BIELSA REELING AFTER LATEST HARSH LESSON
SELHURST PARK is the place to come for the ‘harsh realities’ of football – as Marcelo Bielsa discovered to his cost. Fantastic, frenetic and entertaining this no-holdsbarred contest may have been, but try telling that to Leeds fans.
The good news is that in terms of endeavour, attitude and desire, the Argentinian’s men were more than a match for the hosts. But in terms of naivete – dear me.
It was the second defeat by this scoreline inside one week following the nightmare at Elland Road last Monday against Leicester City. And this was similar – canny opponents with a little too much quality.
Bielsa said: “The defeat was fair but the scoreline was exaggerated. These defeats are complicated. When there’s two in a row, it increases your difficulties. If for a second game we concede four goals and only said. Leeds’ anger was compounded minutes later. The visitors were incensed the ball wasn’t kicked out of play to allow for an injury. Robin Koch upended Eberechi Eze and the £16million signing from QPR score one, that’s a harsh reality.” lifted a lovely free-kick into the It crackled from the off, was net via the crossbar. injected with life from the Bamford drew Leeds back moment Scott Dann’s into it within two scruffy 12th-minute minutes, converting header gave Palace after Mateusz Klich the lead and then headed the ball to came the first him. The forward major talking slyly looked over at point. the assistant.
Patrick Bamford’s The moment that hot streak looked earned Palace set to continue as the breathing space in-form striker arrived just before
OPENER: Dann heads in dinked the ball into the break. Patrick the net. VAR checked it – and the van Aanholt’s cross was diverted forward’s arm had broken the into the net via Helder Costa. line. Bamford wasn’t happy after It was left to Wilfried Zaha to the final whistle. lead Leeds’ defence a merry
“You can’t score with your dance with just over a quarter of arm. It doesn’t make sense,” he the game to play. He threaded a ball into the area from the left and Jordan Ayew finished via the inside of the post. It was the first time Palace had scored four in two and a half years.
Eagles boss Roy Hodgson said: “It was a highly competitive game. We played well and we were good value for our victory.
“It was a good win against a team that has started so well and has a style of play that is different to what we are used to.”
On Eze, who just edged out Zaha as the outstanding player, Hodgson said: “It was a perfect free-kick. I don’t think any keeper would have stopped it.”