Leeds United 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds earned three Premier League points in stoppage time in their two fixtures against Wolves last season.
A 91st minute equaliser and a 94th minute winner both ended up being crucial as the Yorkshire club managed to stay up by three points.
So, as this contest approached the closing stages with the sides evenly matched, it would have been natural for home fans to be quietly optimistic.
Their optimism turned out to be justified.
Highlights of the game
The team news, when it arrived, was of interest for both clubs.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch named four of his summer signings with Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca and Brendan Aaronson all included.
Another new boy, Luis Sinisterra, missed out through a hamstring injury.
With Adam Forshaw, Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas also out and Dan James suspended, the home side did have the boost of welcoming back Patrick Bamford in attack, having missed much of last season through injury.
Wolves had their own list of absentees with Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Nelson Semedo and, most tellingly of all, forward Raul Jimenez out of action for the next few weeks with a knee injury.
A front three of Hwang Hee-Chan, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence led the attack and, despite controlling spells of possession, Wolves’ lack of a cutting edge in would ultimately prove costly.
It has been a busy few days for the club with boss Bruno Lage having to deal with bids for exciting youngster Morgan Gibbs-White and captain Conor Coady, the departure of the latter not ruled out completely on the eve of the new campaign.
Gibbs-White, who is reportedly wanted by newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, was handed a chance to impress in midfield, while Coady was on the bench with sole summer signing Nathan Collins partnering Maximilian Kilman in the centre of defence.
Six minutes in and Elland Road was silenced as Hee-chan headed into the path of Podence whose shot into the ground bounced over Illan Meslier – a good start to the campaign for a player who only netted twice all last season.
After the loss of their best two players during the summer, Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. two home players with points to prove were Rodrigo and Jack Harrison.
The former made his mark midway through the first half when he snuck in an equaliser at the near post to add to the hat-trick he scored in a friendly against Cagliari last weekend.
Both teams had chances to take the lead before the break but goalkeeper Jose Sa was able to clear just in time, after dribbling rather too close to his own net then he’d have liked, before Leander Dendocker’s close-range effort was blocked by Meslier.
The Premier League highlights continued after the break and it was the visitors who were the better team with Meslier forced to tip over a strong Dendoncker and then holding onto a low Gibbs-White drive.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds would have been evenly poised at this stage but there was to be a winner as Bamford squared for Aaronson and the debut boy’s pressure forced Rayan Ait-Nouri to divert into his own net.
It took a stunning one-handed stop from Sa to deny Bamford a goal after a fine cross from young Sam Greenwood but it didn’t matter.
Leeds United, who picked up 15 points in their 12 Premier League games under Jesse Marsch since his appointment in the spring, are up and running.
For Wolves, the absence of Jimenez was a blow, but the fact he was their top league scorer last season with just six goals highlights their lack of ruthlessness and composure in front of goal and is an obvious area where they need to strengthen.
Key statistics
This was only Wolves’ second opening day defeat in their last seven top flight openers. They are, however, on the longest winless run of any Premier League side, failing to win any of their last seven matches last season.
Wolves have only failed to score in one of their last 14 league games against Leeds.
Leeds haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Premier League home games.
Wolves have not kept a clean sheet in 10 league matches.
What’s next?
Leeds are on the south coast next Saturday as they face Southampton before returning to Elland Road to face Chelsea on August 21.
Wolves entertain Fulham a week today (August 20) and then are at Spurs a week later.
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