Marcelo Bielsa says Leeds United's 'extra energy' got them a deserved win over Sheffield United

The visitors recorded back-to-back Premier League victories after Patrick Bamford's third goal in as many games was the only one of a tight but entertaining derby.

Leeds owed the blank half-time scoreline to an excellent performance from Illan Meslier and one incredible save from John Lundstram in particular, although they had chances too, Bamford twice heading over and Aaron Ramsdale denying Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas.

But the visitors stepped up their game after the interval, helped by the introduction of Rodrigo, and looked more comfortable as the game got stretched.

“It was a very even game and we could have won the game but we also could have gone in at half-time behind,” said coach Bielsa.

“The second half we were better, we dominated more and had more opportunities and I thought the result in the end was a just one.

“(In the second half) we tried to do the same things we did in the first half but we had extra energy to it. It's always hard to tell if this is because the opposition is worn out a little bit or we are putting in a little bit of extra effort.

“I felt we continued to play the same way but we found a way to build our attacks.

“There were individual unbalances we caused through Ayling, Dallas and Rodrigo. (Mateusz) Klich and (Ian) Poveda also had more opportunities to unbalance our opponent..”

Although Dallas was outstanding, the decisive players in the game were at either end, Meslier conceding his first Premier League clean sheets after seven goals conceded in his opening two games, and Bamford continuing his run of having scored in each match this season.

“In the first two games we didn't defend as badly as conceding seven goals might suggest and in this game having not conceded is a step forward,” commented Bielsa.

“Our structure allows individuals to make a difference wherever that may be – scoring goals or in defence.

“Bamford at the moment is making our offensive game more complete.

“In the case of Meslier he made some very important saves.

“I'm not a specialist in evaluating goalkeepers.

“What I can say is he's a player with huge character and personality and he has qualities making saves and with his feet.”

Rodrigo impressed in midfield as a half-time replacement for Tyler Roberts, although he was himself substituted for Ezgjan Alioski as Leeds protected their lead in stoppage time.

“He showed us more the player that he is,” said Bielsa of £20m Rodrigo. “He allowed the attacks to finish in the opposition half and played in the 45 minutes in which we played well. That makes it easier to play well.

“He helped us to play better.

“It's a good step forward for him but he has a player who has a capacity to unbalance (opponents) which he has not yet shown. Today he helped to facilitate our attacks and as time goes on he will help us to score goals and be on the end of attacks.”

Another summer signing, centre-back Diego Llorente, was not in Leeds's 18-man squad having signed in midweek.

“We thought it was too early to involve him in a official game,” said Bielsa. “When a player comes in who can occupy any of the 18 positions, if he starts the game perhaps he will could 90 minutes but if he starts as a sub he could have played some minutes, depending on the situation.

“We didn't want to take the risk of him having to play a lot of minutes.”

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James Mitchinson