Jones spied chance to spring a ‘surprise’ on under-fire Bielsa and his boys took it
SPYMASTER Marcelo Bielsa was caught out at his own game as rookie boss Nathan Jones collected his first three points as Stoke manager.
The Argentine admitted after a third defeat in four games that he was “worried” – and not because the EFL and FA are investigating following his off-field controversy.
Bielsa has admitted spying on his rivals’ training and an EFL spokesman confirmed 11 clubs have complained about the issue.
Second-half goals from Sam Clucas and Joe Allen upset the leaders after a classic case of counter-espionage – a completely new playing system.
And Jones admits his players were happy to spring a “surprise” on the Leeds boss.
He said: “It’s been well publicised that Marcelo has watched the Luton games so he was well-drilled and we thought we might give him a surprise.
“The players took it on board. We have some top players so it’s easy.”
He was understandably delighted to beat the league’s pace-setters and felt his players got their just reward.
“It is nice to get off the mark, I’ve never lost three games in a row as a manager in my fledgling career,” he said.
“They are the best side in the league, we knew we had to be tactically right.
“They can hurt you. We will get to that level.
“It was a superb team performance.
“On the one occasion we needed Jack Butland he came up trumps.”
Throw in a red card for Pontus Jansson for a second booking and it was a bad day all round for the Yorkshire outfit.
A late goal from Ezgjan Alioski proved little consolation.
Leeds remain top of the table but victory would have seen them wedge open a four-point gap on second-placed Norwich.
And Bielsa said: “Every time that the team does not win I’m worried. It was a game we could win.
“If you have a ball and cannot arrive to the last part of the pitch you can’t have chances to score. We didn’t miss any goals.
“Even when we had one player less it was the same. We lacked aggressiveness and we didn’t finish deep enough in the attacks.” He refused to point the finger at the official.
“We can’t say we lost because of the referee’s job,” said Bielsa, who takes his side to Rotherham on Saturday.
“I could say he was excessively severe or not but the ref doesn’t decide the final result.”
This will go down as a textbook win for Jones and vindication for giving Charlie Adam a rare first start.
The veteran midfielder prowled and passed all over the pitch.
Stoke’s tactic was to treat this as an away match and invite Leeds to make the running.
At the first sign of an attacking opportunity the Potters scored – Clucas taking advantage of two poor headers from Mateusz Klich and Liam Cooper to shoot past Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Fired up by the home crowd, Stoke threatened again with clever runs from Benik Afobe and Peter Etebo.
Defender Jansson picked up a second yellow for a foul on Afobe and could have no complaints.
Leeds threw everything at trying to bag an equaliser and Butland was forced into a great save from Luke Ayling near the end.
Stoke regrouped and, buoyed by substitute James McClean’s sparkling display, made absolutely sure they would get the three points with a second goal.
Allen, another who looks to have bought into the Jones way, tapped in McClean’s cross.
Alioski’s goal seconds later never threatened to change the result.
The victory snapped a six-game run without a win for Stoke.
Little wonder, then, that after the final whistle Jones was on the pitch and celebrating with the supporters.
They appear to love him already.