MX23RW : Wednesday, December 11 21:55:04| >> :600:209325:209325:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Premier League | Gameweek 2
Sep 19, 2020 at 3pm UK
Elland Road
Fulham logo

Leeds
4 - 3
Fulham

Costa (5', 57'), Klich (41' pen.), Bamford (50')
Klich (82')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Mitrovic (34' pen., 67'), Reid (62')
Mitrovic (88'), Tete (90')

Marcelo Bielsa admits he is "worried" about Leeds defence after first PL win

Promoted United beat Fulham 4-3 as Premier League football returned to Elland Road, but they have shipped seven goals already.

Marcelo Bielsa admitted he is concerned about the number of goals Leeds have conceded in their first two games back in the Premier League.

Leeds held on to beat Fulham 4-3 in their first top-flight fixture at Elland Road in 16 years, one week after losing by the same score in their opening game at champions Liverpool.

"We are worried," said Bielsa. "It's not like things we don't expect to happen. The goals we have received, there is nothing surprising in conceding these type of goals.

"As the competition goes on I think we will be able to improve our defence.

"We will identify why these errors happened and work on stopping these difficulties happening again."

Helder Costa's early opener for Leeds was cancelled out by Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty before Mateusz Klich's spot kick restored Leeds' advantage at half-time.

Patrick Bamford and Costa's second goal put Leeds 4-1 up with over half an hour remaining, but Fulham hit back through substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid and Mitrovic's towering header to leave Leeds hanging on.

Bielsa's side have scored seven and conceded seven in two Premier League matches, but the Argentinian said he will not be changing tactics.

"What the matches have showed was that we have to continue doing what made us successful in the first place," he said.

"That's the best way to get a result, rather than putting men behind the ball. It would be an error to stop doing those things that make you successful."

Bielsa confirmed goalkeeper Kiko Casilla had not been included in the squad due to an injury sustained in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Hull.

Leeds' record signing Rodrigo, handed his Premier League debut for the club after Pablo Hernandez sustained a groin strain in the warm-up, was withdrawn at half-time due to fatigue, Bielsa said.

Fulham boss Scott Parker was left to rue his side's defences lapses, but said his players had showed "massive character" after fighting back.

"You can't expect to have to score four or five goals to get something out of a game, which is what we've had to do today," he said.

"There were positives, of course. We had good moments in possession and caused Leeds a lot of problems.

"But on the flip side we gave away easy goals and gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

"We need to improve for sure, but there were positives. It was an entertaining game and we were partly responsible for that.

"My team showed massive character. At 4-1 the floodgates could have opened, but I saw a team that kept believing and got themselves back in the game."

Parker said the club were still hoping to bring in defensive reinforcements before the end of the transfer window.

"There's been no progress in the last week or so, but I realise we have to strengthen in certain areas," he added.

"We're still trying to bring people in. We all recognise that's what we need to do to help us improve."

ID:415067: cacheID:415067:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4784:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured on August 16, 2020
Read Next:
Saturday's Premier League predictions including Man Utd vs. Crystal Palace
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6Middlesbrough209473425931
7Watford199462725231
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1961122114729
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry195682527-221
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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!