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Ex-Leeds’ Andy Couzens comments on Kalvin Phillips

Robert Snodgrass of Aston Villa tackles Kalvin Philips of Leeds United during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Leeds United a...
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Leeds United moved top of the Championship on Tuesday night.

Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United (L) and Kyle Bartley of Leeds United (R) celebrate after Tim Ream of Fulham (not pictured) scores an own goal  during the Sky Bet Championship match between...

Andy Couzens has claimed on Twitter that Leeds United improved when Marcelo Bielsa removed Kalvin Phillips from Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City.

Leeds moved top of the Championship on goal difference after winning a hard-fought point away to the South Welsh side.

Oli McBurnie fired the hosts ahead midway through the first half and Bielsa substituted Phillips – who had been booked – before the half-hour mark.

Lewis Baker replaced the United midfielder, who had been one of the unsung heroes of the Whites’ early-season heroics so far.

And although Couzens acknowledges that Phillips has been “outstanding” this season, the ex-Leeds man says his old side were the “better team” after he went off.

It was certainly a brave move by Bielsa, but Leeds did appear to improve when Baker came in.

The worry is whether Phillips will suffer a dip in confidence as a result of the decision, but Bielsa is famously methodical and perhaps he wouldn’t have withdrawn the 22-year-old if he did not believe that he was stoic enough to handle the disappointment.

Scott Parker of Fulham clashes with Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United and is sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on March 7, 2017...