IT was nowhere near in the Ricardo Fuller class but not a pretty sight all the same.

Team-mates often have flare-ups on the training ground, away from the public gaze. It is a different matter when it happens on the pitch during a game.

Stoke striker Fuller was infamously sent-off for slapping his captain, Andy Griffin, after an equaliser for West Ham at Upton Park last month.

A mild barge, rather than a cuff, was the response from Tommy Fraser to Glenn Murray’s raising of the white flag when Fabian Delph raced away with eight minutes left to seal victory for Leeds in stunning fashion.

Delph broke from deep inside his own half following an Albion corner, with Murray temporarily in vain pursuit.

He stopped the chase, which did not go down well once Leeds’ Premier League-bound young midfielder continued his remarkable surge upfield to score with a left-foot curler from 20 yards.

Tommy Elphick wagged an accusing finger in the direction of Murray, who was then confronted by the furious Fraser. They were still exchanging words long after the final whistle, as the players began their warm-down.

Neither emerges with much credit from the incident, borne of a clash of styles. Murray’s languid – some would say lazy – manner has the capacity to infuriate. The flame-haired Fraser is not as naturally talented but is the type to chase lost causes.

Context is required here. Murray came off the bench looking razor-sharp in the previous outing at Swindon three weeks earlier, having been demoted after a below-par display in the home defeat by Colchester on Boxing Day.

He was only among the substitutes this time, because of a recurrence of a stomach strain which troubled him earlier in the season and prevented him from training for most of last week.

Boss Micky Adams has taken responsibility for naming Murray on the bench but can you really blame him, with his squad down to the bare bones for the visit of the biggest club in the division?

When Murray came on, straight after Albion had fallen behind in the 61st minute, it was obvious he was struggling but, even though he would never have caught up with Delph, relinquishing the chase did not look good and was seized upon by supporters, who love a trier like Fraser.

Murray has to be careful. His applause for a small group of fans berating him at the end of the game was laced with sarcasm. It is dangerous to be perceived as not caring, particularly in Albion’s perilous position so close to the relegation zone.

As for Fraser, such an open display of antipathy towards a colleague is unhelpful, if understandable in the heat of the moment.

Any ill-feeling must not be allowed to fester. Albion need Murray fit and scoring more goals for the rest of the season.

Stoke chief Tony Pulis held a team meeting behind closed doors to clear the air following Fuller’s clash with Griffin. Adams is experienced enough to deal with the situation in a way which ensures there are no negative repercussions.

A fourth home defeat in succession was inevitable in a game of few chances once Albion spoilt all their excellent defending in open play by conceding yet again from a set piece.

Richard Naylor’s free-kick was headed on by Luciano Becchio for Lee Trundle to turn and score from close range on his full debut on loan from Bristol City.

It was a relief for Becchio. His tenth-minute penalty was saved by John Sullivan after sharp-eyed referee Pat Miller spotted Adam El-Abd holding the Argentinian from a corner.

In such a tight match, Stuart Fleetwood’s first-half failure to beat Leeds keeper Casper Ankergren when clean through proved pivotal.

Adams said: “The first goal was criminal defending and then we were chasing the game. We were competitive and we had a go but a bit of quality beat us.

“Offensively we look a little bit frightened at times, maybe passing when we should dribble, crossing when we should be shooting.

“Defensively we had some good displays. I couldn’t fault them other than the concentration for the first goal.”

It is one thing losing at home to nine-man Walsall, Huddersfield and Colchester, quite another being beaten by Leeds. Both teams went into the game with ten defeats but there the similarity ends.

The difference in pulling power and wage bills is encapsulated by the business done so far by both clubs during the transfer window.

Leeds have just brought in on-loan Championship centre- half Naylor from Ipswich, Championship marksman Trundle and Premier League left-back Carl Dickinson from Stoke.

Albion have given a contract until the end of the season to Chris Birchall, who was out-of-favour at Coventry.

The good news is that Wembley barriers Luton let in five goals at Darlington, the bad news is that Nicky Forster will not have Murray or Fleetwood to help him provide a first leg advantage tomorrow night.

Adams said: “The players need a cuddle at home”.

As for Murray and Fraser, they need to kiss and make up.

Albion (4-4-2): Sullivan; Virgo, Elphick, Hinshelwood, Whing; Birchall, Fraser, El-Abd, McLeod; Fleetwood, Forster. Subs: Murray for Birchall (withdrawn 62), Cox for McLeod (withdrawn 70), Loft for Fleetwood (withdrawn 85), Mayo, Crichton.

Yellow card: El-Abd (10) foul, Fraser (59) foul.

Leeds (4-4-2): Ankergren; Richardson, Naylor, Marques, Dickinson; Hughes, Delph, Douglas, Johnson; Becchio, Trundle. Subs: Robinson for Hughes (withdrawn 67), Christie for Trundle (withdrawn 83), Howson for Johnson (withdrawn 83), Michalik, Lucas.

Yellow card: Douglas (42) foul. What did you make of the Fraser-Murray bust-up?