Leeds United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion: Ezgjan Alioski goal sends Leeds top
- Published
Leeds United full-back Ezgjan Alioski scored with a first-half strike that was deflected in
Ezgjan Alioski scored the only goal as Leeds United ended West Brom's unbeaten start to the Championship season and replaced them at the top of the table.
The left-back rifled into the bottom corner via a deflection from Kyle Bartley after some neat hold-up play from Jack Harrison.
Then followed an uncharacteristic display from Marcelo Bielsa's side, who were made to dig deep during a second half that was dominated by Slaven Bilic's visitors.
Such pressure were Leeds put under that forward Tyler Roberts, a half-time substitute, was replaced by defender Luke Ayling in the 75th minute.
But for all of their possession, Albion failed to create a clear opportunity.
Leeds were roared on by a sold-out home crowd, who were well aware that their side had already dropped points late on against Nottingham Forest, Swansea and Derby at Elland Road this season.
And it may well have been the scars of those experiences that encouraged Bielsa to haul off former West Brom player Roberts midway through the second period when his team was being overrun.
By that point, Albion had looked dangerous through Matheus Pereira on multiple occasions, and Leeds perhaps lacked a little security having lost both captain Liam Cooper and midfielder Jamie Shackleton to injury.
As West Brom pushed forward in the closing stages it was in fact the hosts who went closest to doubling their advantage as Helder Costa and Harrison both saw efforts saved by keeper Sam Johnstone.
But Alioski's effort, which took a tiny but crucial deflection on its way in, means the Baggies drop to second, a point off Leeds at the top.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa: "It was big, big effort from the team tonight.
"We tried to manage the match, but at the end West Brom's creative play was difficult to defend.
"We put all our energy into defending which made it difficult to then put our energy into the attacks."
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic: "I'm very disappointed with the result but I'm proud of how we played second half. We knew who we were playing and we talked about this as a big opportunity.
"They (Leeds) were more aggressive in the first half and scored a goal. But in the second I didn't see Leeds for a long time.
"I think we definitely deserved one goal and I'm disappointed that we didn't take any of these chances."