Exuberance, energy and elation – how Leeds used the Elland Road X factorpublished at 07:45 British Summer Time
Leeds 1-0 Everton
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThe banners brandished in The Don Revie Stand welcomed Leeds United back to the elite with the question: “Premier League, have you missed us?”
Leeds were back in all their glory on and off the pitch as Elland Road boiled in the sort of hothouse atmosphere that will be key to their ambitions of staying in the top flight.
They were gathered at The Old Peacock watering hole hours before kick-off, relishing their return before a night of sound, fury and controversy as Lukas Nmecha’s hotly-disputed late penalty ensured Leeds followed another newly-promoted side Sunderland in making a winning start to the season.
Everton, wretched from first to last, and manager David Moyes left Elland Road nursing a sense of injustice, believing there was no way James Tarkowski could get his arm out of the way of Anton Stach’s shot.
For Leeds, who did not care, it was what they felt they deserved at the end of night that will surely be their template for bucking the recent three up, three straight back down for those promoted from the Championship.
Elland Road stands alongside any arena when it comes to a hostile environment, the strains of “Marching On Together” rattling the rafters before kick-off, providing a shot of neat adrenalin for the Leeds team already fired up by manager Daniel Farke.
