Leeds United patience is required ahead of tough tests but in Marcelo Bielsa we trust - Tony Dorigo

The difference between one point and three is really rather huge, as the Premier League table always shows.

Look at Wolves, who have lost four out of five games but sit above us on goal difference having won just once.

Leeds United have to start winning.

We have two big games coming up against West Ham and Watford and make no mistake they will both test us in different ways.

West Ham have a really good squad, with some quality players and their confidence is high, but at home we shouldn’t be fearing anyone.

Not losing that one and beating Watford might be the most realistic way to go but I’m sure the boys will go out to try and win both, as they always do.

They certainly did at Newcastle United, on what was a pretty amazing night.

I didn’t wear a hat, a coat or gloves - the evening was lovely, the pitch perfect and a chicken dinner beforehand was ideal. I was thinking ‘right, here we go.’

But it was an evening of frustration.

The first 20 minutes were superb, wonderful to watch and commentate on, end-to-end stuff and we had so many chances.

As soon as we went 1-0 up the Newcastle crowd started to boil over and that was the time to put the foot on their neck and score that second goal.

We should have done, with so many chances.

They always had Allan Saint-Maximin, a real box of tricks and a danger on the counter-attack, but a second goal would have seen us home.

As it turned out it got more and more difficult, Saint-Maximin scored a very good goal and we didn’t hit the same heights in the second half.

The balance in Saint-Maximin’s play was very good.

He’s an outlet and the more we pressed, the more space he had and Liam Cooper had a job trying to contain him.

It doesn’t matter which way he showed him, he had a trick to get out of that situation.

You’re never going to contain him completely but I think we did it better in the second half.

Joelinton surprised me as well, he kept Stuart Dallas pretty honest all night.

What that game reminded me of was being back in the Championship.

On Friday night we had 65 per cent possession and 22 shots.

In some games in the Championship we saw the same dominance yet we didn’t score the goals.

Back then I would say ‘some day we’ll whip someone by four or five’ but we never really did.

Last season we were still playing that possession-based game but overall our finishing was very good, we didn’t need that many chances.

Friday was a return to needing a lot of chances to score.

At least we’re making those chances, though, so the confidence will flow and suddenly the goals will go in.

It was strange that Newcastle allowed us that dominance, playing three at the back with all of them picking up Bamford and allowing us to run riot in the midfield.

Rodrigo was having a field day, Klich was quietly efficient and Phillips was patrolling and dominating.

They tweaked it in the second half but given the chances we created, the players should take confidence from it.

Rodrigo came with a big price tag, then he was in and out and it was difficult for him to find rhythm but at times last season he was fantastic.

He hasn’t started this season like he finished the last one, but Bielsa trusts his players, he sees them day in, day out on the training ground and has proven so many times that they can come good. Rodrigo could be one of those.

Sometimes when he tries to find his form he plays five or 10 yards deeper than he needs to.

What he really needs to do is find spaces closer to Patrick Bamford. When that happens both can benefit.

Overall, it was a far better performance, even if that elusive first win didn’t arrive.

It’s not getting any easier for Marcelo Bielsa, though.

With players missing and both Luke Ayling and Raphinha coming off, it was always going to be difficult to maintain the same momentum and fluidity.

Who would have thought we would be missing three centre-backs out of four and then Ayling, the fifth choice, would get injured as well? It’s a very difficult situation.

As for how the gaps will be filled - will it be Charlie Cresswell?