Leeds v Brentford highlights.

This was a game being billed by some as our biggest test yet, 4 games in they were probably right, but I think there's bigger tests down road.

I said at beginning of game this was going to be a good game and not one sided, and it turned out that way.

Brentford put up a good fight, second half saw us up our tempo, and we piled on the pressure. Taking nothing away from Brentford, while we had the better of the second half, Brentford showed a lot of resilience, and it was only a matter of time before we scored.

Could've been a whole different game had Brentford scored instead of hitting the post with the ball bouncing back into play. While Brentford weren't much of a threat, they were unlucky not to score first.

Around 75 minutes a draw looked a possibility, and, at that stage the most probable result.

While we were piling on the pressure, there was no finishing, Bamford should've scored with at least one of his headers, but, Bamford is Bamford. I think Bamfords days as our main striker are numbered.

On 81 minutes the deadlock was broken. Klich picked up the ball just inside our half, made a good run with Costa sprinting down Klich's right. A good pinpoint pass by Klich sent Costa past the defender and a good cross across the box saw Nikita waiting, and he popped it in as calm as you like.

Brentford didn't really have much response after our goal, and the clock was ticking down, but to their credit they continued to fight trying to work a way to grab an equaliser, it was never meant to be.

Harrison is still playing greedy, he tries to beat too many players at one time, and sometimes he was beating himself, which may be the reason Bielsa brought hi off.

Alioski's crosses, most first time were finding their target about 75% of the time, and one of'em was when Bamford should've scored.

Harrison reminds me a little of Sako, not much end impact.

Forshaw has justified Bielsa pushing him up into an AM position. Pablo was a bit undercooked, but some of his passes and touches were still creating problems for Brentford.........Pablo will bounce back.

Bielsa justified his decision to bring Costa and Nikita on in second half, between Klich, Costa and Nikita, we got the only goal, and the winning goal of game.

Problems during game, we lack firepower from our main striker, and it showed against Brentford.

We had the best of the play and possession, especially in second half, we should've had at least 2 or 3 goals. Brentford give us a good game and made us work for our goal, other teams are going to give us hard games as well.

3 hard fought points and back to top of Championship............we do it all again on Saturday.

These next 2 games before a rest are going to be telling.

Enjoy.

Short highlights

Extended highlights

Bielsa post match interview

Longer highlights from a fans phone.

Adam Forshaw post match

Nikita goal cam.

Thomas Frank post match interview

David Raya post match

That kids back

 

You forgot to say Philips had another good game.

 

Thanks for posting the links though.

 

No I didn't.

 

You feeling ok 2020, you said thank you.

 

I’m a nice person, LL. honest

(I’ve said it before actually, I appreciate your links, though I don’t watch a lot of the political ones).

 

I enjoy the links too (if I’ve not seen the game, but still handy for others either way).YEP were not impressed with Alioski, said wayward passes and running up an alley, they also said Harrison was unlucky to be taken off as he was playing well but then you only have to read this forum to see how some see things totally different

 

..................and yet Bielsa took him off, YEP for coach next season...

 

I could see why Alioski is a risk as FB. He adds to the attack but he loses the ball a lot and we are exposed (this gave them their second best chance of the game). Plus he’s not the best defensively. I like him though, just think he’s not going to be quite good enough.

Harrison had a tough job and did ok I thought. So did Bamford. We had weakened Brentford by the two forward subs came on and they both had a great impact. They’d have found it tough too from the start of the game.

 

That doesn’t mean he did badly. Fresh legs to take advantage of the work already done.

 

He also left Bamford on which I assume you would have disagreed with at the time? He also picks Phillips week in and week out and slapped a massive price tag on his head to ward off offers which I also assume you disagree with

I think Douglas and Harrison are our best pairing myself and I am quite comfortable with Alioski filling in for either when the need arises. It's a strange one as most of the team have improved beyond recognition since Biesa came in yet Alioski (although not a bad player) hasn't improved by the same leap and bounds

 

Sorry Rich, but you're absolutely wrong. Didn't you read that Harrison is like Sacko? Du-uh!

You'll need to pay more attention to Bielsa's mentor, above.

 

I read that and ignored it, I just assumed he was on a wind up

 

Agree with you re. Bamford & Phillips, as would anyone who knows anything about football.

Not so sure about Alioski not improving. I remember him being rubbished at first for being ok on the left, & absolute rubbish on the right. Then there was his diving at every opportunity - then some more. And all he did was stick to his wing.

An awful lot of this is true, and you really couldn't level any of that at him now. Bielsa has knocked a lot of that out of him. He's a bit of a Duracell bunny - more so than anyone else, I think (although Forshaw is running him close this season). Pops up everywhere, and gets really involved with the game. Also gets hammered with fouls (as the opposition know his rep with refs), but keeps his temper. I see more of an immense maturing with him than explosive development. Which is a good thing.

I'm not a great lover of Douglas, but I think most of that is down to the (perhaps unrealistically) high expectation I and most others had when he joined us. He's never reached those heights, and possibly might never. Solid player, especially defensively (although that was supposed to be his weakness!!), but for me, he just doesn't connect with our wingers. Several have been tried, but it's just not worked out. Perhaps Costa is the answer? God knows. What I can say from personal experience, is that some of the most exhilarating football I've watched has been on the left with Alioski & Harrison. Their interplay can be exquisite, and at one stage last night, we even had Pablo come over to join the party on the left. It wasn't all bad from Pablo last night, he did have some high points.

 

Don't believe a word of it, if he said thanks, put your chastity belt on.

 

I do think Phillips needs to sharpen up his passing accuracy. Bit sloppy and too casual at times.

 

You’re just playing hard to get.

 

You’re just playing hard to get.

 

Not keen on his corner taking myself, we don't seem to have any kind of system or that's how it appears to me.
Then again what do I know

 

I noticed that he seemed to be hitting the corners long, presumably to get past Pontus, although I remember one absolute stinker that never got past the first man.