Championship
LeedsLeeds United2DerbyDerby County0

Leeds United 2-0 Derby County: Marcelo Bielsa's side beat Frank Lampard's Rams

By Brendon MitchellBBC Sport
Leeds United players celebrate
Leeds had lost three in a row prior to Friday's victory over Derby

Derby County manager Frank Lampard described Marcelo Bielsa's pre-match conduct as "unethical" after Leeds United beat the Rams to go five points clear at the top of the Championship.

Whites boss Bielsa admitted sending a member of his staff to watch Derby train on Thursday, a story that dominated the build-up to the game and one the Football Association is now investigating.

Kemar Roofe's near-post flick and Jack Harrison's tap-in gave the dominant hosts victory in a predictably frantic and feisty contest at Elland Road.

Lampard refused to use the pre-match 'spygate' saga as an excuse for his side's performance - but said "it has to be dealt with".

"For me, it's not right," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "I'm a big fan from afar of Bielsa, I've got his book at home in my front room, but that's slightly clouded it for me today.

"I've never heard of going to a training ground on your hands and knees with pliers trying to break into private land to watch.

"But I don't attribute our performance to it because that's on us."

Derbyshire Police said officers were called to Derby's training ground on Thursday morning and a man was spoken to at the perimeter fence, but no arrests were made.

'I don't feel I cheated'

Marcelo Bielsa and Frank Lampard
Marcelo Bielsa (left) and Frank Lampard shook hands before and after the match at Elland Road

Both before and after the match Bielsa reiterated that "the responsibility for this lies with me" and insisted nobody from Leeds had given him permission to 'spy' on Derby's training session.

But the Argentine, who said he'd been carrying out the practice for "many years", denied it was "immoral".

"I understand Frank Lampard is angry because he thinks I'm someone who is cheating," he said. "I understand he draws this conclusion.

"But I don't feel I cheated because my goal was not to get an illegal advantage.

"I can explain my behaviour but my intention is not to be understood or to justify it. I have to respect the norms in the country where I work."

Leeds outclass Lampard's Rams

The Whites, now five points clear of second-placed Norwich and seven above Sheffield United in third, had lost both of their previous two league matches.

But, regardless of any tactical advantage gained, they were by far the better team against the Rams, who they had beaten 4-1 in Lampard's first home game as a manager in August.

The opening minute of Friday's game was every bit as controversial as the 24 hours that had preceded it, with Leeds' Ezgjan Alioski blatantly fouled in the box only for the linesman's flag to be raised - incorrectly - for offside in the build-up.

It was only a sign of things to come for Lampard's side, however, and they went behind midway through the first half when Roofe converted 18-year-old Jack Clarke's low cross.

Clarke, impressive throughout, also played a hand in the second goal - although Derby keeper Scott Carson will feel he should have done better before Harrison was allowed to slot into an empty net.

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Peacock-Farrell
  • 2Ayling
  • 18Jansson
  • 6Cooper
  • 10Alioski
  • 4Forshaw
  • 47ClarkeSubstituted forDavisat 79'minutes
  • 19Hernández
  • 43Klich
  • 22HarrisonSubstituted forShackletonat 63'minutes
  • 7RoofeBooked at 54mins

Substitutes

  • 11Roberts
  • 13Huffer
  • 40Davis
  • 46Shackleton
  • 48Stevens
  • 52Halme
  • 53Gotts

Derby

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Carson
  • 2WisdomBooked at 15minsSubstituted forNugentat 45'minutes
  • 6Keogh
  • 5Tomori
  • 25Lowe
  • 4Bryson
  • 17EvansBooked at 45minsSubstituted forJozefzoonat 61'minutes
  • 8Mount
  • 23HolmesBooked at 45mins
  • 14MarriottSubstituted forWaghornat 72'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 10Lawrence

Substitutes

  • 9Waghorn
  • 11Jozefzoon
  • 21Roos
  • 28Nugent
  • 37Bogle
  • 44Huddlestone
  • 46Malone
Referee:
Andy Davies
Attendance:
34,668

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamDerby
Possession
Home63%
Away37%
Shots
Home15
Away7
Shots on Target
Home5
Away2
Corners
Home8
Away2
Fouls
Home12
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leeds United 2, Derby County 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Derby County 0.

  3. Booking

    Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Pontus Jansson (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Martyn Waghorn (Derby County).

  6. Post update

    Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Pontus Jansson.

  7. Post update

    Attempt saved. Adam Forshaw (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  8. Post update

    Leif Davis (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Craig Bryson (Derby County).

  10. Post update

    Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Fikayo Tomori.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Max Lowe.

  12. Post update

    Leif Davis (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Florian Jozefzoon (Derby County).

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Leeds United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tom Lawrence (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Nugent.

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Leif Davis replaces Jack Clarke.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. David Nugent (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Lawrence.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Scott Carson.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Friday 11th January 2019

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leeds27166546281854
2Norwich26147548341449
3Sheff Utd26145745281747
4West Brom26137654342046
5Middlesbrough261110528181043
6Derby2712783834443
7Nottm Forest26912539291039
8Birmingham26912538281039
9QPR2611693334-139
10Aston Villa2691164940938
11Bristol City2610883228438
12Swansea26106103531436
13Hull26106103633336
14Stoke2681173031-135
15Blackburn2681083341-834
16Sheff Wed2688103242-1032
17Preston2678113843-529
18Brentford26610103636028
19Millwall2677123341-828
20Wigan2675142540-1526
21Rotherham26510112541-1625
22Bolton2657141738-2122
23Reading2648142841-1320
24Ipswich2629152146-2515
View full Championship table

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