Marcelo Bielsa on Leeds United's improvements, the win over Fulham and 'valiant' Patrick Bamford

The Whites secured a double over Scott Parker's side with a 2-1 victory that ended their dreadful run of results in London.

Patrick Bamford, playing through hip pain, scored the first and set up Raphinha for the second in what Bielsa described as a 'valiant' performance.

He was also pleased with how Leeds defended against a team in desperate need of points.

"In the first half up until they scored their equaliser we were controlling the game well," he said.

"After they equalised there was a segment of confusion from us. The second half was a half with very few fluctuations in the performance. We defended very well. After, they needed to come back into the game and it was easier for us to attack.

"In the last game we were up against a team with the quality of Chelsea and today against a team with the necessity for the points who had been playing well. On the back of some good results, too. But for us it was very important to win today.

"I think our team has improved in a lot of aspects. They've improved in the way they compete, how we manage different parts of the game, when you come up against teams of hierarchy this asks a lot of the players."

Bamford's vital contribution came a day after he learned of his omission from Gareth Southgate's England squad, but Bielsa didn't believe that proving the Three Lions coach wrong was the striker's motivation.

"I don't think he had that spirit, I imagine, I don't know," he said.

"I think like every player he plays to be picked but I don't think he had the spirit of trying to prove them wrong. The fact that he was considered has a lot of value already. Perhaps the time that's left will present him with another opportunity.

"He made a very big effort. I saw him play a very valiant game, I saw him play well, generous apart from that. He helped facilitate his team-mates having chances."