Leeds United fans' fancy new French love interest and their complicated long-term relationship - Graham Smyth

Before the game, Marcelo Bielsa was pictured in an affectionate embrace with a Leeds-mad youngster outside the ground.

Later, supporters expressed heartfelt sympathy for the family of Daniel Rahnavard, who passed away last week, his 10-year-old son Olly given a night he will never forget with VIP treatment from the club and the players.

The Whites, led by Liam Cooper, joined in with the outpouring of support from the footballing family for Jordan Sinnott, the ex-Huddersfield and Chesterfield midfielder who was killed at the weekend at the age of 25.

The Leeds United the fans know and love showed themselves again, finally, in a 45-minute display of passion and desire that blew Millwall away.

And a fancy new love interest swanned into town.

Leeds United’s flirtation with Frenchman Jean-Kevin Augustin turned into a fully-fledged fling over the weekend and Whites the world over were head over heels before he’d even kicked a ball in England.

All he had to do was like a few tweets, say no to Manchester United and mock a Millwall keeper and Augustin found himself snuggled tightly to the collective bosom of Yorkshiremen and women who, for many others, are much harder to win over.

His loan move to Leeds United from RB Leipzig might become more than just a holiday romance but it’s easy to see why fans are so smitten.

He’s an unknown quantity, there’s always something mysterious and exotic about players who haven’t played in this country before, especially ones with huge clubs on their CVs, YouTube highlight reels and their own camera crews capturing them stepping off a private jet onto the tarmac in high-definition and slow motion.

The man quickly becoming known as Big Kev, thanks to his new workmates, has said and done all the right things.

His tweets have been note perfect – chiding Millwall stopper Bartosz Bialkowski for time wasting had grown men swooning – and even cheekily striding onto the pitch at full-time to milk the hard-earned applause of players who actually played in the game went down well.

Infatuation is exciting and, in that honeymoon period, the little things don’t seem to grate.

Unlike, of course, in a long-term relationship, when familiarity can breed contempt.

And so to Patrick Bamford.

It would be a step too far to use the term love-hate when describing the No 9’s relationship with Leeds fans, the majority just love the bloke, but there is a slight friction and there are habits on both sides that clearly irritate.

Love, in this instance, is complicated.

He has had some stick this season for missing really good chances and some of that has been warranted, which I’m sure he’ll admit freely.

He has also had abuse, predominantly on social media, and none of that is ever warranted.

On his part, Bamford chose to celebrate his universally-welcomed return to goalscoring form by covering both of his ears. He bit his lip in his post-match interview but left no doubt that there are things he would like to say.

It wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but being paid handsomely does not preclude someone from having a right to reply.

Get a bit, give a bit back, many have said in the debate that has ensued, all’s fair in love and war after all.

There is no war between the striker and the fans, there’s just frustration and, as long as it never crosses the line, it’s perfectly normal. Sometimes the ones you love can be a bit annoying, anyone with a younger brother will tell you that.

Ultimately Bamford knows that even when he misses a sitter, Elland Road will soon be singing his name again, just like Leeds fans know Bamford will run himself into the ground for them.

They will be there for each other.

In Bielsa, both parties have a father-like figure who brings patience, wisdom and understanding to any squabble.

Bielsa acknowledges that supporters express frustration, but pointed out that the pressure from external sources pales in comparison to the pressure and demands Bamford puts on himself.

He wants and expects to score more than the 12 goals he’s got so far, but those goals have helped put Leeds top of the Championship. And Leeds fans love to see it.