Match ends, Leeds United 1, Birmingham City 2.
LeedsLeeds United1BirminghamBirmingham City2
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa says his side "paid a high price for a tactical mistake" as the Championship leaders' unbeaten start ended with a surprise home loss to Birmingham City.
Che Adams struck twice in the opening 30 minutes for Birmingham, first with a low finish from the edge of the area that beat Leeds keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at his near post.
The 22-year-old forward doubled the visitors' lead after a swift counter-attack to help them earn a first win of the campaign.
Leeds halved the deficit through Ezgjan Alioski's low strike in the closing stages, but Garry Monk's side held on against his former club.
"The proposal I chose for this game at the beginning was not the right one," Bielsa said. "We could not make the link between defence and attack because [Kalvin] Phillips could not receive the ball.
"Phillips had to assume the consequences for the mistake I made. When I corrected the mistake, the rival had already scored two goals. It is a high price to pay for a tactical mistake."
Bielsa replaced Phillips with Stuart Dallas in the 34th minute and Leeds rallied in the latter stages but were unable to complete a dramatic comeback.
The defeat was the Argentine's first in the league since taking charge of Leeds, who remained without injured strikers Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford but dominated possession.
However, Bielsa's side stayed top of the table on goal difference following second-placed Middlesbrough's draw at home to Swansea City.
Adams' double was his maiden brace in the league for Birmingham and gave them a first victory in all competitions since the final day of last season.
Monk, who resigned as Leeds boss in May 2017, had seen his Blues outfit draw six of their previous eight league matches before Saturday's win.
"I am very proud of the players, they deserve that," he said. "We have performed well all season and outplayed a lot of good teams. We [had been] very unfortunate.
"To come here against the league leaders, at a stadium with a fantastic atmosphere, the players were magnificent. I am pleased for them and the fans. We got what we deserved."
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 2Ayling
- 18Jansson
- 6Cooper
- 3DouglasSubstituted forEdmondsonat 71'minutes
- 23PhillipsSubstituted forDallasat 34'minutes
- 22Harrison
- 43KlichSubstituted forForshawat 62'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 14SáizBooked at 57mins
- 10Alioski
- 11Roberts
Substitutes
- 4Forshaw
- 15Dallas
- 20Pearce
- 27Blackman
- 34Baker
- 39Edmondson
- 46Shackleton
Birmingham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Camp
- 5Colin
- 28MorrisonBooked at 67mins
- 12Dean
- 3PedersenBooked at 84mins
- 23JotaSubstituted forHardingat 88'minutes
- 20GardnerBooked at 41minsSubstituted forKieftenbeldat 58'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 31Lakin
- 19Maghoma
- 10JutkiewiczSubstituted forBogleat 82'minutes
- 9Adams
Substitutes
- 4Roberts
- 6Kieftenbeld
- 7Mahoney
- 14Bogle
- 22Solomon-Otabor
- 27Trueman
- 45Harding
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 34,800
Match Stats
Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBirmingham
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Birmingham City 2.
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Foul by Ryan Edmondson (Leeds United).
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Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City).
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Foul by Luke Ayling (Leeds United).
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Che Adams (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Lee Camp.
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Attempt saved. Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.
Booking
Adam Forshaw (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Adam Forshaw (Leeds United).
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Maxime Colin (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Adam Forshaw (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Omar Bogle (Birmingham City).
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Attempt saved. Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stuart Dallas.
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Attempt blocked. Samuel Sáiz (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Wes Harding replaces Jota.
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Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City).
