PRAGMATISM TRUMPS USUAL FLAIR

conquerors this term have played the Whites at their own high press.

For the home side, this was a heartening display ahead of a gruelling winter schedule when slick football is always at a premium.

Though frailties remain at centre-half, their ability to dig in for victory demonstrated Marcelo Bielsa’s boys can do pragmatism, too.

They will need new signings and better luck with injuries to last the course, but the foundations for a promotion push are clearly in place.