UK Edition
Patrick Bamford at the double as Leeds United move back into Championship's automatic promotion places
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Preston 0 Leeds United 2
As Marcelo Bielsa’s first defeat as Leeds manager came to a Preston side reduced to 10 men, he could have been forgiven for fearing the worst when Ben Pearson was dismissed.
Instead, Bielsa got the best possible outcome. Preston had survived a sending off to see off United in August’s Carabao Cup tie, but history did not repeat itself. Instead, Leeds' 15-year exile from the top flight may be nearing an end after a victory that took them back into the top two and put pressure on Sheffield United, who visit Birmingham on Wednesday night. Leeds faltered at St Andrew’s on Saturday but this was a fine response. Bielsa, who was unusually critical of his team at the weekend, was happy to praise them.
“I am proud of the performance because all the players played with a high level of performance,” he said. In particular, Patrick Bamford. Bielsa felt he was below par against Millwall last week and a bit better against Birmingham. “He contributed a lot today,” added Bielsa.
There were three crucial contributions. Pearson was sent off for bringing down the striker, while Bamford then turned Leeds’ one-man advantage into a lead with a spectacular strike from 25 yards. His second goal came from a header from Mateusz Klich’s cross. “He adapted very well to a very difficult game,” added Bielsa. “The goals came in an important moment for him and the team.”
He condemned Preston to a third consecutive defeat and almost certainly ended the surprise play-off push of a team who were bottom in autumn. But if Leeds are not in the play-offs, it will be for very different reasons.
They could have won by more, with Luke Ayling hitting the post inbetween Bamford’s second United brace. They had first-half chances, with Ezgjan Alioski, Bamford and Klich all narrowly off target.
Bielsa felt his team would have triumphed against 11 men. “If there is a team in the league you don’t want to go down to 10 men against, it is Leeds,” said Preston manager Alex Neil. “The game changes with a mistake.”
Pearson was not the culprit when Preston gave the ball away. He paid a price when they were caught on the counter attack, collecting his third red card of the season after he was isolated with Bamford. Then Alan Browne’s clearance cannoned into Bamford’s path and he broke the deadlock. “A bit of fortune,” added Neil. “But a fantastic finish.”
Match details
Preston (4-1-4-1): Rudd; Fisher, Storey, Davies, Earl; Pearson; Nmecha (Stockley 87), Browne, Johnson, Robinson (Moult 58); Maguire (Ledson 70).
Substitutes: Crowe (g), Rafferty, Ginnelly, Huntington.
Booked: Pearson, Davies
Sent off: Pearson
Leeds (4-1-4-1): Casilla; Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Hernandez, Klich, Roberts (Forshaw 83), Harrison (Berardi 77); Bamford (Roofe 90).
Substitutes: Peacock-Farrell (g), Dallas, Shackleton, Stevens.
Booked: Alioski, Phillips
Goals: Bamford 2 (62, 76)
Referee: R Jones (Merseyside)
Attendance: 18,019