Leeds United found themselves on the end of an incredibly efficient Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, where despite taking the lead, they were downed by three goals to Patrick Bamford's one.
The game began in typically eventful fashion, with Hakim Ziyech forcing Ilan Meslier into an early save. Olivier Giroud met the resulting corner seeing his shot flash past the near post, but it was to be an early warning for Leeds.
Marcelo Bielsa's side went up the other end and raced into the ascendancy courtesy of a trickling through-ball from Kalvin Phillips and some neat footwork from Bamford to round the advancing Edouard Mendy, before slotting into the empty net.
Chelsea should have found themselves level not long after, following a flicked near post header at a corner finding its way to Timo Werner on Meslier's goal-line. The German inexplicably could not apply the finish from half a yard, the ball cannoning off the bar, eventually being cleared.
It was a stark and ruthless reminder that Leeds have struggled from set-plays throughout Marcelo Bielsa's tenure. Chelsea - who had netted six times already this season from dead ball situations - were in the mood to score their seventh as they took to the field last night.
At times, it felt as though each and every corner kick swung in by the hosts was met by a Blue head, more often than not the talisman Giroud. Leeds' man-marking structure found difficulty in handling the darting, diversionary runs of various Chelsea players and it ultimately proved to be their downfall.
In the 61st minute, Kurt Zouma rose highest above a sea of bodies to nod Chelsea into a 2-1 lead, a lead they deserved on the balance of play. Make no mistake, there is no shame in conceding goals to a team who are aerially dominant, well-drilled in that regard and have a track record of punishing sides from set-pieces. However, the warnings Chelsea had given Leeds in the opening hour of the match meant that Leeds were hardly caught unawares by the imposing Frenchman's leap.
Liam Cooper protested with the referee, claiming he had been fouled in the melee of bodies inside Meslier's box, but there was no issue - a mere coming together floored the Leeds captain, affording Zouma more room to rise to the flight of the ball.
From that point on, Leeds probed but were far from invasive; the game somewhat petering out with Chelsea content to let the visitors have possession, confident they could and would be able to counter.
Three goals to one was a fair scoreline on reflection. It certainly reflected the vast gap between the two clubs' relative wealth and standing in the Premier League.
Conceding from set-pieces will have irked Bielsa who insisted the team had worked on that area following the Crystal Palace contest. Perhaps there is still a need to work on this aspect of Leeds' defensive game in the coming weeks, especially when they are avoidable, highly coachable situations.
This coming weekend pits another physical side against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds. David Moyes' West Ham United possess the likes of Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek, Seb Haller, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna in their ranks - all of whom can be a threat from set-plays.
If Leeds are to prevent a repeat of the Zouma goal, they might need to get the cones out at Thorp Arch this week.
