MX23RW : Friday, November 8 06:05:23| >> :120:52132:52132:
[monks data]
Attendance: 23,805
Huddersfield logo
Championship | Gameweek 20
Dec 7, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Leeds logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Alioski (50'), Hernandez (78')

Bielsa calls for Leeds improvement after Huddersfield win

Bielsa calls for Leeds improvement after Huddersfield win
© Reuters
Goals from Ezgjan Alioski and Pablo Hernandez saw Leeds climb back on top of the Championship.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa demanded improvement from his promotion-chasing side after a hard-earned derby win at Huddersfield.

Goals from Ezgjan Alioski and Pablo Hernandez secured a sixth consecutive win that saw Bielsa's side climb above promotion rivals West Brom.

But Argentine Bielsa still believes there is room for improvement from his team despite them extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.

"We defended set-pieces badly, but our first goal from Alioski made it easier for us to develop the play," reflected Bielsa.

"In the first half we should have created more chances, but we had some opportunities and we couldn't end them very well.

"We could have scored more goals, but we could have conceded a goal as well.

"We struggled with our last past when we arrived in good positions, but it's good to have chances rather than not.

"The second half was different, but we had problems in both halves with set-pieces."

Leeds have four more points now than at the same stage last season, but Bielsa is adamant it is hard to make a comparison of their hopes of achieving promotion to the Premier League.

"We can not test the team in this moment, we need more time to test this," stressed the Argentine.

Former Real Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla made two excellent saves to deny striker Steve Mounie and then midfielder Elias Kachunga after the break.

And Bielsa praised his keeper's influential display adding: "We wish he'd have less to do, but today he had a great impact on the result.

"He made two important saves and made a big impact."

Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley was proud of his players and frustrated there was no end product to reward a battling performance.

"We did well in the first half and played with energy and purpose, we disrupted their [Leeds] rhythm," reflected Cowley.

"They scored with their first shot on target, but we'll always be critical when we concede goals.

"We then chased the game and that left us open, which is always going to happen against a team as good as Leeds.

"But I'm proud of my players because we changed the style and the system. We only had 11 senior players, so that's why we did it.

"We tried to hurt them in the spaces behind and I thought we showed good penetration at times.

"But we weren't able to get good value for chances which we needed to.

"It's been a learning curve in football because Marcelo Bielsa is a pioneer in football.

"It's been one of my toughest weeks in football, but we did cause them some problems."

Huddersfield have gone five matches without a win and this defeat was their first to Leeds for four years.

"It's not terminal here, but there is a storm," warned Cowley. "But we have to roll with the punches and get over these disappointments.

"We spoke to him [Bielsa] after the game and he said 'in January, you'll be a team on the way up!

"It was a nice thing for him to say. Hopefully he sees we're in a difficult position, but fighting hard for each other."

ID:382074: cacheID:382074:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4923:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Milner in action for Liverpool on September 17, 2019
Read Next:
James Milner 'open to Leeds United return'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!