Leeds United boss Neil Redfearn has been left delighted with his side's centre-back pairing of Sol Bamba and Giuseppe Bellusci following a 2-0 win at Reading this evening.
Goals from Luke Murphy (63rd minute) and Sam Byram (90th minute) saw Leeds not only claim a vital three points away from home, but also secure a clean sheet in the process, a feat which Redfearn feels is tough to achieve in the Championship.
With Redfearn confirming that Liam Cooper has picked up a knock, the emphasis was on Bellusci, returning to the team to partner Bamba, from the off.
The pair led the backline expertly and left Redfearn purring over their performance, giving a strong hint that they have done enough to secure their spots as his first choice centre-backs at present.
He told LUTV: "They are a good balance.
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"I thought they read the play really well, nipped in and intercepted, got us up the pitch, were tough when they needed to be, took good positions for crosses, cleared their lines well.
"They were the bedrock of the performance and everything revolved around them."
Bamba only arrived at Leeds in the recently concluded winter transfer window, signing on from Palermo on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Ivorian has experience of playing in the Championship though, gained during a spell at Leicester City.
Bellusci though is in his first campaign in England, having joined Leeds from Catania last summer.
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