A new decade and a new Leeds United in possible Premier League aperitif at West Brom - The Verdict

There was no forgetting the way it started - with victory at Manchester United in the FA Cup - yet ultimately the twenty tens’ began with six months in League One

Nine and a half years in the Championship then followed.

Changes in ownership, 12 different managers and ultimately continued frustration seeking a return to the Premier League.

But then there was Andrea Radrizzani and Marcelo Bielsa – and last season’s near miss.

Eighteen months after Bielsa’s arrival, United are once again hoping that a new decade begins with a promotion – but somewhat better than escaping League One.

On the very first day of that new decade, a trip to West Bromwich Albion provided the acid test.

Second against first, the two best teams in the division.

And United passed what, on paper, was their hardest test yet by surviving an early Baggies onslaught and fighting back to leave with a point.

In reality, the New Year’s Day clash at The Hawthorns was never going to prove decisive in United’s bid to seal automatic promotion, not with the Whites arriving with a nine-point buffer back to third.

Nottingham Forest began the day knowing they could cut that gap to eight if winning their game in hand but United’s position was regarded as strong enough to make the Whites 1-14 to finish in the top two as the new decade began.

The new-year battle at The Hawthorns might well have a big say on who wins the division but, for Leeds United, top two will do.

The encounter also saw both sides arrive with something of a score to settle – West Brom after falling to an unlucky 1-0 defeat at Elland Road in October, Leeds after being walloped 4-0 at The Hawthorns last November for the biggest defeat of Bielsa’s tenure.

But under Bielsa, defeats of any sort have been rare with United lining up following just one defeat in their last 14 games.

Despite sitting second and behind United only on goal difference, West Brom arrived following something of a wobble – just one win in five on the back of six straight wins and most latterly Sunday’s 2-0 reverse at home to Middlesbrough.

That meant the Baggies failing to score for only the second time this season but, if any contest promised goals, then it was the New Year’s Day showdown at The Hawthorns.

The two most potent attacks in the division – West Brom with 47 goals, Leeds with 42 – five of them arriving in Sunday’s epic 5-4 win at Birmingham City.

United’s pre-match Tweet asking for score predictions brought predictable responses – 7-6 Leeds?

It took only 80 seconds for one to arrive but Albion were unable to make their early advantage truly count as United again showed their resilience by the bucket load.

All eyes were on the United squad following their arrival at West Brom for a check on Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah and top scorer Patrick Bamford.

Arsenal are recalling England under-21s striker Nketiah owing to a lack of game time with Nketiah having to wait until Sunday’s clash at Birmingham to bag his first Whites league start as Bamford missed out with a quad injury.

Bamford was always expected to return for the clash at The Hawthorns but only made the bench as Nketiah kept his place in the lone striker role.

But Leeds were blitzed at the beginning and 1-0 down by the second minute after good work from Matt Phillips earned an early corner.

United and keeper Kiko Casilla made a mess of attempting to clear the delivery from Matheus Pereira, allowing Semi Ajayi to prod the ball home following Kyle Bartley’s header across goal.

And things very nearly got worse for United just four minutes later when a trip from Ben White presented a free-kick from which Matt Phillips hit the side netting.

Leeds threatened for the first time in the eighth minute as Helder Costa escaped the Albion back line and fired in a cross which evaded Nketiah narrowly.

Another Costa cross almost picked out Gjanni Alioski before Stuart Dallas sent two efforts over the bar either side of a Kalvin Phillips free-kick being cleared.

Albion were dealt a blow in losing the returning Kieran Gibbs to injury in the 18th minute but the hosts again threatened in the 21st minute with another corner that Nketiah cleared.

Moments later, Albion saw claims for a penalty waved away after Mateusz Klich wrestled with Romaine Sawyers who ended up on the deck.

Casilla then just about kept out a low effort from Pereira but Leeds were gradually pinning Albion back and Costa fired a fierce effort straight at Sam Johnstone in the 35th minute.

But, after Alioski’s foul on Pereira, the hosts went mightily close to doubling their lead in the 37th minute when a full-stretch Casilla tipped Pereira’s free-kick around the post.

Leeds were then left frustrated after being denied a spot kick despite Jake Livermore stopping a Luke Ayling cross with his arm.

But Albion really should have been 2-0 up just before the break when Phillips was played in one on one only to see his shot kept out by Casilla’s legs with Hal Robson-Kanu blasting the rebound over.

And a frustrating half for Leeds ended with Alioski’s shot blocked from a corner in a generous third added minute.

Bielsa then wasted no time in making changes with Bamford on for Nketiah and Barry Douglas replacing Alioski during the half-time break. Bamford quickly produced his strong hold-up play in winning United a corner which was cleared.

Costa then caused problems to also win a corner down the right and it was from that cleared corner that Leeds levelled as Harrison’s cross was headed goalwards by Bamford and deflected off Ajayi into the back of the net.

Bamford and Leeds were back on top, back purring, forcing Albion into several hurried clearances.

Back came the hosts with Casilla denying Pereira at a tight angle but Leeds almost had their second in the 62nd minute with Bamford flicking another Harrison cross just wide.

A deflected Albion clearance then went flying narrowly over the bar before United skipper Liam Cooper was booked for clattering Robson-Kanu.

Casilla tipped Pereira’s subsequent free-kick over and Ayling then went in the book for taking out substitute Kyle Edwards.

West Brom were enjoying another good spell and Phillips sent a rocket over the bar but back came Leeds with Cooper sending a header over from a corner.

The contest was tit for tat with both sides seeking a winner, Bamford causing problems but Casilla producing a flying save to deny Robson-Kanu.

Bamford was then played in but saw his low shot saved by Johnstone’s legs before Casilla brilliantly tipped an Edwards effort over the bar.

In the end, there was no winner but, at current progress, both sides could be netting the ultimate win in May with a place back in the Premier League.

West Brom: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Gibbs (Townsend 18), Livermore, Sawyers, Phillips (Zohore 84), Krovinovic (Edwards 62), Pereira, Robson-Kanu. Subs not used: Bond, Hegazi, Barry, Austin.

Leeds United: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Alioski (Douglas 46), Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison, Costa, Nketiah (Bamford 46). Subs not used: Meslier, Casey, Berardi, Gotts, Stevens,.

Referee: Robert Jones.