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Attendance: 25,618
West Brom logo
Championship | Gameweek 26
Jan 1, 2020 at 5.15pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-1

Ajayi (2')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Ajayi (52' og.)

Semi Ajayi scores at both ends as West Brom, Leeds draw in top-two clash

Semi Ajayi scores at both ends as West Brom, Leeds draw in top-two clash
© Reuters
Semi Ajayi opened the scoring but Patrick Bamford struck from the bench.

Patrick Bamford ensured West Brom and Leeds shared the spoils from an intense meeting between the Sky Bet Championship's top two at The Hawthorns.

Semi Ajayi rose highest to edge the home side in front within 90 seconds, but substitute Bamford stepped off the bench to earn the visitors a point.

Slaven Bilic made four changes to the Baggies side who had been beaten by Middlesbrough three days earlier, and that returning quartet included midfielder Romaine Sawyers and defender Kyle Bartley.

For Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa was able to name an unchanged side to the one that ran out 5-4 winners at Birmingham City – Eddie Nketiah, expected to be recalled by Arsenal this month, once again led the line despite Bamford's return to the squad.

The Hawthorns, packed to the rafters, produced an electric atmosphere from both sets of fans ahead of kick-off, but it was the home faithful who were jubilant after less than two minutes.
Kiko Casilla failed to deal with a corner and Ajayi, having received the ball back from centre back partner Bartley, forced the ball over the line.

The hosts had the lead, but in the period that followed the visitors grew into the game, seeing plenty of the ball and fashioning a few moves which were short of a final pass, or a shot on target.

West Brom thought they had a case for a penalty when Sawyers was dragged to the floor by Mateusz Klich, as the ball was about to be taken for a throw-in.

Referee Robert Jones was not having any of it. He waved away Luke Ayling's claims for a handball at the other end before the half was out, too.

Though Leeds to continue to enjoy the lion's share of the ball, it was actually the home side who should have doubled their lead when Matt Phillips, played in on goal, could only offer a tame strike straight at Casilla.

Bielsa, intent on wrestling back the initiative, introduced Bamford and Barry Douglas at half-time and the former brought the visitors level.

Jack Harrison's cross, after a spell of Leeds pressure, was met by the head of Bamford and deflected beyond Sam Johnstone off the back of Ajayi.

Albion responded this time, with pressure of their own. Again Casilla tipped away a Matheus Pereira free-kick while Leeds continued to attack their hosts' right-hand side with little luck.

The Spaniard, roundly booed by the home fans throughout, then had to deny substitute Kyle Edwards as the game got scrappier in the closing stages.

Both sides, now sitting on 52 points apiece, are both nine points clear of the play-offs as the Championship takes a breather for the FA Cup this weekend.

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West Brom biss Slaven Bilic pictured on November 9, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd30196541212061
3Burnley30151323692758
4Sunderland291510442241855
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn30136113429545
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom301014639271244
7Middlesbrough29128947361144
8Norwich CityNorwich30119104942742
9Bristol City30101283835342
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds30119104346-342
11Coventry CityCoventry30118114138341
12Watford30125134042-241
13Millwall301010103027340
14Queens Park RangersQPR30911103339-638
15Preston North EndPreston3081393338-537
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd30910113444-1037
17Swansea CitySwansea3097143242-1034
18Stoke CityStoke30711122837-932
19Cardiff CityCardiff30710133351-1831
20Portsmouth3079143652-1630
21Hull City3078153140-929
22Derby CountyDerby3076173241-927
23Luton TownLuton3076173049-1927
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth30510152963-3425


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