A battle between Bielsa and Pulis: Five things we learnt from Leeds United vs Middlesbrough

Tonight saw the Championship top two go head-to-head with Leeds United playing host to last season’s play-off semi-finalists Middlesbrough.

Going into the match, both teams have impressed in the opening five matches with Leeds earning plaudits for their attacking style of play under new boss Marcelo Bielsa, while ‘Boro boss Tony Pulis has installed defensive stability into the Teeside club.

Leeds started the match looking more adventurous – perhaps expected with a Pulis side involved – and looked to take the game to the visitors. ‘Boro slowly got themselves back into the match but neither side could break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.

The second half saw both sides fail to create many chances and ultimately a 0-0 match was played out with a point each a fair result.

Here are five things we learnt from Leeds United’s 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough.

Bielsa is unbeatable

Not a bad start to life in England for Bielsa, unbeaten in all matches before tonight’s clash with the north-east outfit.

After four wins in the league, and another in the EFL Cup, tonight was a key match for Bielsa as he attempts to get Leeds back in the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

This match was a real test for how his side will fare against some of the big boys of the division and they certainly didn’t look out of their depth. With more possession (62%), more shots (11), more passes (430) and a better passing accuracy (76%), it perhaps highlights the quality of the opposition that Leeds couldn’t secure the victory this evening.

There aren’t many sides in the Championship at the moment who have a better organisation than both Leeds and ‘Boro, so expect Bielsa’s impressive run to continue for the foreseeable future.

Old faces cause new frustrations

The two men in the middle of the ‘Boro midfield are quite recognisable around Yorkshire parts.

Adam Clayton made 50 appearances in all competitions before moving to Huddersfield back in 2012. Johnny Howson is West Yorkshire born-and-bred and broke through the youth ranks at Leeds to make 219 appearances before moving to then-Premier League outfit Norwich City.

It was Howson who had the first real chance of the match, running at the Leeds defence and firing a shot on target, only for Bailey Peacock-Farrell to block the well-crafted effort.

Clayton cleared a Leeds header off the line in the first-half as ‘Boro’s midfield did their best to stay tight against a Leeds frontline but break quickly on the counter-attack.

Clayton did pick up a yellow card in his efforts to cover the ‘Boro defence but overall both he and Howson looked impressive both on and off the ball, with Clayton offically named tonight’s man of the match.

Harrison is a potential star

Stepping in for the absent Pablo Hernandez, this was an opportunity for the Manchester City loanee to prove his worth in a talented Leeds United line-up.

Making his debut for the club, Harrison showed his willingness to run into space, allowing his teammates to repeatedly try and pick out a pass for him on the right-wing, where he was able to get himself in a position to make something happen.

He came close on two occasions after creating his own chances to put Leeds ahead, showing the talent that is so-desired in football, self-creation.

In fact, throughout the match, Harrison was the most likely to create something in a game that was begging for some individual quality to overpower tactical efficiency.

Failing to raise the Roofe

The Walsall-born striker has really started this season in scintillating form and tonight was a night for him to show his true value to a promotion-chasing Leeds side.

His form has kept club-record signing Patrick Bamford – a £10 million buy from Middlesbrough in the summer – on the bench so far this season.

Last season, Roofe scored 11 goals in 36 league matches for Leeds, averaging a goal every 0.3 games. So far this campaign, the 25-year-old has four goals in six games, averaging a goal every 1.5 matches.

The forward showed his anger in the first half after not getting a penalty following a collision with ‘Boro defender Daniel Ayala, however, replays showed there was no foul committed by the Spaniard.

The second half saw Roofe have little action and he was eventually substituted for Bamford without really ever threatening to damage ‘Boro’s defensive record.

Defence is the best form of attack

Going into this match, it really was a matter of the league’s best attack trying to break down the league’s best defence, almost guaranteeing a tight affair.

Leeds had scored 14 goals in five matches whereas ‘Boro had only conceded two goals so far this campaign.

The first 45 minutes suggested that defence was going to prevail, with both sides creating limited chances that tested each opponants respective goalkeepers.

The second half saw Leeds press forward but the Pulis shape held firm and showed the rest of the Championship that with this organisation, ‘Boro will almost certainly be at the top end of the league when May comes around.

Middlesbrough haven’t conceded a goal since the opening day of the season and never truly looked like breaking that run this evening.

 

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