Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa declares respect for "creative" Norwich City as Whites eye top-spot

Leeds enjoyed a 3-0 success at Norwich back in August - a defeat which condemned the hosts to their third defeat from their opening five games and piled the pressure on boss Daniel Farke.

Since then, an amazing run of 12 victories from their subsequent 16 league games has taken Farke’s side top with the Canaries holding a one-point advantage over second-placed Leeds.

Bielsa’s men can now regain first place with victory in Saturday afternoon’s clash at second-bottom Bolton Wanderers with Norwich in action on Saturday evening when they visit mid-table Bristol City.

Either way, the Canaries have taken the Championship by surprise and by storm but Whites head coach Bielsa was impressed with Norwich even in United’s 3-0 win at Carrow Road.

“When we won versus Norwich they had more chances to score than us and we won that game,” said Bielsa.

“The only difference is we scored goals when we had chances and they didn’t finish their chances.

“When you see the result you see a huge difference, but when you take a look at both performances you see there is not much difference because when you miss a goal it means you are not efficient, it doesn’t mean you are bad.

“When you score, the goal is not because you deserved it. Neither thing lasts forever. Norwich has a creative profile.”

The Canaries have won eight of their last nine league games but Leeds themselves are chasing a fifth win in succession at struggling Bolton today.

United beat the Trotters 2-1 in at Elland Road in an EFL Cup tie back in August but Bielsa is taking little notice of that result.

Bielsa reasoned: “If you take the 22 starters from that game you won’t have the same ones for this game so we have to take into account this detail.”