Leeds United 1-2 Birmingham City: Marcelo Bielsa blames his own tactics as Blues beat leaders

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa says his side "paid a high price for a tactical mistake" as the Championship leaders' unbeaten start ended with a surprise home loss to Birmingham City.

Che Adams struck twice in the opening 30 minutes for Birmingham, first with a low finish from the edge of the area that beat Leeds keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at his near post.

The 22-year-old forward doubled the visitors' lead after a swift counter-attack to help them earn a first win of the campaign.

Leeds halved the deficit through Ezgjan Alioski's low strike in the closing stages, but Garry Monk's side held on against his former club.

"The proposal I chose for this game at the beginning was not the right one," Bielsa said. "We could not make the link between defence and attack because [Kalvin] Phillips could not receive the ball.

"Phillips had to assume the consequences for the mistake I made. When I corrected the mistake, the rival had already scored two goals. It is a high price to pay for a tactical mistake."

Bielsa replaced Phillips with Stuart Dallas in the 34th minute and Leeds rallied in the latter stages but were unable to complete a dramatic comeback.

The defeat was the Argentine's first in the league since taking charge of Leeds, who remained without injured strikers Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford but dominated possession.

However, Bielsa's side stayed top of the table on goal difference following second-placed Middlesbrough's draw at home to Swansea City.

Adams' double was his maiden brace in the league for Birmingham and gave them a first victory in all competitions since the final day of last season.

Monk, who resigned as Leeds boss in May 2017, had seen his Blues outfit draw six of their previous eight league matches before Saturday's win.

"I am very proud of the players, they deserve that," he said. "We have performed well all season and outplayed a lot of good teams. We [had been] very unfortunate.

"To come here against the league leaders, at a stadium with a fantastic atmosphere, the players were magnificent. I am pleased for them and the fans. We got what we deserved."