LEEDS United showed a different side of their game to battle to a tense 1-0 victory against Burnley at Elland Road today.

They had to dig deep to earn the win against a revitalised Clarets who had the Whites penned in their own half for long spells in the second half.

It was the perfect response to the 6-2 mauling at the hands of Manchester United the previous week and keeps Leeds snuggled in mid-table ahead of Tuesday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Marcelo Bielsa and his side were labelled as “naive” in some quarters for their all-out attacking approach at Old Trafford but the result did not seem to dent their confidence as they set about their business in trademark fashion.

Luke Ayling’s fifth-minute angled ball over the top of the Burnley defence gave Patrick Bamford a run on goal where he was brought down by Nick Pope. The Leeds number nine thumped home the resulting penalty for his 10th Premiership goal of the season.

Burnley claimed Pope had got a touch on the ball before colliding with Bamford and were even more aggrieved 13 minutes later when Leeds keeper Illan Meslier spilled the ball in a challenge with Ben Mee and Ashley Barnes thumped the ball home only for referee Robert Jones to give a foul against Mee.

Unhappy Burnley boss Sean Dyche said of the key incidents: “The referee has had a massive impact today.

“Nick Pope got clear contact on the ball. VAR has been taking hours to make a decision but they don’t give it a few seconds to even look at it. In my opinion, I have seen it back, two players coming together in the middle of the pitch it is play on."

And on Burnley's disallowed goal, he said: “Ben Mee clearly has eyes for the ball. He’s not tried to look at their keeper. Their keeper comes through, knees him in the back, if a centre-half does that he probably gets booked. Not only is it a penalty, we put it in the goal and he doesn’t give it one second to [review it].”

Leeds should have had more to show for their first half efforts but Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo spurned good opportunities while Chris Wood headed Burnley’s best chance over the bar.

With Burnley playing their usual 4-4-2, Bielsa still went with three central defenders despite the absence of three internationals, Liam Cooper, Robin Kock and Diego Llorente, at the back.

That meant Kalvin Phillips dropped back, the knock-on effect being it weakened the Leeds midfield which struggled to retain possession in the second half as Burnley dominated. The bonus, though, was Phillips’ calmness at the back, making vital interceptions to combat Burnley’s considerable aerial threat.

Bielsa said: “In the first half we could have been leading by a bigger margin. In the second, we could have received a goal that would have meant a draw.

“It surprised me. Normally when a team is dominated in the first half, there is usually a reaction in the second half. We came out with the idea of looking for the second goal. But the way they played the game, prevented us from playing how I wanted to play.

“They are a team, although they don't create many chances, when they do they are dangerous."

Leeds United: Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Struijk, Alioski, Phillips, Klich (Shackleton 66), Rodrigo (Hernandez 59), Raphinha (Poveda 70), Harrison, Bamford. Subs (not used): Roberts, Casilla, Costa, Davis, Jenkins, Casey.

Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Benson (Stephens 74), Brownhill, Westwood, Pieters Rodriguez 73), Barnes, Wood. Subs (not used): Peacock-Farrell, Norris, Bardsley, Long, Dunne, Mancini, Mumbongo. Cautions: Tarkowski, Westwood, Barnes Ref: Robert Jones Att: Behind closed doors