BIELSA’S PSYCHO THRILLER
Harrison sorts out slump... now boss wants to buy City ‘flop’
to be ambitious as a team and it would be great for us to finish in the top half of the table.”
Bielsa is fully behind Harrison’s bid to think outside the box, saying: “If he thinks it’s necessary and he takes benefit from it, then it’s a useful tool to use.”
Although victory took Leeds past the 40-point mark, the Argentine is not sure it is enough – with tough games against both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham on the horizon.
“I’m still not convinced 40 points will be enough, especially with 24 still to play for,” he said.
“We won’t have a definitive picture of our season until the end.”
Leeds, though, will be more than safe even if they need to be more ruthless when they have opponents on the rack.
Blades caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom might have thought he could follow West
Brom’s lead at Chelsea by catching Leeds on an off-day after the international break.
But Leeds were in no mood to slip up on derby day even if
Elland Road was empty. They were full of pace, energy and invention and the game should have been over in the first half with Bielsa’s dominant stars carving out good chances.
If not for Aaron Ramsdale it would have been much worse, with the keeper making early saves to deny Kalvin Phillips and the impressive Stuart Dallas as Leeds served notice of their intent.
Soon, though, the incessant pressure paid off with the doomed South Yorkshiremen falling behind after 12 minutes.
Tyler Roberts played in Raphinha, who darted to the byline and teed up Harrison for the easiest goal he will ever score.
It was his seventh of the season – the most he has scored in any campaign – and it put the Blades on the back foot.
Ramsdale denied Harrison another with a fingertip save before George Baldock was helped off with concussion after a challenge on Roberts that could have brought a red card.
The Blades did not fold and gave themselves a lifeline with a Ben Osborn goal in first-half injury time.
But minutes after the restart Leeds were back in front as Jagielka diverted Harrison’s cross into his own net, with Raphinha lurking behind.
Despite surviving more Leeds pressure, the Blades battled on and even carved out late chances through Jayden Bogle and Rhian Brewster.
Heckingbottom said: “The effort and fight were there, but there were too many moments where we lacked quality.”