LEEDS HIT THE TOP
Saiz strikes again but boss Christiansen tells players to stay humble
THOMAS Christiansen warned his Leeds players of the pressure ahead after crowning his early days in English football by hitting the Championship summit.
Christiansen, the former Spain forward, saw his compatriot Samuel Saiz hit his sixth goal of the season and Stuart Dallas add a second as Leeds marked the 43rd anniversary of Brian Clough’s sacking in a more jovial mood. In contrast to Clough’s ill-fated 44day reign, Christiansen is finding life here just dandy.
Unbeaten so far, Leeds have not conceded a goal since the opening day and showed their mettle against Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham, a side who on this evidence will not be dwelling in the relegation zone long.
‘If you told me after the last game we would be in this position I would be very proud,’ said Christiansen. ‘Right now it doesn’t do anything for me — just puts a little more pressure on the team because everyone will now want to beat Leeds. The way that we took these three points is pleasing. Everyone was fighting for the same thing — not to concede.
‘It was obvious we didn’t play up to our best and we didn’t control the situation as we wanted or we are used to.’
Indeed, Birmingham began in the ascendancy and finished strongly too. But they found themselves behind after PierreMichel Lasogga — Leeds’ replacement for Chris Wood — added an assist to his two- goal debut against Burton.
David Stockdale could only parry Lasogga’s shot skyward, and as a throng of players converged for the rebound, Saiz toed it in.
Leeds fans warm to players and Lasogga’s commitment to the cause has been emphasised by him remaining in England despite his wife being due to give birth back home in Germany. He was close to a third goal in a matter of four days but an outstretched Stockdale denied him.
Redknapp, however, was heartened by the attacking gems in his new-look team with Chelsea loanee Jeremie Boga and Jota impressing.
It took Luke Ayling to hook Maxime Colin’s header off the line to deny them a first-half equaliser and Leeds’ sixth clean sheet in a row was given gloss when Dallas drove home in injury time.
‘People will see the scoreline and think “2-0, it must have been an easy game.” I don’t think they’ll have had a harder one,’ said Redknapp. ‘The team I took over survived on the last day of last season. There is a team with potential there now.’