Leeds vs Derby was always going to be a big fixture.Sky Sports decided to show the clash at Elland Road on Friday night as the league leaders host sixth-placed Derby.The match alone should have been enough to capture the attention of football fans.However, on Friday, the match became even more intriguing.It started when the Derby Response Unit tweeted: “Officers have just attended the Training Ground for @dcfcofficial After a suspicious male was seen at the perimeter fence. Excellent searching conducted & male was located. All checks above board!
Keeping the team safe to bring home a win against #LUFC on 11th! #SpyingIsCheating.”

It got football fans talking.

Had Marcelo Bielsa ordered a member of his staff to spy on Derby ahead of the game?

Well, yes.

BIELSA CONFESSES

Ahead of the game, Sky Sports conducted their usual pre-match interview with the Leeds boss and asked him about ’Spy Gate.’

And Bielsa owned up immediately.

"I am responsible for this incident. It's not about being legal or illegal or right or wrong," he admitted.

"Yesterday I talked to Frank Lampard and he told me I didn't respect the club.

"I have my view but what is important is what Lampard and Derby think. I'm responsible for it and didn't ask the permission of Leeds United to do it.

"I have been using this practice since the qualifications of the World Cup in Argentina. It is not illegal and we have talked about it publicly and in the press."

LAMPARD REACTS

Moments later, Lampard then had his pre-match interview and was asked what he made of Leeds’ dirty tactics.

"That's good (that he's admitted it)," he said. "I spoke to him yesterday and now he's said it it's easier deal with and on a sporting level it's bad.

"I don't believe it's fine and it's disrupted our build-up to this game.

"Training stopped because the police were called and then he ran away. We were working on tactics and how we were going to press.

"He was aware Harry Wilson was not training and that is relevant."