DOUGIE Freedman believes he still has the backing of Wanderers owner Eddie Davies and chairman Phil Gartside despite the club’s poor start to the campaign.

The Whites sit third bottom with one point from five games after today’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road.

Many fans have called for a change in management but speaking after the final whistle at Elland Road, Freedman claimed the club’s hierarchy was still behind his rebuilding efforts.

“I completely understand that people have got their own opinions,” he said. “We’re in one thinking process at the top (of the club). They understand where we are and what we’re trying to do.

“I have been asked to do a job and that’s to lower the wage bill but also try and keep the football club moving forward. It’s very difficult.

“I don’t think that was a problem today. I think it was that desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net.”

Wanderers had several clear-cut chances to earn at least a point at Elland Road but Freedman was amazed his side emerged pointless, pointing to some poor defending in the build-up to Stephen Warnock’s winning goal as the decisive point in the game.

“If someone told me we would have that much possession, play in their final third for the majority of the game, create that many opportunities and still come away not having won the game, I’d be scratching my head,” he said.

“Once again an individual mistake costs us dearly. That has got to stop because it’s hurting us dearly.

“But when you look back through the game we had enough of the ball and created enough chances in that last hour – I just need more desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net.”