monk's Championship promotion-chasing side lead play-off chasers Fulham for the vast majority of the match, but had to share the spoils after an equaliser at the death from former Leeds player Tom Cairney.

Despite losing top scorer Chris Wood through injury, it had looked to be Leeds' night when they took the lead after just five minutes through a very fortunate and downright bizarre own goal from Tim Ream. From this moment on however, Leeds had their backs firmly pinned to the wall, with 'keeper Rob Green producing great save after great save, while Kalvin Phillips also came to Leeds' rescue with a headed clearance off the line.

Neeskens Kebano also sent gasps throughout Craven Cottage, after his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and seemed to cross the line but, fortunately for Leeds, was not given. However, on-loan Villareal striker Alfonso Pedraza did have a strong chance to seal it late on when he was sent one of one with the 'keeper, but could only fire his shot against the post.

With Fulham having thrown just about everything at Leeds, it seemed as if the Whites were heading for a vital three points. However, they were still struggling to see the game out and were suddenly reduced to ten men on 89 minutes after Kalvin Phillips received a second yellow.

Then, fittingly and inevitably, Leeds resistance was finally broken by a true moment of quality from former player Cairney, with his late long range effort leaving Green with no chance and forcing Leeds to share the spoils after holding on so doggedly throughout the encounter.

Despite the late equaliser few fans voiced any concern, with Leeds at the time sitting eight points clear in the play-offs with only ten games left to play, which was a comfortable position for most teams, but ultimately one that would still be brought crashing down when the end of the season arrived.

Fulham 1 Leeds United 1 - 21st October 2015

It was a first ever game in charge for Steve Evans at the seemingly poisoned Leeds United helm, replacing Uwe Rossler after the German had picked up only two wins from 12 with Leeds and left them lying 18th in the Championship.

This time, the score-line was very much reflective of the play, with Stuart Dallas almost putting Leeds in front before another former Leeds player Ross McCormack, nearly became the latest in a long line of ex-Whites to find the back of the net against them, however he flashed his shot just wide.

Leeds did soon find themselves behind however when Moussa Dembele weaved in and out of the Whites defence before tucking it past Marco Silvestre to put his side in front. However, after more end-to-end action, Leeds were able to find their equaliser on 64 minutes when a Chris Wood penalty put them deservedly level.

It could have been more in the later stages with Mirco Antenucci twice being denied by the Fulham 'keeper Joe Lewis, while the inspired stopper also clawed Dallas' curling effort away from the top corner, as Steve Evans endured a fittingly mixed start to an otherwise forgettable tenure as Leeds manager, with the only memorable aspect being that he managed to last until the rest of the season under Massimo Cellino.

Fulham 0 Leeds United 3 - 18th March 2015

Leeds' joint biggest win of the entire season came at a time when it mattered very little, as Neil Redfearn's side saw off their ten-man, relegation threatened opponents to at least have something to shout about towards the end of the season.

It was a season that needed the odd spark of life, with Redfearn becoming Leeds' third manager that season as early as November, following the baffling and short lived appointment of former Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday and current Maribor manager Darko Milanic.

Despite improving somewhat under Redfearn, Leeds struggled for much of the first-half as they were made to defend hard against, you guessed it, more of their former players as both Ross McCormack and Matt Smith missed strong chances to take the lead against their former employers.

And as the chances went begging for the home side, Leeds soon grew into the game and punished their opponents on 40 minutes after Sam Byram headed his side in front.

It got even better just seven minutes into the second-half as Sol Bamba then headed in from a corner before two bookings in as many minutes for Kostas Stafylidis saw Fulham go down to ten men and virtually hand Leeds the victory.

And the icing on the cake was added late on through Mirco Antenucci, with Byram turning provider as his cross was palmed out by Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli straight into the grateful clutches of the Italian striker.

Fulham 2 Leeds United 0 - 13th March 2004

Just as Leeds had finally looked to be turning a corner in their relegation battle, they were soon sent plummeting back down to earth with a damaging defeat at Fulham that left them seemingly needing a miracle to stay up in the Premier League.

The club's mounting financial woes had left them heading for the Championship just three years after competing in the Champions League Semi-Finals. However, two very well earned draws against Liverpool and Manchester United had given a lot of people hope that they had it in them to survive another season.

Despite threatening in the first-half through Alan Smith and Mark Viduka, Leeds were slowly being overwhelmed as the game went on, with Luis Boa Morte threatening several times throughout while Mark Pembridge also forced Leeds 'keeper Paul Robinson into a heroic double save.

But after 71 minutes Eddie Gray's side couldn't hold on any longer, with Sean Davis given enough time and space get position perfectly and drive his low shot past a helpless Robinson.

It wasn't long until Boa Morte finally grabbed his goal when he headed in Zat Knight's cross to all-but seal another loss for Leeds.

The Whites did have a strong chance late on when Simon Johnson smashed a shot against the bar, but by then it was too little too late anyway, as another crushing defeat saw the time continue to tick on Leeds' long held Premier League status.

Fulham 1 Leeds United 0 – 7th December 2002

Despite a very encouraging start to the Premier League season, the reality of Leeds' huge financial difficulties were beginning to hit home, with this result and performance only reaffirming the belief that the club were now in serious trouble.

Neither side were in good form leading up to the game, with Leeds having just one win in their last ten games, but Terry Venables' side were expected to at least take the game to a Fulham side who came into the match full of injuries, missing all four of their main strikers.

Inevitably however, Fulham took the lead after just ten minutes through a Martin Djetou header, before Sean Davis came close, Steed Malbranque hit the crossbar and then Pierre Wome and again Malbranque forced Paul Robinson into a double save.

Leeds were really struggling to stay in the match, but as the second-half kicked off they did begin to fight back as Michael Bridges and Robbie Folwer both had good chances to draw their side level.

However Leeds' revival eventually wore out with ten minutes to go, as the match fizzled away without any real dramas and left the Whites seemingly facing a tough relegation battle after being second in the league just one year prior.