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Matty Hewitt

Jesse Marsch using the best of Marcelo Bielsa tactic and Liam Cooper delight

Jesse Marsch has honed Marcelo Bielsa's high press into something of his own according to Match of The Day pundit Micah Richards. The Whites made it seven points from a possible nine with a draw against top-half chasing Southampton and looked on course for three consecutive wins, despite being no where near their best.

The return of Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips gave Marsch a much needed boost and it's no coincidence the Whites looked a more solid outfit. The Leeds head coach has done an impressive job turning the tide, after the Whites set an unwanted Premier League record for the most goals conceded in a calendar month in February.

Since then, the Whites have shifted away from Marcelo Bielsa's man for man approach and results have swayed in their favour. The Whites are eight points clear of the bottom three with seven games to go.

READ MORE: Jesse Marsch hints at his strongest Leeds United line-up with repeated Joe Gelhardt frustration

Speaking on Match of The Day, Richards: "It was a great result. I think in the first half they were really good, they pressed really high and had the old stuff from Bielsa. What I really liked about Leeds the most, [Liam] Cooper was back today.

"Normally when they're drawing a game they sort of capitulate but they didn't do that today. They were a lot better in organisation and it took something special from James Ward-Prowse to get the equaliser."

The Whites did see late penalty calls waved away when Joe Gelhardt when down under the challenge of Ibrahima Diallo. Anthony Taylor waved away protests and Alan Shearer believes it was the right call. He said: "I don't think it was an absolute howler, probably not. I'm not sure it's an absolute howler so I'll go with it."

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