MOT View: Bielsa given headache – Three things learned about Leeds in 4-0 win v Hull
Saturday saw Leeds United finally deliver the demolition job we have all been waiting for in the 4-0 win against Hull City.
Although it wasn’t straight forward in the first-half at the KCOM Stadium, the Whites took control in the second and blew the Tigers away.
With West Brom losing at home against Wigan, the victory in the Yorkshire derby took Leeds within one point of the Baggies.
Looking at Sofa Score’s attacking momentum graph, you can see that the added intensity Leeds played with in the second half was key to all three points.
Hull battled hard but the class of Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison eventually shone through which saw Tyler Roberts benefit with two late goals.
The win made it four on the bounce, and more importantly, Leeds kept the best defensive record in the Championship with yet another clean-sheet.
Here are three things learned about the Whites in the 4-0 win…
1. Roberts gives Bielsa big headache
For months we have all thought that Leeds don’t have the best of options to lead the line behind Patrick Bamford. Marcelo Bielsa has stuck with the 26-year-old through his struggles, with the arrival of Jean-Kevin Augustin coming at the right time. The Frenchman was ruled out injured once again on Saturday, which gave the perfect opportunity to Roberts. The Welsh international was superb, scoring twice. Roberts was efficient, something we haven’t seen this season – his two goals coming from two shots in 23 minutes [WhoScored]. Roberts has certainly given Bielsa something to think about against Huddersfield, although we still believe it will be Bamford who leads the line.
2. Meslier ice cold on Championship debut
There were some doubts around Illan Meslier stepping in for his debut against Hull, but those who were at Arsenal for his FA Cup debut would have been calm once he was named in goal. The Lorient loanee was cool in possession and rarely put a foot wrong when the ball was pumped into the Leeds area looking for the likes of Josh Magennis. Meslier actually completed more successful passes (24) than any Hull played managed in the game as he coasted to a clean-sheet at the KCOM. The ban picked up by Kiko Casilla was a big blow for the Whites, but Meslier has proved he is more than capable of stepping in.
3. Chasing pack could be down to one by Monday
It was another weekend packed with strange results in the Championship, we would expect nothing different, right? Wigan picking up all three points at the Hawthorns has opened up the title race when many thought West Brom looked untouchable. Outside of that, Fulham were the only other team to pick up three points in the top 12 as teams have started to slip up. Fulham maintained their five-point gap with a less than convincing win against Preston, with Brentford also letting a two-goal lead slip at Cardiff – they now sit 11 points behind the Whites. Nottingham Forest travel to Middlesbrough on Monday and if they lose, they will be nine-points behind and potentially out of the race for automatic promotion.
In other Leeds United news, BBC pundit worried by blow picked up by Whites ace which could keep him sidelined