Marcelo Bielsa relieved as Leeds United swiftly end losing streak

LEEDS UNITED head coach Marcelo Bielsa professed to mixed feelings after witnessing his side secure their first win of 2021 in a see-saw 2-1 victory at Newcastle United.
Raphinha celebrates his opening goal. Pictures: Bruce RollinsonRaphinha celebrates his opening goal. Pictures: Bruce Rollinson
Raphinha celebrates his opening goal. Pictures: Bruce Rollinson

United, who came into the Premier League game on the back of a three-match winless streak, were comprehensively on top in the first half against a confidence-sapped Magpies side who were without a win in their previous 10 games – with the run having piled pressure on the shoulders of Steve Bruce.

Raphinha put Leeds in front on 17 minutes, but the visitors failed to add a second goal and had to endure a difficult second half in which Newcastle showed far more boldness and adventure.

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A goal from Miguel Almiron levelled the game on 57 minutes, but the Magpies were on terms for just four minutes with Jack Harrison following up his brilliant goal in the reverse fixture at Elland Road in December with a match-winning half-volley following Raphinha’s classy pass.

Diego Llorente injured.Diego Llorente injured.
Diego Llorente injured.

Leeds had to withstand significant pressure from Newcastle in the final quarter, with Bielsa being an animated figure on the touchline.

Earlier, the Argentine had brought off Patrick Bamford shortly after Newcastle’s equaliser, with the forward guilty of a mistake in the build-up.

On the win – which registered a first double for Leeds against the Tynesiders since 1975-76 – Bielsa said: “The majority (of Premier League sides) go on runs similar to the ones we have had and theirs are longer and difficult, so the quicker that you get out of one of these runs, the better.

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“On the whole, we created more than they did throughout the game and they managed to create late chances through corners. For 20 minutes, we have to defend a lot and the opponent dominated. They had three opportunities from corner kicks. There will only be an evolution to this problem when we don’t concede chances.

“There was a moment in the game where (Kalvin) Phillips had to defend lower down on the pitch than he had been doing and (Mateusz) Klich also had to defend more deep and Tyler (Roberts) and Rodrigo as well.

“We stopped counting on Stuart Dallas in the midfield as he was playing at left-back.

“The entrance of Tyler and Klich was to win the game, but very quickly we had to defend more than we had to do and you could notice this.”

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The major downside to the victory was the sight of Diego Llorente, making his first start for the club, last just 10 minutes after being forced off with a muscle problem. It continued the Spaniard’s fraught opening to his Leeds career, with Bielsa admitting that he is concerned about his state of mind going forward following another injury setback.

Bielsa added: “He has a problem to the one he had before. It is a problem for him, for all of us. In this moment, what worried me is his state of mind, given the succession of injuries that he has had.”

Match report: Page 22

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