Noel Whelan reacts to Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk’s displays in Leeds loss

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Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds (19/10; 22:13) that Robin Koch showed why Leeds United bought him in the summer in their 1-0 defeat to Wolves on Monday, while he also lauded Pascal Struijk’s display.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side suffered their first home defeat of the season. Raul Jimenez’s deflected effort settled a contest in which Leeds played some breathtaking football.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men certainly managed to ask questions of the Whites, particularly on the counter attack. But Koch and Struijk largely dealt with the visitors extremely well.

Koch, in particular, looked a class act throughout the game. A number of his passes were excellent and he seemed to read the game superbly.

Meanwhile, Struijk stepped up once again. The Dutchman came into the side at the last minute after Liam Cooper suffered a recurrence of his injury in the warm-up.

And Whelan suggested that both centre-backs can be extremely proud of their performances – despite the defeat.

“There was nothing about his game tonight that I did not like,” he told BBC Radio Leeds, when asked about Koch. “He looked a lot better on the ball. He’s got that cross field pass in his locker now which we saw more of this evening, which you need when you’re playing against five at the back.

“It’s disappointing because I would’ve liked to have seen him back there with Liam Cooper. But I’ve got to say, Struijk coming in, late notice, very professional, great game. Looked a lot better than what I thought he would do.

“He was excellent again, Struijk. But Koch for me, he’s really showing now why we bought him and what a quality player he is.”

Struijk deserves enormous credit for the way that he continues to impress. He showed that he could handle coming in in difficult circumstances against Barnsley last term. And he started at Liverpool after Cooper suffered an injury just a couple of days before the season-opener.

Once again, he came in on Monday with little notice. But he showed no signs of being rusty or unprepared.

Meanwhile, Koch is looking like an absolute steal at this stage. As reported by Leeds Live, the Whites paid £13 million to sign him in the summer.

And the early signs hint that bringing him to Elland Road will prove a masterstroke.