Leeds 0 Wolves 1: Raul Jimenez bags Elland Road winner as Nuno’s side shrug off VAR setback to go sixth

KALVIN PHILLIPS is quickly learning how cruel a place the Premier League can be.

It has been a golden couple of months for the local lad, who was handed his first England cap before kicking a ball in the top-flight.

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And as Leeds made a storming start to life in the big time, Phillips’ stock was rising and rising.

But this was a sobering night for the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, whose deflected header from Raul Jimenez’s shot into his own net saw Leeds to their first home defeat.

The Mexican’s 70th minute effort was as harmless as they come and would have been gobbled by Illan Meslier.

But Phillips had no time to register that, and was left crestfallen as the ball flew beyond the rooted Frenchman.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side battered Wolves in the first-half and had enough openings to be out of sight.

Patrick Bamford has been on fire so far, masking an old problem Leeds have had ever since Bielsa walked in the door.

They create chance after chance – but their finishing by and large is poor and this was a big reality check for Leeds and Bielsa.

And unless they can solve that problem quick, any hopes of a miracle season fighting it out at the top end look highly unlikely.

As they prepared for their first top-flight fixture since 2004, Bielsa was landed a huge blow just before kick-off with skipper Liam Cooper breaking down in the warm up.

The centre-back was named in the line-up after picking up a groin injury with Scotland, but was replaced at the last minute by Pascal Struijk.

Not a problem for the master-tactician though, who ripped up his tried and tested 4-1-4-1 for an exotic looking 3-4-1-2.

Wolves were kitted out in their maroon and green third kit, doing an even better impression than normal of looking like the Portugal national side.

But while fans love the strip – it’s already sold more than last season’s home shirt – they were scratching their heads when Adama Traore was named on the bench.

And it was one of Nuno’s old boys, Helder Costa, causing all the problems early on.

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Getty Images - Getty

The ex-Wolves star caused havoc down the right, with his old club unable to live with Leeds’ rapid start.

But despite some build-up play from the heavens they could only carve out half-openings that were squandered by Costa and Patrick Bamford.

The passing was slick, the running off the ball super human, and the crosses raining in from both sides.

Marauding full-back Luke Ayling was the fore of everything good, and saw a goal bound shot blocked by Max Kilman.

They finally tested Rui Patricio in the 40th minute, but record signing Rodrigo – making his second start – fired straight at the keeper.

While Bamford has started the season on fire, their lack of cutting edge in front of goal is nothing new to Bielsa’s side.

And they had a whopping nine shots before the break without really ever coming close to breaking the deadlock.

The Black Countrymen had just 31 per cent possession at half-time, but at least carried a threat on the counter.

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In stoppage time, with their first real opening of the game, Daniel Podence had the best chance of the half.

A deep cross from the right by Leander Dendoncker found Romain Saiss, and for the first time Leeds looked stretched.

The ball was played back into Podence’s path but despite catching it flush from 12-yards, Illan Meslier was on hand to beat it away.

And they had the ball in the net on 53 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for offside by VAR Michael Oliver at Stockley Park.

Romain Saiss thought he had just bagged a wonder goal, leathering a volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

It had found its way to him after Podence’s cross from the right – but replays showed he was a yard offside.

Whatever Nuno said at the break had done wonders though, with the lively Podence forcing Meslier into a smart save moments later.

Raul Jimenez was next, but having barely touched the ball game he failed to get his shot away after creating an opening.

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Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

But whereas Leeds could not, Wolves made their dominance count after 70 minutes.

Struijk made the first mistake as a long ball went over his shoulder, slipping to allow Jimenez get hold of it on the right.

And the Mexican simply waltzed across the box before checking inside the challenger and letting fly.

It was a weak shot though, and would have been gobbled up Meslier if it was on target.

But the hapless Phillips stuck his head out, only to see it bounce beyond the rooted Meslier.

After such a sloppy start to the second-half Leeds finally woke up again and hurled bodies forward to try and bag the equaliser.

Sub Ian Poveda saw a shot charged down when it looked like it was heading in, and Rodrigo agonisingly could not divert the rebound goal bound.

But Wolves held on for a huge win on the road to move them up to sixth after an underwhelming start to the season.