Leeds United handed ‘huge’ dressing room boost after ‘brilliant’ change ‘I’ve seen’ – expert
Alex McLeish has insisted keeping a clean sheet against Watford was a “huge” psychological boost for Leeds United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland manager heralded Jesse Marsch for “tightening things up” across the pitch.
The Whites’ shutout at Vicarage Road was their first since November.
Goals from Rodrigo, Raphinha and Jack Harrison secured a 3-0 win over the Hornets.
However, McLeish insisted it was the Whites’ defensive performance that will be the biggest shot in the arm.
Asked how big a mental boost keeping a clean sheet would be for Leeds, McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “That was a huge win for them psychologically.
Marsch has done a good job getting valuable points, just to keep them that wee bit away from the danger zone.
“It culminated in that fantastic win last weekend. Absolutely brilliant. He’s tightened things up a wee bit, the spaces have not been as big when teams have broken against them.
“There were a couple of chances for Watford because they’ve got one or two players of quality as well that can breach a defence.
“But by and large, they were much closer to each other and they still have tremendous, exciting breakaways. Every time they get a breakaway, everybody’s running full pelt to support the guys up front.
“They forced Watford into a mistake for Rodrigo’s goal. Brilliant energy, you can see they’ve got that energy to burn.
“Bielsa obviously worked on fitness levels to get them to that kind of level with the closing down. What I’ve seen with Jesse Marsch is the thirds have been much tighter.”
Leeds currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, nine points off the relegation zone.
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