WHAM BAM
Leeds 3 West Brom 1: Rodrigo, Phillips & Bamford goals down already-relegated Baggies as Elland Road welcomes back fans
LEEDS dismantled relegated West Brom to cap a memorable return to the top-flight as they leapfrogged Everton to finish ninth.
Record signing Rodrigo got the Whites up and running after nodding in Raphinha’s corner to end his debut campaign on six goals.
2
WIN £50,000!
WIN £50,000 with Dream Team Euros
Dream Team Euros is HERE!
The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
Dream Team Euros
- £50,000 jackpot
- The best fantasy football game this summer
- Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members - and some hand-picked celebrities
- FREE to play
Kalvin Phillips then scored his first ever Premier League goal just before the break with a 25-yard free-kick.
Known as the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, it was not quite up to the Italian icon’s standards though, with Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone’s howler to blame.
And sub Patrick Bamford made it 3-0 with 11 minutes remaining, taking his tally to 17 as he remains hopeful of an England call-up for the Euros.
After 16 years in the wilderness, Leeds ended their first year back in the big time in stunning style to make it four straight wins.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa is yet to sign a new deal into next season but that appears a formality.
And with the prospect of a full Elland Road roaring them on, Leeds staff, players and supporters will see no reason why they can’t improve on ninth.
Most of the just over 8,000 fans were inside over 30 minutes early to roar on their heroes during the warm ups.
With supporters buzzing to be back and departing favourites Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi given a farewell start, it was a carnival atmosphere.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Most read in Football
Midfield magician Hernandez, 36, was hell-bent on signing off in style and thought he had assisted the opener for Jack Harrison but the offside flag went up.
But they were up and running 17 minutes in, with Rodrigo bagging his sixth of a mixed first season since arriving from Valencia for a club-record £26million.
Fellow new boy Raphinha’s whipped corner from the right evaded everyone, with the Spanish international guiding in to nod home at the far post.
And it was 2-0 three minutes before the break thanks to a howler Johnstone will not want to see back.
Phillips’ 25-yard curling free-kick was as gentle as they come but bounced just in front of the keeper, bamboozling him and skipping up over the hapless dive.
2
The relegated Baggies offered next to nothing in the opening half, but eight minutes into the second and Matt Phillips’ deflected shot struck the post before sub Grady Diangana skied well over from eight yards.
For Leeds it was now all about whether Hernandez could end with a goal, but despite plenty of half-chances he found no way past Johnstone.
He and Berardi were then subbed off together in emotional scenes as the Elland Road faithful’s love poured out.
Top scorer Bamford started on the bench but, having replaced Rodrigo at half-time, wrapped things up with a penalty after Okay Yokuslu’s handball.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
There was one late blemish hoever, with Hal Robson-Kanu pouncing on Phillip’s late mistake to make it 3-1.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Patrick Bamford in training with Leeds
Topics