West Brom v Leeds: Get set for a clash of cultures as Big Sam faces up to Bielsa

Now – after an impressive draw at Liverpool – the head coach is looking to mastermind his first win as Albion boss when his side host Leeds tonight.

And the match is sure to be a fascinating encounter between two managers with different styles and very big personalities.

It is well known just how gung-ho Marcelo Bielsa likes to operate at Leeds.

Arguably the division’s great entertainers, the Yorkshire side play open and expansive football every week.

It means they create a lot of chances. But they concede a lot of chances as well.

Allardyce – in contrast to Bielsa – is a pragmatist, a manager who builds his teams on solid foundations.

And under his guidance, Albion are already much more secure at the back.

His opening match may have ended in a 3-0 loss to Villa. But despite skipper Jake Livermore seeing red early on, there was no second-half collapse.

When Albion had a man sent off against both Everton and Crystal Palace, they went on to slump to 5-1 defeats.

But against Villa, they dug in and continued to defend resolutely to keep the score at 1-0. With 10 minutes to play, Allardyce rolled the dice and threw an extra man up front.

It meant, in the end, Villa were able to exploit the gaps and score two late goals.

But even with 10 men, Albion had given themselves a chance of getting something from the game.

A similar plan worked to even greater effect at Anfield on Sunday.

Against arguably the best team in the world, Albion defended with 11 men behind the ball for almost the entire first half. But they then became much more adventurous after the interval and ended up getting a deserved draw.

Most importantly, goalkeeper Sam Johnstone only had one real save to make – something Allardyce was quick to point out afterwards.

The shot-stopper has made more saves than any other keeper in Europe. But Allardyce won’t let his team be over-reliant on his glovesman. Despite limited time on the training ground, the team are already defending better.

And now they have to take that into tonight’s game against Leeds.

Draws against Liverpool and the one achieved at Manchester City recently are all well and good.

But the reality is they are nothing more than bonus points. And Albion know they are going to have to start winning games quickly if they are to have a realistic chance of Premier League survival.

Currently five points adrift of safety, their only win this season remains the home victory over Sheffield United.

As Allardyce said last week, you simply have to take points off the teams in and around you if you are going to survive.

And tonight’s game against Leeds, on paper at least, seems a huge opportunity to get three points.

Bielsa’s side have problems in defence with right-back Luke Ayling and central midfielder Kalvin Phillips both playing at centre-back during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Burnley.

They are two players who aren’t likely to relish coming up against a direct side that gets the ball forward quickly.

And that is something, you’d imagine, Allardyce will be quick to exploit.

Having played less than 48 hours ago, though, both managers know they have big decisions to make when it comes to naming their teams.

There will undoubtedly be issues with fatigue. And Allardyce has hinted he may have to make changes from the draw at Anfield.

Fans will hope that means Matheus Pereira will get his first start under the Dudley-born boss.

Albion’s talisman was somewhat surprisingly left on the bench at Anfield despite being back following a three-game ban.

This, though, could be the ideal game to unleash him – with Allardyce knowing his side has to continue to defend resolutely, but be more attacking tonight.