Liam Cooper on how Leeds United defence will put things right

United looked to be cruising towards their first victory back in the Premier League when leading 4-1 just after the hour mark but the Cottagers set up a nervy finale as Bobby Decordova-Reid's strike in the 62nd-minite was followed by a headed finish from Aleksandar Mitrovic five minutes later.

Neeskens Kebano then crashed an effort against the post but Marcelo Bielsa's Whites ultimately held on to record the club's first Premier League victory for 16 years.

Reflecting on the feelings as Fulham roared back, Cooper told LUTV: "The mentality always changes, when obviously you go 4-1 up and flying and then concede two goals, it can get a bit tetchy.

"But I thought the lads stuck in at the end and we defended well when we had to.

“The goals were sloppy to concede on our behalf but we will go back to the training ground on Monday and Tuesday, we will analyse them and put them right.”

Cooper came into the side for his start of the season alongside summer recruit Robin Koch at centre-back having missed United's Premier League opener at Liverpool with a calf injury.

In doing so, United's captain was bagging what was his third outing in English football's top flight having made his Premier League debut for Hull City in a 6-1 thumping at Liverpool back in September 2009, a game in which Fernando Torres bagged a hat-trick.

Cooper played the full 90 minutes of the Reds loss and then made a second top-flight outing when brought on as a 56th-minute substitute in Hull's 2-1 loss at home to Arsenal the following March.

Over ten years later, the centre-back was deeply proud to lead out the side he has supported since he was a child upon their Elland Road top-flight return though the 29-year-old admits United's fans are sorely missed with all games still being played behind closed doors in the country's ongoing battle against COVID-19.

“I’ll never forget it,” said Cooper.

“It’s unbelievable what the boys have achieved as a club.

“We’re devastated our fans can’t be here to share it with us, but this is what every boy dreams of and I've held on to that dream for a very long time after getting a small taste of it ten years ago.

“I’m delighted I can captain this amazing club and long may it continue.”

Leeds are back in action on Sunday at Sheffield United.

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Thank you Laura Collins