Illan Meslier, Tyler Roberts as centre-forward and overhauling West Brom - Leeds United Talking Points

In safe hands with Illan Meslier

United's French under-20s goalkeeper Illan Meslier was asked to step out on one of the biggest stages in the country for his Leeds United debut in January at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.

Yet with Leeds hoping to close in on promotion to the Premier League after what will be a 16-year absence, this mattered more as the Frenchman was finally handed a Whites league debut after United learned late on Friday evening about Kiko Casilla's eight-game ban for alleged racial abuse in September's defeat at Charlton Athletic.

Meslier had very little time to mentally prepare for his first Championship outing given the ludicrous timing of the FA's ban but the Frenchman produced an extremely calm display two days before his 20th birthday.

In short, the Frenchman looked confident, composed and not surprisingly dominant in the air and the keeper's excellent shotstopping and passing have already been highlighted in his displays for the under-23s.

Tyler Roberts made it crystal clear the esteem Meslier was held in when speaking to the press afterwards and while much sterner examinations than a troubled Hull City will await, Leeds ought to still be in excellent hands with Meslier in between the sticks.

Tyler Roberts takes his chance

Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa has remained very loyal to Leeds 9 Patrick Bamford during another barren goalscoring run with the striker approaching Saturday's clash at the KC having netted in just one of his last 12 games.

It has been well documented that there is much more to Bamford's game than goals, notably the striker's excellent hold up play, but equally there is no escaping the number of excellent opportunities the striker has squandered this term.

After a pretty quiet display at the KC, Bielsa decided that Tyler Roberts was worth a whirl in the lone striker role with Roberts the clear alternative given that Jean-Kevin Augustin was absent with a hamstring injury and battling hard to reach the necessary fitness levels in any case.

And within 18 minutes of his time on the pitch Roberts had quickly helped himself to a brace with two quite superb finishes which is exactly what Leeds have been missing.

Roberts has been used more as a no 10 or even winger during his time at United but it should be remembered that the 21-year-old grew up as a centre-forward and Roberts has frequently stated how he relishes opportunities to play upfront.

Keeping injury free has been a challenge but Roberts looked in superb fettle and a natural, pacy centre-forward at the KC and Bielsa now has a big decision to make as to who starts in the lone striker role come Saturday's hosting of Huddersfield Town.

Winning comfortable for once

The old 1-0 to the Arsenal saying was quickly becoming applicable to Biela's Leeds after three single-goal victories in succession.

At half-time of Saturday's clash at the KC, yet another 1-0 triumph looked imminent with United ahead through Luke Ayling's deflected strike and in control of a pretty dull game without creating many chances aside from Pablo Hernandez's rocket that crashed against the bar.

United, though, were quite simply awesome after the break, displaying some lovely sweeping, passing football and the Tigers would have lost by at least six or seven but for the stellar efforts of Tigers 'keeper George Long.

Jack Harrison particularly excelled with the winger desperately unlucky to see a sublime effort smack the crossbar and Leeds look in excellent shape ahead of the final ten games.

Put simply, if United continually repeat their second-half performance then it will be more a case of chasing down and overtaking leaders West Brom as opposed to looking behind to who is in third.