MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 20:24:05| >> :600:121598:121598:
[monks data]
Attendance: 34,006
Leeds logo
Championship | Gameweek 29
Jan 28, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Millwall logo

3-2

Bamford (48', 66'), Hernandez (62')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Hutchinson (4'), Wallace (23' pen.)

Marcelo Bielsa refuses to take credit for Leeds comeback

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Leeds rallied to beat Millwall 3-2 and move top of the Championship.

Marcelo Bielsa admits his Leeds players deserve all the credit for their stunning 3-2 comeback win over Millwall.

The Whites were 2-0 down at half-time and looked shell-shocked – but they came out roaring after the interval and scored three goals inside 18 minutes to go back to the top of the Championship.

Many will give Bielsa plenty of praise but the Argentine instead lauded his players for their turnaround.

"It's not what I said which provoked the change," said Bielsa.

"Maybe the match looked like it was strange, but it's a copy of all our matches. A lot of chances to make three goals, the opponent goals were similar to what we normally concede.

"At the end of the match it was uncomfortable and not calm, but in both halves we had a lot of chances.

"We played very well in attack. It is similar to most of our matches. In the second half it was easier when we were playing in more space."

The visitors raced into the lead with barely four minutes on the clock. A corner was whipped in and Shaun Hutchinson rose unmarked to plant a header past home stopper Kiko Casilla.

Bartosz Bialkowski in the Millwall goal was keeping Leeds at bay and that proved vital as Millwall notched a second midway through the half.

The visitors were awarded a penalty after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was clumsily felled in the box by Gjanni Alioski. Jed Wallace duly stepped up and smashed the spot-kick home to double the Lions' advantage.

Leeds looked well off the boil but produced a riveting second-half showing to turn the game on its head. Bialkowski made a superb point-blank save to keep out Jack Harrison's effort from a corner but Patrick Bamford was there to easily tap in from a yard out to halve the deficit.

Pablo Hernandez's deflected shot left Bialkowski helpless and the turnaround was complete on 66 minutes when Bamford nodded in unmarked from Luke Ayling's delightful centre.

Helder Costa struck the crossbar whilst Mateusz Klich somehow blazed over from just a few yards but Leeds held on to secure a potentially huge three points.

Dejected Millwall boss Gary Rowett said: "I'm disappointed, but overall we've been given a lesson. They (Leeds) were thoroughly deserved winners.

"Ten days without a game has probably benefited Leeds which you saw with the running and energy.

"We knew this was a tough place to come. To get in at half-time 2-0 up, we didn't perform well enough after that.

"We conceded a poor goal just after half-time and then they get a deflection for the second and their third, we stand off the crosser.

"We created some opportunities in the game but we didn't pass the ball enough today."

There was a flashpoint in the second half when coins appeared to be thrown by Leeds supporters as Wallace took a Millwall corner.

When quizzed on it, Bielsa said: "It's a question where the answer is there, because I can never agree with this (coin-throwing)."

ID:387879: cacheID:387879:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5459:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder reacts on January 10, 2020
Read Next:
Chris Wilder "delighted" to see Sheffield United pass "dangerous" Millwall test
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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!