A second-half brace from Patrick Bamford helped Leeds United to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Millwall last night in the Sky Bet Championship, sending Marcelo Bielsa’s side back to the top of the table in the process.  

Leeds entered the game on a run of just one win in seven league outings, and inside 25 minutes they found themselves two goals down at a frustrated Elland Road.

Shaun Hutchinson headed Millwall into the lead on four minutes from a Jed Wallace corner, before the latter dispatched a penalty on 23 minutes after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was brought down.

Whilst there was no doubting the decision to award Millwall a penalty, the fact Ryan Woods appeared to carry the ball out of play in the build-up to the foul incensed the home fans, players and bench alike, with feelings towards Darren England made clear.

However, Leeds used that frustration to their advantage in the second-half, with Bamford’s brace, either side of Pablo Hernandez’s deflected effort, securing a memorable comeback.

So, what did we learn about Leeds on an eventful evening?

We take a look…

Patrick Bamford delivers a message

 

Slap bang in the middle of Elland Road’s West Stand was Jean-Kevin Augustin, Leeds United’s high-profile January signing, alongside Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy.

Augustin is here to rival Bamford for a starting berth in Bielsa’s side, not warm the bench, which appears to have given Leeds’ No.9 a kick up the backside.

It was a lacklustre opening 45 minutes from Bamford, but he was part of a core group leading the second-half comeback, bagging his 11^th and 12^th goals of the season.

His first was a real poacher’s finish, with Bamford reacting quickest when a loose ball fell his way from a corner.

Then, after Hernandez had pulled Leeds level, Bamford was on hand to put them ahead; converting Luke Ayling’s cross from the right with an emphatic header.

It wasn’t just goals that Bamford brought in the second-half, though. The striker’s effort off the ball was superb and he produced the type of performance that suggests he won’t let Augustin stroll into Elland Road and take his shirt.

Mateusz Klich offering more than just goals nowadays

Last season, Klich became famed for his goalscoring exploits from midfield, but he offers so much more to Bielsa’s side these days.

Without Kalvin Phillips in the midfield, Leeds are weaker, there’s no doubt. However, Klich took it upon himself in the second-half to wrestle the initiative from Ryan Woods and run the game.

He offered drive and creativity, including the ‘second assist’ for Bamford’s winning goal after finding Ayling on the right.

Late on he should’ve wrapped up the scoring after firing over from 12 yards with the goal gaping, but even that couldn’t overshadow a high quality outing from the Polish international.

Coming out of chaos with a win, but a need to regain control

 

Refereeing decisions aside, and putting a pin in a relentless second-half, this wasn’t perfect from Leeds by any stretch.

Bielsa watched his side play out a sloppy opening five minutes, giving the ball away time after time, which eventually resulted in Hutchinson heading Millwall into the lead.

After pushing for an equaliser, a refereeing error and Wallace’s penalty left Leeds furious and 2-0 down, with it looking like emotions would override the need to get back into the game.

On reflection, it was probably the emotion of the first-half that inspired Leeds to victory, but there’s room for improvement, particularly with how the Whites manage games.

Over November and December, they controlled things from the first minute to the last, which they now seem inept of doing. Simply, Leeds can’t continue to win games 5-4 and 3-2 if they want promotion. It is the tight 1-0 results that settle this race.

Regaining control of their fixtures has to be the aim moving forwards after coming out of a period of pure chaos top of the pile.