BIELSA: WE’VE GOT TO GO FOR THE JUGULAR!
NERVY Leeds United edged past Birmingham City at Elland Road to move into the top two, thanks to Kalvin Phillips’ second-half strike.
Phillips opened the scoring after 65 minutes after the ball squirmed through Lee Camp to give the hosts a deserved win.
But Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa called on his side to learn to close out games more convincingly.
“It was a really important match for us to win,” he said.
“I am not happy with how we closed the game out. After we scored we could have finished the match and we gave them the ball and let them control the chances.
“That was one of the best first halves we have played. We started the second half with some doubt and, after the goal, we had three chances to finish the match and from then, little by little, we allowed the opponent to control the ball.
“When they have the ball they will have chances to score.
“It was difficult for us to score in the first half, but it was a great performance.”
United, who have scored just five times in their opening six home games, dominated the first half but were unable to trouble the Blues’ defence.
But they did just enough in the second half against the lacklustre visitors to mark the club’s 100th birthday celebrations in fitting fashion.
Lee Camp unconvincingly palmed an Ezgjan Alioski shot to safety after eight minutes,
Lukas Jutkiewicz went into the book after 21 minutes for a late tackle on Stuart Dallas, before Alioski fired wide from the free-kick, before Patrick Bamford flashed an effort narrowly wide from a tight angle.
Jutkiewicz went close during a rare Birmingham attack minutes later.
Then Helda Costa had a chance blocked after a superb back-heel from Bamford, only for Camp to parry the ball to safety after Dallas pounced on the rebound after 38 minutes.
Ivan Sunjic went into the book after going through the back of Alioski after he threatened to go on a run just before half-time.
United brought Eddie Nketiah on for Bamford at half-time, and the Arsenal loan man won a free-kick on the edge of the box two minutes after the restart as Leeds appealed for a penalty.
Fran Villalba Rodrigo wasn’t far away with a long distance effort after 51 minutes, before Nketiah saw a long-range shot deflected straight to Camp.
Ben White made a brave block to prevent Alvaro Gimenez from getting a shot away, then Jutkiewicz had a shot saved from distance.
Leeds finally found the opening goal when Phillips slotted the ball under Camp with the keeper knowing he should have done better.
Jack Harrison fired just wide before Alioski shot over the bar from close range as United pushed for the killer.
Birmingham boss Pep Clotet felt his side had been unlucky.
“Apart from the high possession that Leeds usually have, our team had more shots than them. It was very even numbers,” he said.
“We knew it would be a difficult match ahead against a team that has been so good for a year-and-a-half.’’