Good Morning. It's Wednesday 29th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Rampant Leeds make amends for first half display
Leeds came from two goals behind to beat the boys from Bermondsey as Bielsa's half time team talk transformed the team from abysmal to unplayable. Millwall's first goal was in typical style. Leeds failed to mark their opponents properly following a deep inswinging corner. Wall Centre back Hutchinson lost his marker (Ayling) and headed the visitors ahead after just four minutes.
The second was more controversial. The ball had clearly gone out of play on the side lines moments before, yet the officials had not seen it. Bradshaw was tussling with Alioski for possession on the left hand side of the penalty area when Ayling (not Alioski) was adjudged to bring the Lions number 9 down to give him his second penalty in consecutive games against the Whites. Jed Wallace stepped up to show the Leeds players how to take a penalty.
Leeds had their chances in the first half. There was one shot in particular from Stuart Dallas that forced Polish International keeper Białkowski into a breathtaking save, only for the official to signal for a goal kick. As the players went down the tunnel at half time, Jean-Kevin Augustin, who was watching the game from the sidelines with Benjamin Mendy must have been wondering what he was getting himself in for!
Although there were no changes at half time, a rampant, and mostly unplayable Leeds team emerged from the tunnel for the second period. The Whites laid siege on their South London counterparts to such a degree that Winston Churchill would have been proud, and were duly rewarded within three minutes of the second period when Bamford blasted home from close range following a corner. Field Marshall Hernandez then half volloyed Leeds level with thirty minutes remaining.
Four minutes later Bamford put Leeds ahead. Aylings pin pointed cross was met with a diving header that Tom Bradshaw would have been proud of as the Lions were running for cover. Leeds missed guilt edged opportunities to stretch their lead further, but more importantly Bielsa's men returned to the top of the table as West Brom were beaten at Cardiff City 2-1. Leeds have a four point cushion between themselves and third placed Nottingham Forest who beat Brentford away from home last night.
Bielsa's post match press conference
Angus Kinnear - Radrizzani subsidises £1m towards salaries each month as wage bill doubles
Last nights Programme notes from Chief Executive Angus Kinnear says owner Andrea Radrizzani continues to write a cheque out for a £1m per month to subsidise a wage bill which he says has doubled under this regime. Does anybody else think that is something to be proud of? I recall when Dallas, Cooper, Ayling and Klich were all rewarded long term extensions and improved contracts meaning on average they will be earning over £80,000 a month each. This was done before Christmas! Why wouldn't the hierarchy wait until the end of the season.
If the worst happens Leeds will have to rebuild without Bielsa. Apart from Klich, none of these players were pulling up any trees before Bielsa joined. It emerged yesterday that Luke Freeman earns £10,000 a week at Sheffield Utd. Would you say that Bamford is four times better than the former QPR hitman?
