Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday climbed to sixth place in the English Premier League as Raul Jimenez sealed a 1-0 win at Leeds United on a night West Bromwich Albion and Burnley played out the first goalless draw in the division this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves clinched their third league win of the campaign when Jimenez’s second-half strike deflected in off Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The Mexico striker’s third goal of the season made it back-to-back wins for Wolves after they beat Fulham before the international break.
Photo: AFP
“It was a good performance with some aspects to improve. We were better in the second half, but at the start it was very difficult for us,” Nuno said. “Leeds were so dynamic. We had to adjust and be more clinical in front. The goal was fortunate, but we had chances.”
Leeds have now gone two games without a win as they were beaten for the first time in the league since their narrow opening defeat at champions Liverpool.
“In the first half we should have established a difference, in the second half it was more even,” Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa said. “We created enough opportunities to establish a lead. I don’t think they were better than us, but they neutralized our game better.”
Bielsa’s team dominated the first period, pinning Wolves in their own half, but had nothing to show for their dominance as the visitors’ defense held firm.
Leeds striker Patrick Bamford’s early header was ruled out for offside and the hosts had a penalty appeal turned down after Helder Costa went down under Joao Moutinho’s challenge.
Wolves almost snatched the lead against the run of play when Daniel Podence’s close-range shot was saved by Illan Meslier.
Romain Saiss thought he had given Wolves a 54th-minute lead with a superb finish from the edge of the penalty area, but the video assistant referee ruled that Podence was in an offside position.
Jimenez settled a hard-fought clash in the 70th minute when he cut in from the right flank and darted across the edge of the penalty area, before hitting a shot that smacked off Phillips’ head and flashed past the wrong-footed Meslier.
After a glut of goals across the first 46 Premier League matches, the entertainment dried up at the Hawthorns.
Between them West Brom and Burnley had conceded a combined 21 goals in their opening seven games, but the 47th match of the Premier League season ended without an entry on the score sheet.
West Brom’s Karlan Grant was denied a debut goal by a tight offside call, while Chris Wood hit the bar for the visitors.
The pair remain winless in the league this season, with Burnley claiming their first point after three defeats to lift them off the bottom of the table.
However, the draw did little to kick-start either side’s season, as Albion continue to wait for their first victory since promotion.
Grant showed his threat when Grady Diangana picked him out to head in, only for his celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.
Ashley Westwood’s cross found Wood unmarked at the far post in the closing stages, but the Burnley striker headed against the bar.
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