Win leaves Bielsa in seventh heaven
BOSS Marcelo Bielsa failed to make history with his revitalised Leeds United side – and the Argentinian was delighted.
Because anything less than three points against Watford meant that a team which won plaudits for their enterprising football last season would have made their worst start to a campaign in 95 years.
But with Watford lacking organisation and ideas that grim scenario never looked likely.
So at the seventh attempt Leeds have their first victory of a season, and Bielsa admitted: “To be able to win today was a necessity.
‘‘I feel relief because three points from a possible 18 in the first six games was something to be worried about.”
The biggest complaint was that they didn’t cash in enough on their superiority.
Watford were wobbling from the first minute and the fact that they made it a nervous finale for the Elland Road fans was down to profligate finishing from the home side.
International breaks are dangerous times for Watford bosses due to the revolving door policy of the owners but the latest head coach Xisco Munoz
should have just about enough in the credit bank.
He said: “They wanted to win the game more than us. We have to improve. We knew before the game that Leeds are at number one for intensity.”
Even before Diego Llorente capitalised on erratic defending from an 18th-minute Raphina corner the alarm bells had been ringing for the overrun visitors, with worried keeper Ben Foster yelling at his team mates.
Foster said: “We were very poor today, miles away from it. We didn’t lay a glove on them.”
The keeper had done well to follow up his stop from a Stuart Dallas attempt by flicking the ball away. Dallas should have done better from another inviting opening as the Hornets were again left chasing shadows from another Leeds move at breakneck speed, the midfielder blasting over the bar.
It was just what Bielsa had ordered, a flashback to last season’s attacking panache which made such a huge impression on the Premier League in their first campaign back in the big time.
And he was off his bucket to celebrate the breakthrough as Llorente struck with a composed finish, the ball in from Raphina causing Watford to selfdestruct – the Spaniard applying the vital touch when Juraj Kucka inexplicably headed back across the six-yard box.
It could have been worse as William Ekong appeared to panic in Leeds’ next attack, an arm wrapped around Daniel James bringing him crashing to the floor in the box. To the Welsh international’s disgust referee Simon Hooper waved away his claims.
The expected avalanche of goals didn’t arrive despite wave after wave of Leeds attacks. Foster dropped a Kalvin Phillips free-kick allowing Tyler Roberts to pounce only for Kucka to clear off the line and his follow-up struck the bar.
Watford believed they had an equaliser from a Danny Rose corner. Illan Meslier fumbled the ball, which hit Liam Cooper and go in. But it came after a push on the Leeds skipper from Christian Kabasele.