Leeds United 0-2 Hull City: Bielsa 'expects' positive response from Championship leaders

Leeds boss Macelo Bielsa "expects" a positive result at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday after his side's seven-game winning run was ended by Hull City.

Jarrod Bowen, reportedly a January transfer target for the Elland Road club, scored both goals as the Championship leaders lost for just the fourth time in the league this season.

Two festive thrillers in the previous seven days saw Leeds complete astonishing comeback wins against Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, enabling Bielsa's side to open up a gap at the Championship summit.

But the Whites finished the year three points clear, thanks to the Jack Marriott's late winner for Derby at second-placed Norwich, after the Rams had trailed 3-2.

"Until now, the team has given a positive response. Our expectancy is to have a positive result next Tuesday," Bielsa said.

"The performance of the team was not particularly different from the other games we played.

"We ran enough and we dominated the game. When you don't dominate a game, you make less effort.

"Usually we have three times more chances to score than the opponents and we dominate games - this game was no different in that sense."

Bowen pounced on some poor defending in the box and showcased his finishing with the opener from close range.

His second was another opportunistic goal, with the forward reacting quickest to put the rebound away after Jon Toral was denied by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Luke Ayling and Tyler Roberts both had efforts cleared off the line and Kemar Roofe was denied as Leeds were unable to recreate their recent late dramatics and deny Nigel Adkins' Tigers a fourth successive win.

While Hull boss Adkins was forced to make a number of changes for the trip to Elland Road - with Jackson Irvine on international duty with Australia, Tommy Elphick recalled from his loan spell by Villa and Fraizer Campbell out injured - they were undaunted against the high-flying home side before the break.

Leeds piled on the early pressure, Pablo Hernandez firing over after the Tigers survived a goalmouth scramble, only for Bowen to put the away side in front against the run of play.

The forward punished the hosts for their inability to deal with a Kamil Grosicki cross from the left, latching on to the loose ball before coolly slotting home from eight yards.

Hernandez went closest to hitting back before the break, testing David Marshall from distance, but more fine work from Grosicki created panic in the box for Bowen to capitalise on in the second half.

Toral then sent an effort over for Hull before protecting the lead by blocking an Ayling header on the line.

And, while Leeds relentlessly searched for a response, Hull resisted to finish December unbeaten with 16 points from a possible 18.

Hull manager Adkins said beating the promotion favourites made for a "memorable victory" to end the year.

"We defended well because we needed to - this is a tough place to come," he said.

"Our shape was good. Grosicki and Bowen were a massive threat. Our two centre-backs were also immense, but the whole team contributed."

"I'm really pleased for our travelling fans and that we were able to keep the crowd quiet in the first half.

"There's still a lot of work to do, but everyone is working hard as a team."