DOUGIE Freedman heads into a crunch clash with Leeds United insisting there has been no lasting damage done by his side’s slow start to the season.

The Wanderers boss has come under heavy fire from fans after his side took just one point from their first four games to sit in the bottom three before this weekend’s trip to Elland Road.

Freedman has remained defiant amidst the criticism and claims that speculation over his job is not something that will distract him as he looks to put a first win on the board.

The Scot maintains that morale within the camp has not been affected by results but he accepts a worrying trend has developed recently that has seen the Whites throw away a lead in each of their last three league games.

And that is where Freedman is demanding immediate improvement this weekend in a game he can ill-afford to lose before the first international break.

“The confidence is there, I don’t think that has been a problem,” he said.

“We have played some very good sides and taken them right to the edge but we need to be more ruthless and make sure that if we get into the lead we take it to half time; if we do it in the second half, we see it all the way to a period of the game where we feel more settled.

“That’s the key. There’s nothing wrong with the confidence and I think this side will score goals but when a game is tight we need to stay in games.”

Freedman’s task will be helped by the return from injury of Dean Moxey and Mark Davies, although Adam Bogdan is unlikely to be risked in goal, leaving Andy Lonergan to continue after his excellent midweek display in the cup.