Bielsa calls for more as Roofe sends Leeds top
Leeds United sit proudly on top of the Championship for a fourth time already this season, but Marcelo Bielsa conceded that they need quickly to rediscover the impressive form they displayed at the outset of the campaign if they are to retain their status in the long term.
For the first time since Boxing Day, the Yorkshire side overturned a deficit to secure a win, one which propelled them back to the summit on goal difference to make them one of five teams to lead the way in as many weeks – Norwich, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion being the others.
It was only Leeds’ fourth win in their last 11 league games and after spending a month and a half as the side to aim for earlier this season, their Argentine coach knows greater consistency of results is required to help to bring about an end to a 14-year top-flight exile.
“To be first in the Championship, we have to make a difference between us and the other teams,” Biesla said. “We did that at the beginning of the season, but then we stopped doing it. If we want to stay in first we have to win more regularly and keep collecting points.”
Kemar Roofe pounced on an error from Christian Walton 40 seconds after the restart to score the winner as the Wigan goalkeeper failed to gather a weak low cross from Pablo Hernandez.
A frenetic start saw both sides score in a breathless opening nine minutes en route to the hosts surrendering an eight-month unbeaten home record.
Wigan did not have a touch inside their opponents’ penalty area for the entire first half, but still took a sixth-minute lead thanks to a first senior goal for Reece James. Leeds captain Liam Cooper was punished for a foul on Joe Garner, and Wigan’s on-loan Chelsea teenager curled a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner of the net.
Leeds were almost immediately level, Barry Douglas releasing Mateusz Klich into the Wigan area for him to pull the ball back for Hernandez to prod home from close range. Roofe pounced on the error from Walton, but Leeds were unable further to embellish their lead and Callum Mcmanaman came close to a late equaliser when curling a shot inches over the bar.
The match marked the last in charge for Dave Whelan following the club’s sale to the Hong Kongbased International Entertainment Corporation. The outgoing owner was given a warm standing ovation by home supporters in the 23rd minute to mark his family’s number of years at the helm, and Wigan manager Paul Cook added: “It was an emotional day for everyone, and it’s a massive disappointment we couldn’t give the owner three points as a fitting send-off.”
Wigan Athletic
Subs Leeds United Referee