Leeds United's decision to replace adored head coach Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch did more than just raise eyebrows but the Whites resurgence is suggesting the decision made was correct. After overseeing defeats in his first two games in charge, Marsch has led the club to a run of four games without a win.
Most recently, Leeds swept relegation rivals Watford aside at Vicarage Road to further ease worries of a return to the Championship. As explained by Twitter account @LUFCDATA, the win meant Leeds have averaged 1.7 points-per-game under Marsch having accumulated 10 from his six games at the helm. The tweet also documents that only Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool have picked up more Premier League points since Marsch's appointment on 28 February.
Although Leeds beat Watford by a three-goal margin, the performance was not particularly glamorous but it was that fact which underlined the impact of the American. In the latter stages of Bielsa's reign, Leeds were suffering heavy defeats when they were not at their best but under Marsch, they look assured even when not at their swashbuckling best.
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The Whites struggled to find their rhythm at times and gave the ball away cheaply on occasions but limited Watford to just one shot on target and retained their composure in the final third when opportunities were created. Despite the display not being particularly dazzling, there will still moments of brilliance and Jack Harrison's late goal demonstrated the threat Marsch's Leeds can pose when they are in full flow.
Leeds have not yet secured Premier League safety but look well-placed to do so having dramatically improved their form. They will have to navigate a tricky run of fixtures before the end of the season but the clashes with the likes of Manchester City will perhaps now be approached with less trepidation than they would have been when Marsch first arrived.
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