PRINCE PHILLIPS GOOD WIN...SHAME ABOUT THE KIT! LEEDS UTD
Kalvin’s double strike crowns fine start for Christiansen’s Leeds
CoULD this be the year? It is a question Leeds United supporters ask every August and the answer is usually no.
however, if opening days are any barometer then the fallen West Yorkshire giants may well have a shot at regaining the Premier League status they lost at this stadium a distant 13 years ago.
new manager Thomas Christiansen orchestrated a victory that should not have been by such a narrow margin, with the visitors impressive but somehow left hanging on, on a rainy afternoon full of bright promise for the suffering hordes.
A double from Kalvin Phillips along with a predator’s strike from Chris Wood, with Gary Madine responding, gave Leeds the handsome lead their clinical efforts deserved at the break before an Adam Le Fondre penalty made for a nervy ending.
Christiansen was impressed but admitted he felt the strain. ‘My heart rate went up!’ he said.
‘This was the game I expected — a tough game against a good opponent — and a result I’ve dreamt of.’
The visitors went ahead after just seven minutes when Phillips drilled home a Pablo hernandez corner with the aid of a deflection. It sparked away end chants aimed at Garry Monk, the manager who jettisoned Leeds for the riches of Middlesbrough in the summer and whose new side lost their first match under his stewardship on Saturday. They were not wishing him well.
Those chants got a second airing on the half-hour mark.
Following a spell of Bolton pressure, Kemar Roofe found space on the right, crossed to the far post for new boy Ezgjan Alioski who smartly nodded inside to Wood. The Kiwi, five yards out, made no mistake, heading in off the bar. Wood plundered 27 goals last season and has been linked with a host of top flight clubs. ‘It is very important (he stays),’ Christiansen said when asked about his striker’s future. ‘But you never know what will happen. I am confident he will stay.’ Bolton responded when Josh Vela found Madine at the far post to halve the deficit. But with the home fans still celebrating it was 3-1 as Phillips tapped his second into an empty net. on 65 minutes, Bolton were handed a lifeline when substitute Conor Shaughnessy acquainted himself too closely with Madine from a corner, almost pulling his shirt over his head. After referee Simon hooper pointed to the spot Le Fondre stepped up to fire the penalty right down the middle. Three goals were enough to take the three points. ‘To start the first game away with a win, it’s very important and we have to continue with this,’ Christiansen added. ‘It’s started in a good way. We played the football I wanted to play.’
In the Danish-born Spaniard, Leeds appear to have a bright boss and have sold more season tickets than for any other campaign since they exited the top flight.
While it is early in his reign, new owner Andrea Radrizzani appears to be the safe pair of hands and the eight summer signings will excite — although one of those arrivals, German goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald, will need to improve on a poor start here.
In a bid to cut down queues, Bolton had asked their supporters to print their tickets at home rather than pickk them up fromm the ground.
For long spellspells those fan mayy have wished they hadad stayed there, but Phil Parkinson’s team showed spirit and improved from a shaky opening.
The manager, who saw David Wheater injured and the influential Vela carried off, was pleased with the Wanderers’ efforts.
‘I thought we showed character,’ he said. ‘In the second half we were great and I take a lot of cconfidence from that. The third goal was a body blow at 2-1. I thought Leeds werwere creaking.’ ParParkinson has been offered a new contract and will signsig it shortly. his employers remain under a transfer embargo and last season’s promotion, a fine achievement, will be bettered if they avoid the drop this time around. Despite defeat, they showed enough to suggest there should be three teams worse than them.
THIS is the seventh successive season Leeds have started with a new boss. Thomas Christiansen is the 12th appointment in five years and guided Leeds to their first opening day win since 2013.