Exuberance, Energy And Elation - How Leeds Used The Elland Road X Factor

The banners brandished successful The Don Revie Stand welcomed Leeds United backmost to nan elite pinch nan question: "Premier League, person you missed us?"

Leeds were backmost successful each their glory connected and disconnected nan transportation arsenic Elland Road boiled successful nan benignant of hothouse ambiance that will beryllium cardinal to their ambitions of staying successful nan apical flight.

They were gathered astatine The Old Peacock watering spread hours earlier kick-off, relishing their return earlier a nighttime of sound, fury and contention arsenic Lukas Nmecha's hotly-disputed precocious punishment ensured Leeds followed different newly-promoted broadside Sunderland successful making a winning commencement to nan season.

Everton, wretched from first to last, and head David Moyes near Elland Road nursing a consciousness of injustice, believing location was nary measurement James Tarkowski could get his limb retired of nan measurement of Anton Stach's shot.

For Leeds, who did not care, it was what they felt they deserved astatine nan extremity of nighttime that will surely beryllium their template for bucking nan caller three up, 3 consecutive backmost down for those promoted from nan Championship.

Elland Road stands alongside immoderate arena erstwhile it comes to a dispute environment, nan strains of "Marching On Together" rattling nan rafters earlier kick-off, providing a changeable of neat adrenalin for nan Leeds squad already fired up by head Daniel Farke.

Leeds, amid nan cacophony, pinned passive, panicky Everton backmost successful nan first half, each tackle bringing supporters to their feet - particularly a crunching situation by Ethan Ampadu that near Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall prone connected nan turf.

If location was a interest for Leeds and Farke, it was that their power successful nan first half brought nary reward, their onslaught a blunt instrumentality contempt their superiority, pinch only 1 of their 12 shots connected target.

Could they support that strength aft nan break? The reply was no.

Instead, Leeds showed different qualities they will require this play arsenic they dug deep, did nan soiled activity - albeit pinch small aliases nary threat from a dreadful Everton - and yet claimed nan triumph pinch that melodramatic precocious twist.

New Leeds keeper Lucas Perri was fixed a comfortable preamble arsenic Everton near him virtually unemployed isolated from 1 debased changeable from Carlos Alcaraz successful nan closing stages, which he saved comfortably.

Everton introduced caller indebtedness signing Jack Grealish pinch 20 minutes left, but this was a capacity beyond rescue and redemption - an illustration of why Moyes has expressed his concerns astir nan deficiency of caller arrivals, pinch acquisitions needed astatine right-back, connected nan correct broadside and successful nan cardinal midfield position.

Moyes intelligibly feels France under-21 striker Thierno Barry is simply a earthy activity successful progress, but it is difficult to spot really he could person delivered thing worse than nan capacity Beto served up astatine Elland Road.

Leeds, successful contrast, will beryllium buoyed by nan sheer exuberance and power that poured down from nan stands into Farke's players. One crippled only, yes, but nan surge of belief and optimism this consequence and capacity will present is vital.

Statistics will besides assistance nan temper as, for conscionable a 3rd clip successful Premier League history arsenic galore arsenic 2 newly-promoted sides person won their opening games. It besides happened successful 1997-98 (Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace) and successful 2021-22 (Brentford and Watford).

Before this Leeds victory, nary of nan erstwhile 17 Championship champions had won their first crippled successful nan Premier League nan pursuing season, pinch 5 drawn and 12 lost. Leeds are nan first broadside to execute this feat since Sunderland hit Spurs (1-0) connected nan opening matchday successful 2007-08.

Farke, understandably was elated, albeit cautious.

Leeds are disconnected nan people and he has latest signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has joined connected a free transportation aft leaving Everton, to supply a spearhead, pinch each Leeds fingers crossed that he stays fit.

So to reply nan mobility posed connected nan pre-match banner, nan Premier League has missed nan sheer sporting theatre provided by Elland Road - but it whitethorn not beryllium an acquisition welcomed by excessively galore teams if this is thing to spell by.

Leeds person a agelong roadworthy up this season, but this spectacular ambiance was proof, if it were moreover needed, that Elland Road is wherever galore of their battles request to beryllium won this season.

Farke took nan acclaim of ecstatic Leeds fans aft nan last whistle. The sound of The Kaiser Chiefs' "I Predict A Riot" belted retired and nan aged spot rocked to its foundations arsenic it savoured Premier League triumph again.

Recent history whitethorn beryllium against Leeds United erstwhile it comes to staying up, and successful Elland Road they person an 'X factor' that tin make nan important quality erstwhile it comes to defying those odds.

For Leeds United, their fans, and Farke, this was nan cleanable start.