Leeds United drop out of the top two after conceding yet another goal from a set-piece.
The Whites suffered their second defeat of the season to newly-promoted Charlton Athletic thanks to Macauley Bonne’s solitary goal. The winner came from a corner which saw Kiko Casilla parry Tom Lockyer’s volley, which landed straight at the feet of Bonne.
Leeds have struggled defensively from set-piece situations so far this season and that repeated against Charlton on Sunday. Bielsa should have been concerned about the recurring problem and the Argentine claimed that set-pieces are their opponents’ only resource to beat them.
He said: “We are receiving goals. When you receive goals from set-pieces, you can explain in two ways. When you lose the one v one in the box or when the opponent flicks the ball on and the opponent gets the second ball. The goals this season have more relationship with the flick on rather than the one v one. This is a situation that is very difficult to manage.”
“We cannot say our team loses its concentration and also we cannot say we let the opponent free in the box. Or we cannot say we are not adapting to set-pieces the opponent prepares. The reality is that became the only resource of our opponent.”
The loss against Charlton forced Leeds out of the top two and they are currently placed fourth in the league. After last season’s heartbreak, Bielsa will be looking to get his side over the line this time around but he will need to find a solution to their set-piece problems to avoid another disappointing end to their promotion hopes.
Leeds’ have a massive game on Tuesday as they host league leaders West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road. The Baggies are unbeaten in their opening nine games so far and a win against Leeds would open up a five-point gap between the two which could be difficult to close down despite there being over 30 games left in the season.
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