Eddie Nketiah scored on his Championship debut to earn Leeds United a late but deserved win at home to Brentford.
The 20-year-old, on loan from Arsenal, tapped in from Helder Costa’s square ball within four minutes of coming on as a substitute.
The hosts had the better of the game and victory gave them 10 points from a possible 12, seeing them top the early Championship table on goal difference.
For Brentford, the defeat was their second from their opening four league games and their first away from home, leaving them six points behind the strongest starters.
After a relatively quiet first half, Leeds applied significant pressure in the second and finally found a way past the visitors’ defence thanks to two of their substitutes.
Wolves loanee Costa – who was introduced with 25 minutes remaining – made a good run down the right and played the ball across perfectly for Nketiah to slot home in the middle.
The England Under-21 international, who joined Leeds on a season-long loan deal from the Gunners on transfer deadline day, also scored at Salford City in the Carabao Cup on his Leeds debut on 13 August.
His goal saw pace-setting Leeds add to their early-season away league wins over Bristol City and Wigan, as they claimed their first home victory of 2019-20 after drawing with Nottingham Forest.
The Bees’ best chance to level arguably fell to Said Benrahma in second-half stoppage time, but he blazed well over the bar after the ball had fallen nicely for him just outside the area.
Forward Bryan Mbeumo had hit the post for the visitors in the first half with a left-footed effort from 25 yards out.
Sweden centre-back Pontus Jansson – who scored for Leeds in this fixture at Elland Road last term – captained Brentford against his former club following his July move to Griffin Park for an undisclosed fee.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:
“We deserved to win the game because we dominated the game. We didn’t create a lot of chances but we created enough chances to make a difference.
“It was a physical, demanding game and we took control in the best moment of the game.
“Helder Costa is a balanced player who can play on both sides, and Eddie Nketiah can make an impact in the middle. We defended well and our opponents did not have enough clear chances.”
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank told BBC Radio London:
“The first half was a top away performance where we pressed high, caused them problems and created opportunities. We did everything more or less right.
“Second half, they put more pressure on us and we were not good enough to keep the ball. We had big desire defending, good organisation and a high line.
“We got through the most stormy parts of the second half and you thought our opportunities would start to come. And then they scored a goal.
“I can’t imagine, going forward, a more difficult away ground to go to than this one.”
