MX23RW : Friday, December 27 21:38:53| >> :60:3150:3150:
[monks data]
Attendance: 17,598
Barnsley
Championship | Gameweek 7
Sep 15, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Leeds logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Nketiah (84'), Klich (89' pen.)

Marcelo Bielsa: 'Eddie Nketiah is a complete player'

Marcelo Bielsa: 'Eddie Nketiah is a complete player'
© Reuters
On-loan Arsenal forward Nketiah made it four goals in six appearances since joining the Whites.

Marcelo Bielsa hailed on-loan striker Eddie Nketiah as "a complete player" after his latest strike helped Leeds return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship following a 2-0 win at Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

Nketiah, on as a 70th-minute substitute for Patrick Bamford, made it four goals in six appearances since joining Leeds from Arsenal in the summer.

The 20-year-old despatched a side-foot volley from close range in the 84th minute and then won a penalty that was coolly converted by Mateusz Klich five minutes later.

In comparing Nketiah to Bamford, who appeared unhappy in being replaced and who was denied by fine saves from Brad Collins on three occasions, Bielsa said: "Eddie has different characteristics, and in a match like that he is a good option.

"Some players are involved (in play) a lot before creating chances. Nketiah is more involved at the end of the action but he has good characteristics to combine with his team-mates to give us these options.

"He is a striker who can score goals. For me, he is a complete player."

Brushing aside Bamford's reaction to being substituted, Bielsa added: "He puts in a lot of effort to be in a good condition to score, and he had a lot of chances in this game.

"I tried to explain to him that he deserved a goal. He is a great centre forward."

Bielsa felt "it was a match we deserved to win", even though Leeds were indebted to goalkeeper Kiko Casilla for pulling off a number of superb saves to help lift them back to the top above Swansea on goal difference.

While Leeds have won six consecutive away matches in all competitions for only the third time in their history, previously doing so in 1931 and 1963, Barnsley are without a win since the opening day of the season.

Yet boss Daniel Stendel was at least encouraged by a performance that showed the "passion" he had demanded beforehand but was missing the end product.

"I'm very proud of the players because we played as well as we can, creating so many chances against Leeds," said Stendel.

"They were the better team, but for our efforts we deserved a point. At least we are back to our style of play."

With just four goals in eight matches this season, Stendel added: "It's not enough.

"But with the attitude and the mentality we showed today then I know we can score and have big chances to win. I'm sure we can change things."

Amongst the late goals, the game was sadly marred by incidents involving fans from both sides, the stewards, and police.

Bielsa said: "I am sorry for what happened. I feel pity these things happened."

ID:371559: cacheID:371559:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4285:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Daniel Stendel in charge of Barnsley on March 23, 2019
Read Next:
Daniel Stendel defends Ben Williams after seeing red
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds23146343152848
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd23155332131948
3Burnley2313823092147
4Sunderland23128336201644
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2211562720738
6Watford2211473229337
7Middlesbrough23106741311036
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2381142718935
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds239683133-233
10Swansea CitySwansea238692724330
11Bristol City237972728-130
12Norwich CityNorwich237883935429
13Millwall227782220228
14Derby CountyDerby2376102929027
15Coventry CityCoventry2376103234-227
16Preston North EndPreston2351172329-626
17Queens Park RangersQPR2351082331-825
18Luton TownLuton2374122539-1425
19Stoke CityStoke2357112332-922
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2256112439-1521
21Portsmouth214892637-1120
22Hull City2347122132-1119
23Cardiff CityCardiff2246122137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2246122249-2718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!