Marcelo Bielsa watched Leeds United’s automatic promotion hopes take another hit last night, with Queens Park Rangers beating the Whites 1-0 at Loftus Road.  

Leeds will obviously take frustration from that, but they can’t lick their wounds for too long, with Bielsa’s side back in action on Friday evening, welcoming West Bromwich Albion to Elland Road.

Like Leeds, Albion are entering this clash on the back of a defeat, with their own top-two hopes fading after a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United last Saturday evening.

Following that, Jake Livermore, a former Elland Road loanee, fired a warning to Leeds, stating to the Express and Star that the Baggies’ away form was a strength:

“Leeds are one of the clubs we need to catch and just as everyone will be questioning our home form, they will also be impressed by our away performances.

“It may be that we get that little bit more space in those games but we will certainly go into that match confident we can get a result.”

Darren Moore’s side have won eight of their last nine on the road, and whilst Leeds should be taking note of the warning, they will have confidence in their own form and potential to use the Elland Road atmosphere to their advantage.

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Only three teams have taken maximum points off Leeds at Elland Road this season, Birmingham, Hull and Norwich. All three have been able to mute an electric atmosphere, but arguably did so by producing their performance of the season.

Albion will have to be at their best to do that to Leeds, who have gathered 36 points at Elland Road this season – home form matched by only Sheffield United in the entire division.

There’s a real bouncebackability amongst this Leeds side and whilst West Brom have similar traits and their impressive away form to fall back on, the Elland Road factor could carry Bielsa’s side over the line.

Livermore’s warning about Albion’s away form won’t be news to the meticulous Bielsa, who will have his side prepped to bounce back.