Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Ayling 72′)

West Bromwich Albion 1 (Asante 52′)

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Ampadu, Rodon, Shackleton, James, Struijk, Gray, Rutter, Byram, Gelhardt (Greenwood 84′). Unused subtitles: Klaesson (GK), Darlow (GK), Cresswell, Gyabi, Bate, Drameh.

WBA: Palmer (GK), Furlong, Kipre, Ajayi, Wallace (C) (Gardner-Hickman 86′), Molumby, Phillips, Pieters (Townsend 75′), Swift (Sarmiento 69′), Asante (Maja 75′), Yokuslu (Chalobah 86′). Unused subtitles: Griffiths (GK), Bartley, Mowatt, Fellows.

Place: Elland Road

Presence: 33890 (1995)

Arbitrator: Matthew Donohue

Reserve: Gelhardt, Shackleton, James, Struijk (Leeds) Furlong, Molumby, Phillips, Pieters, Yokuslu (WBA)

In the Friday night floodlights in West Yorkshire, Daniel Farke’s side took on a West Bromwich Albion side with plenty of Sky Bet Championship experience on their side.

The Baggies took an early lead in the second half through Thomas Asante’s controversial goal, before Luke Ayling leveled the game with an excellent header. Despite the best efforts of both teams, the score remained tied at the final whistle.

Coming into the game, the Whites were looking to bounce back from a last-minute loss to Birmingham City, while the visitors arrived fresh after a good win against Swansea City at the Hawthorns the previous weekend.

When the match started at Elland Road, the atmosphere was electric and the first battle on the pitch was clear to see who on each side was looking to come forward.

The first two real chances on goal fell on Leeds. Sam Byram was narrowly off target aiming for the top corner, and Dan James was denied by a low save from Alex Palmer.

Closing in again soon after, the ever-energetic Jamie Shackleton struck low just outside the box and he came back from the post, having taken a big deflection.

The only real effort from the Baggies in the first 45 minutes didn’t bother Leeds. Darnell Furlong found space on a cross from Matt Phillips but missed his effort when well placed, sending the teams level and scoreless in the interval.

HALF-TIME: Leeds United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

The second half started with the visitors on the front foot, showing a reaction to the first-half display at Elland Road. They had an early chance through Jed Wallace, who kicked in Asante’s cross-goals, seeing Illan Meslier make a great save to tip him over the post.

A few minutes later however, the Baggies took the lead. From a corner in the box, Jayson Molumby drove in and it took a big deflection from Asante – which seemed to come from his right arm – and into the back of the net.

With Leeds pushing forward and seeing plenty of the ball in the attacking third of the pitch, good work between James and Joe Gelhardt saw James loop an excellent effort to the top corner, only to see the impressive Palmer tip him just right. above the full bar. -stretchable.

It wouldn’t be long before Leeds equalized and in doing so, Elland Road erupted in noise seeing their side return to level.

Gelhardt played a good ball down the wing that found James, who controlled and looked up, before crossing into the box. With a late run from the back post, Ayling surged the highest to return an excellent header into the bottom corner!

At the start of the last 10 minutes, the Whites made their first substitution of the game. Back from injury, Sam Greenwood came on in place of Gelhardt.

On his home debut and first start for the club, Joe Rodon had an opportunity in the closing stages, but his header went over the bar.

The last chance in seven minutes of added time also benefited Farke’s team. Georginio Rutter burst in with the ball and shot 20 yards out, seeing the ball go just past the post and behind for a goal kick.

Shortly after, the final whistle sounded on rain-soaked Elland Road, meaning both teams emerged from a hard-fought game with one point apiece.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 West Bromwich Albion