Leeds 3 Burnley 1 - BBC 2/1/22
Marcelo Bielsa says Leeds United took a "step forward" by ending a three-game losing run in the Premier League with a victory over Burnley at Elland Road that adds to the Clarets' own relegation fears.
Stuart Dallas curled in with 13 minutes to go and Daniel
James' header then crept in as Bielsa's side moved eight points clear of the
relegation zone.
Jack Harrison had opened the scoring before the break,
squeezing an effort inside the near post after Wayne Hennessey saved the
winger's initial strike.
Substitute Maxwel Cornet's sublime free-kick levelled for
Burnley, whose celebrations were soured when Matt Lowton was hit in the face
with a bottle thrown from the crowd.
But those late efforts from Dallas and James turned the game
back in Leeds' favour, while Sean Dyche's Burnley side are without a win since
the end of October.
Defeat means the Clarets remain 18th, two points from safety
with a game in hand on Watford above them.
"It was a necessary victory in a game that's very
important at this stage of the season," Bielsa told BBC Sport. "It
was very difficult to win but the victory was deserved.
"It's a step forward but it's insufficient if we don't
give consistency to the performances."
Bielsa said beforehand the "evaluation of my task in
the last few months is negative" after three successive defeats in which
his side shipped 14 goals, but there was far more energy in the hosts'
performance on Sunday.
Those losses had also come against three of the current top
four in Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, and the Argentine boss has plenty
of credit in the bank at Elland Road.
Bielsa was boosted by the return of defenders Diego Llorente
and Junior Firpo but, while still looking light in attack with Patrick Bamford
yet to return, it took a mistake from Burnley for the hosts to open the scoring.
Tyler Roberts had earlier headed a glorious chance wide
before Clarets defender James Tarkowski's pass was intercepted by Harrison.
The winger was then also quickest to the rebound after
Hennessey palmed away his initial effort to score his first league goal of the
season.
"We need goals," said Bielsa. "The goals
sometimes are offered by different players. I'm sure it's going to help them
find their confidence and to score once again."
The visitors did have chances of their own and Leeds
goalkeeper Illan Meslier was forced into a point-blank save when Chris Wood
latched on to Charlie Taylor's dangerous cross.
Dyche responded at half-time by bringing on a player who
must be in the running for signing of the season, and he had an instant impact.
Ivory Coast international Cornet, bought from Lyon in the
summer for £12.85m, whipped a free-kick beyond Meslier from around 30 yards for
his sixth goal in 10 league games.
Leeds' own creative genius Raphinha was at his enigmatic
best, almost catching Hennessey off his line from halfway with an effort that
clipped the crossbar early on, but when presented a chance to win the game, the
Brazilian could only steer James' teasing cross into the side-netting.
In the end it did not matter, with Dallas finding the corner
with a well-placed left-footed effort and substitute James wrapping up the
victory with a header in stoppage time.
Dyche dismissed the idea this game was more important than
any other but Leeds' victory means the bottom four have been cut adrift and at
this stage it looks as if only one of Watford, Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich
will survive.
