WEST BROMWICH, England (AP) — Leeds routed West Bromwich Albion 5-0 on Tuesday for its biggest victory since returning to the Premier League.
Romaine Sawyers’ own goal set the tone for the hosts before quick-fire first-half goals from Ezgjan Alioski, Jack Harrison and Rodrigo.
Raphinha also netted in the second half as Leeds recorded its biggest victory in the top division since a 6-1 win over Charlton in 2003 — a year before being relegated.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season to climb to 11th place. In his third game in charge of next-from-last West Brom, Sam Allardyce experienced his heaviest home loss in the league in his managerial career.
Leeds demolished a home side that was promoted to the Premier League with it last season.
Allardyce replaced Slaven Bilic this month, and Sunday’s impressive point at Liverpool suggested the new manager’s methods had already sunk in.
But it was a woeful start after nine minutes against Leeds.
Under pressure from Rodrigo, Sawyers tried a back pass to Sam Johnstone and failed to spot where the goalkeeper was. It meant Johnstone, who had moved to the left of his goal, could only watch on as the ball rolled in.
No team has scored more own goals than the Baggies’ three in the Premier League this season and they had gifted Leeds a platform.
It was one Bielsa’s sides took as they bossed possession with Albion never looking like they would mount a comeback.
West Brom had not come from behind to win in the Premier League for almost four years — since February 2017 — and that sequence would get longer thanks to three Leeds goals in nine minutes.
Alioski started the goal rush in the 31st when he fired the ball in off the post from the edge of the area.
Five minutes later, Harrison swapped passes with Patrick Bamford, turned Darnell Furlong and found the top corner from close range.
Leeds was rampant and continued to embarrass the hosts when Rodrigo’s shot from 18 yards (meters) hit Dara O’Shea and deflected in.
Leeds remained on cruise control and added the gloss in the 72nd when Raphinha wrapped up a sweeping move on the right by cutting inside and finding the top corner from the edge of the box.
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