Pep Lijnders FINALLY wins but proves doubters RIGHT

Pep Lijnders has finally secured a win for Red Bull Salzburg after a difficult few weeks.

The Austrian side beat Altach 2-1 after a late comeback which saw two goals scored just two minutes apart with six minutes remaining.

The result ends a difficult few weeks for Lijnder's who suffered two humiliating defeats in the space of a week before the international break after being beat 4-0 by Brest in the Champions League and were thrashed 5-0 by Sturm Graz.

However, while the victory brought a sense of relief, it also gave fuel to those who have long doubted Lijnders’ capability to manage at the top level

Lijnders proves his doubters right

The former Reds assistant manager made a few changes to his squad. Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic was dropped to the bench, only featuring in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Another big change made by Lijnders was the re-introduction of goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Salzburg fans had been calling on the Dutch coach to bring Schlager back into the starting 11, who was replaced by loanee Janis Blaswich in the summer.

Already this season, Blaswich has conceded 23 goals in 14 games across all competitions so its easy to see why fans were calling for him to be replaced.

What's next for Lijnders?

The debate surrounding Pep Lijnders’ future as a top manager is far from over. This victory will give him a brief respite from the growing scrutiny, but there are still concerns. Salzburg currently sit fourth in the Austria Bundesliga table, which for club that has won 17 league titles, it does sound alarm bells.

The arrival of Jurgen Klopp into the Red Bull framework certainly gives Lijnders an ally but that might not be enough. He’ll face further questions from all corners soon, too, with Salzburg fans said to be holding a meeting with players.

If Lijnders doesn't have the players' loyalty, there's every chance they throw him under the bus. After all, there are already rumblings that certain stars disagree with his ideas.

While the win may help Lijnders, things will undoubtedly have to change or it's difficult to see him being in charge for much longer.