Two-goal Patrick puts Leeds top
SO much for Leeds’ promotion bid fizzling out and being shattered by Marcelo Bielsa’s hightempo style.
Those were the charges levelled at Leeds boss Bielsa following their fifth loss in 10 league games at QPR on Tuesday night.
But just three days later, this devastating display was the perfect response to those accusations, as Leeds blew away one of their promotion rivals.
Leeds were back to their lungbusting best as they battered the Baggies to return to the top of the Championship.
Poor West Brom didn’t know what hit them after being sunk by Patrick Bamford’s double, Ezgjan Alioski’s injury-time strike and Pablo Hernandez’s quickfire opener.
Bamford said: “I hope I can score the goals to keep us up there. We had a few off games but
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we needed this. It was an important win.” Leeds stunned the Baggies by scoring the opening goal after just 16 seconds and they did not look back.
Liam Cooper won a header from West Brom’s kick-off and Jack Harrison hared down the left before picking out Hernandez in the middle, who fired a right-foot shot home 25-yards.
That flying start set the tempo for Leeds and led by the tigerish Kalvin Phillips, they snapped into tackles, winning every challenge. Hernandez then turned provider, playing in the impressive Tyler Roberts, whose flick was saved by Sam Johnstone.
It was only a temporary respite for West Brom as Leeds extended their lead after 28 minutes.
Mateusz Klich fed Roberts who deftly laid the ball off for Bamford to slot home left-footed.
West Brom tried to respond and Jay Rodriguez hit a long-range shot which Kika Casilla flicked over.
Tosin Adarabioyo should have pulled one back for the Baggies when he headed wide from six yards out from the resultant corner.
West Brom’s night might have got worse and Mason Holgate was fortunate to escape punishment for high tackle on Harrison.
Gareth Barry was also lucky not to pick up a second yellow for a foul.
The in-form visitors, who had won eight of their nine previous away games, saw Hal RobsonKanu head over from Barry’s free-kick moments after the break.
But Leeds soon regained control and Klich had a shot saved before Bamford’s deflected 63rd minute shot crept in.
Alioski turned home sub Jamie Shackleton’s cross with the last kick of the game to add the gloss.
Elland Road reverberated to chants of “We’re going up.” And few would doubt them on this performance.