GRAEME Souness can expect Craig Short to come knocking at his door in the next few days demanding a pay rise.

For the veteran defender's stock is rising with each passing weekend as Rovers lurch from one defensive disaster to another in a season which is fast beginning to feel like a recurring nightmare.

Just where is the generosity going to end?

In the last 12 days, Genclerbirligi, Fulham and now Leeds have all profited from schoolboy errors to send Rovers crashing to three successive defeats.

And for once the cynics could not even pin the blame on Lorenzo Amoruso as the former Rangers man missed this latest debacle with a knee injury, thus sparing himself the indignity of another roasting in the media.

Short's return from a knee injury simply cannot come quickly enough.

Last season, Rovers forged a reputation for being one of the meanest sides in the Premiership as Brad Friedel kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the top flight

Those Scrooge-like characteristics formed the backbone of the club's surge towards a top six finish.

But this term, Ebeneezer appears to have undergone a complete character change - and this one isn't for the better -- as Rovers continue to dole out presents with alarming generosity.

Leeds boss Peter Reid had started the week by receiving the dreaded vote of confidence off his chairman, Professor John McKenzie, but by the end of it he must have felt like proposing a vote of thanks to the Rovers defence for keeping him in a job for at least another fortnight.

At this level, you simply cannot afford to gift the opposition a two-goal start but that's exactly what Rovers did.

Seth Johnson, the Leeds midfielder recently banned for drink driving, couldn't believe his luck as he was twice given the freedom of Elland Road to drive home two first half goals.

And had Alan Smith brought his shooting boots, then the visitors' embarrassment would have been even more acute in a diabolical opening half hour.

Last season, Short and his defensive colleague, Henning Berg, would not have tolerated such a display of sloppiness.

This term, however, the goals have been flying past Friedel with such alarming regularity that the latest two were greeted by a shrug of the shoulders rather than a stinging rebuke.

In short, without Short, Rovers have become a soft touch defensively.

There's a lack of basic leadership and communication at the back which has led to a series of individual errors.

And the disease has even spread to the normally impeccable Friedel who was badly at fault for United's opening goal.

With no figure of authority to pull everyone together, the back four has ceased to function as a unit and until that's resolved then Rovers are going to find results hard to come by.

"I believe we've got good players and right now I've got players who may be tempted to feel sorry for themselves but that must not happen," said Souness.

"We've just got to get back to keeping clean sheets. We had a good record in the Premiership for doing that last season and that's something that's eluding us at the moment."

Rovers' tepid start to the season was put into sharp focus by Saturday night's league table.

Wolves, everyone's tip for an instant return to the Nationwide League after they were so ruthlessly taken apart at Ewood on the opening day, are now just three points adrift of Rovers in the table.

Of course, it's far too early to start reaching for any panic buttons just yet.

But losing can become a habit just like winning and Rovers must heed the warning signs before they find themselves in a rut.

Leeds were there for the taking. They hadn't won at home in the league since May 11 and they went through the whole of September without scoring a Premiership goal.

But the reality is they could have been 4-0 up inside 27 minutes as Rovers' defensive frailties came back to haunt them once again.

Reid's collection of waifs and strays looked hungrier and sharper in every department.

Smith bristled with aggression up front, while the speedy Jermaine Pennant provided the craft and guile from the flanks.

It was in midfield, though, where Leeds United's supremacy was most apparent.

Reid's decision to recall David Batty for his first start in 18 months turned out to be inspired.

The 34-year-old was a snarling figure in the centre as he and Jody Morris comfortably won their battle with Garry Flitcroft and the completely ineffective Tugay.

United should have scored after 11 seconds. Smith ran unchecked through the centre but lifted his shot over the bar.

Then the England striker missed an even simpler chance in the eighth minute, screwing a shot wide of the post with only Friedel to beat.

Rovers' reprieve was to last just three minutes, however.

Pennant fed Mark Viduka, the Aussie was given time and space to turn, Friedel fumbled his effort, and Johnson was on hand to mop up the spillage.

Smith could have added a second before Johnson duly did in the 27th minute.

Rovers spurned several chances to clear the danger before Batty flicked on Pennant's header to the unmarked Johnson who smashed the ball home at the far post.

Andy Cole nearly grabbed a lifeline for the visitors with a neat turn and shot which rebounded back off a post.

But in the second half it was Leeds who continued to force the pace.

Friedel saved from Smith within seconds of the restart then the American had to react sharply to thwart Pennant.

It was only in the last 10 minutes that Rovers managed to generate a sustained spell of pressure.

A Dino Baggio shot was brilliantly beaten away by Paul Robinson then the Italian did pull one back when he rose to head home Brett Emerton's cross.

Suddenly, Leeds' nerves were jangling. In a desperate finale, David Thompson had a shot smuggled off the line.

But this was Reid's day and it's Rovers who now face an uncomfortable two weeks before they can put things right.

LEEDS 2

Johnson 11, 27

ROVERS 1

Baggio 85