Marcelo Bielsa wary of Huddersfield Town threat to Leeds United

Leeds United were given a stern examination by Huddersfield Town in December, but Marcelo Bielsa thinks they are a much better reflection of manager Danny Cowley now.

Huddersfield pushed the Whites hard at the John Smith’s Stadium – physically testing a back four missing Liam Cooper through injury – before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.

Since then, Cowley has had his first transfer window, and used it to sign seven players and move on eight.

Bielsa said at the time he expected them to improve, and the last two matches in particular have backed up his assertion.

“I think before January the new manager was getting to know his team,” said Leeds’s head coach.

“What has happened since is more in keeping with the thinking of the new manager and what he wants from his team.”

Huddersfield’s last two performances have been amongst their best under Cowley, beating Bristol City 2-1 and Charlton Athletic 4-0.

They have been the only games where he has fielded his first-choice front four of Chris Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and Karlan Grant behind Fraizer Campbell.

The interchanging “three-quarter line” behind Campbell has an average of 21. Deeper still, 21-year-old Lewis O’Brien is a creative force as one of two midfield pivots.

“It’s a creative team,” Bielsa commented.

“The midfielders think more offensively than about recovering the ball and the wingers (Willock and Grant) and the two centre-forwards are good players.

“The previous match was tough, and difficult for us to play well. They created chances and we couldn’t make big impacts on them.

“I think they are a better team now.”