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Kalvin Phillips comments on Leeds United defeat

Chris Wood of Leeds United celebrates scoring his second goal with Kalvin Phillips during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City an...
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Leeds United suffered their first defeat of the season last night.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa  during the Sky Bet Championship match between  City and Leeds United at Liberty Stadium on August 21, 2018 in Swansea, Wales.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has told BBC Radio Leeds that head coach Marcelo Bielsa barely said anything to the players after his first defeat in English football last night.

The red-hot Whites were dumped out of the League Cup in the second round by Preston, who won 2-0 at Elland Road.

Daniel Johnson converted a second-minute penalty to put Leeds behind almost instantly, but a straight red card for Ryan Ledson on 29 minutes gave Bielsa’s side the impetus. However, Brandon Barker netted another one for the visitors just before half time and the hosts had no second-half response.

Coming into the game, Leeds had won five of their six matches in all competitions – a 2-2 draw at Swansea City last week being the only blemish – and the Yorkshire side were odds-on favourites to dispose of the struggling Lilywhites en route to the third round.

Asked about how Bielsa reacted, Phillips told BBC Radio Leeds: “He didn’t really say much to be honest. He was quite quiet after the game but I think he’ll talk to us about it in training.

“We weren’t ready for the start. It’s nothing to do with what we’ve been doing, but a few of the lads who haven’t been playing [a lot recently] weren’t expecting Preston to start as quick.”

Bielsa’s job now is to help his troops forget about last night and focus on Friday’s visit of Middlesbrough.

It’s a first-against-second clash in West Yorkshire as United look to establish a three-point lead at the summit by beating Tony Pulis’s side.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa arrives for the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Leeds United at the Liberty Stadium on August 21, 2018 in Swansea, Wales.