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Patrick Bamford’s penalty in the fifth minute was enough for Leeds to rise to 11th place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road.
The hosts got off to a perfect start when Bamford shot home from the penalty spot for his 10th goal of the season after being brought down in the area by goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Burnley, who was controversially disallowed for an Ashley Barnes goal for a Ben Mee adjudicated foul on Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the first half, prevailed in the second half as they sought an equalizer but couldn’t find a way to pass. while Marcelo Bielsa’s team, who lost many opportunities in the first half, stood firm to score three valuable points.
The victory sees Leeds jump four places in the table and, more importantly, takes them nine points away from relegation places. Meanwhile, Burnley remains 16th, two points above the drop zone.
How Leeds beat Burnley …
Leeds made a quick start and Burnley was caught by a single ball over the top of Luke Ayling. Bamford ran behind James Tarkowski and Mee to tap the ball past Pope, who dropped him.
Bamford rallied to emphatically convert the penalty shot into his 10th goal of the season.
Leeds was causing Burnley’s defense all sorts of trouble with Tarkowski and Mee making many unusual mistakes, but the hosts were unable to capitalize as Rodrigo’s shot was easily stopped by Pope before unmarked Raphinha headed over the crossbar .
Burnley thought they should have been level in the 19th minute. However, referee Robert Jones controversially ruled out Ashley Barnes’ shot for an apparent foul by Mee on goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Leeds then had more chances to extend their lead, but Harrison’s shot hit Bamford before Pope easily jumped off Raphinha’s first shot, while Chris Wood’s header missed the target after Ashley Westwood chose the Forward.
Burnley brought the game to Leeds after the restart when Matthew Lowton and Josh Brownhill forced Meslier to make routine stops.
Bielsa was forced into action when he sent Pablo Hernández for Rodrigo and Jamie Shackleton for Mateusz Klich in an attempt to get his team working again, but Sean Dyche’s team was the team that seemed the most likely.
Leeds should have put the game to bed when Pope brilliantly denied Hernandez after a quick counterattack from the home side, but it turned out to be a nervous ending for Bielsa and his team.
Dyche sent Jay Rodriguez and Dale Stephens for Erik Pieters and Josh Benson with Burnley chasing a tie and Rodriguez fired at the far post after being picked by Brownhill.
Meslier had to be in his prime to produce a good save to avoid Barnes’ stinging effort as Leeds held their ground amid a series of final plays from Burnley.
What the managers said …
Leeds Chief Marcelo bielsa: “It was very difficult. Burnley could have tied the game in the second half, it was two different halves. In the first we were able to impose our game, in the second, especially in the last half, it was difficult for us to neutralize their strengths .
“The first half went according to how we wanted to play. In the second we couldn’t help but play as Burnley wanted. If they had tied, it wouldn’t have been unfair. But I appreciate the effort we made to prevent them from drawing.
“I sincerely feel that there has been an evolution in the way we defend set pieces. It was a necessity for us, I express it as a great effort that we put in because in the second half when we couldn’t prevail and Burnley dominated for a long period. , we had the character to fight. “
Burnley Chief Sean Dyche: “I can’t see the penalty for Leeds, Nick Pope has a clear foot. Football is in a strange place. The one at the other end where we had a goal disallowed, it is not a foul, he can” Ben Mee has his eyes on the ball.
“I have no idea where the game is physically right now. The lucky thing is that everyone will see it, it is a strange incident. That cannot be in the game. It should be a penalty for us: you cannot run and knee to someone in the back I am very aggrieved by that, those moments are important.
“I just asked the referee what time he would like me to come in, that’s all. He didn’t answer. I’ll go ask him what he thought. Not many people agree that the game needs fixing, so sometimes you’re a voice lonely. “
Should the Barnes strike have been ruled out?
Jamie Redknapp from Sky Sports:
“I don’t blame Dyche [for being frustrated]. I would be very frustrated if I were a manager. Robert Jones’ mistake is blowing the whistle too fast. Sometimes you have to let it breathe. The goalkeeper walks in and just takes it out. His left knee goes to Mee’s back.
“When we think about how much the game has been cleaned up, we talk about players jumping with their arms raised, but for whatever reason, when a goalkeeper decides to come in and put a knee on a player’s back, he lets that go.
“It’s also a brilliant shot from Barnes and, for me, it’s the other way around anyway. The goalkeeper has fouled Mee. The referee has to let it go and then make a decision.
“Robert Jones was wrong. It is very early in his Premier League career, but if he had had his time again, he would have taken a breather before making his decision because without a doubt, it should have been the other way around.”
Man of the match – Kalvin Phillips
Moved to the heart of Leeds’ weak defense, Phillips produced an excellent performance against a physical side of Burnley, as the hosts posted a first clean sheet in over a month.
He put his body on the line on several occasions to make some crucial blocks and also put his head to the ball on several occasions when the visitors bombarded the Leeds area.
Leeds Chief Marcelo bielsa on Phillips’ performance: “Phillips is a player with a great ability to adapt to playing in different positions on the field and times have shown that he has had to play as CB in the back three, every time he has done so he has had good answers and he did it today. “
Opta stats: Burnley away problems continue
- Burnley have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games (three draws and four draws), and the Clarets have only scored one goal in their last six on the road.
- Burnley has won just one of their previous seven Premier League matches against a newly promoted opponent (D3 L3), and failed to score in both cases this season.
- Leeds recorded their first league win against Burnley since April 2013 when they also won 1-0, drawing once and losing three of the previous four meetings to date.
- Leeds have won successive Premier League matches at Elland Road for the first time since April 2004, this being their first scoreless home win in the competition since April 2003 against Fulham.
Whats Next?
Leeds will travel to West Brom on Tuesday (starts at 6pm). while Burnley hosts Sheffield United; start also at 6 pm.
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