LONDON: After a feast of goals came a relative famine in the English Premier League on Monday.

Just one across two games — and that being a fortunate deflected effort to earn Wolverhampton Wanderers a win at Leeds United — ended the goal rush that had made the most-watched league in the world even more compelling viewing over the first five rounds.

After West Bromwich Albion and Burnley fought to the first goalless draw of the top-flight in their 47th match, Wolves edged to victory at Elland Road thanks to Raul Jimenez’s second-half shot from the edge of the penalty area that ricocheted in off the bowed head of Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the 70th minute.

Before Monday, there had been 171 goals in 46 matches for a rate of scoring never previously seen at the start of a season in the Premier League era (since 1992).

Leeds missed the chance to go third in the standings instead, Wolves climbed above their beaten opponents and into sixth place, making it it back to back wins for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side after they beat Fulham before the international break.

“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 weekend defeat at champions Liverpool.

“In the first half we should have established a difference, in the second half it was more even,” Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa said. “We created enough opportunities to establish a lead. I don’t think they were better than us but they neutralised 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’ defence 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 area, but VAR ruled 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 area before hitting a shot that smacked off Phillips’ head and flashed past the wrong-footed Meslier.

WEST BROM AND BURNLEY IN STALEMATE

After a glut of goals across the first 46 Premier League matches since the new season started in September, 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 they ended without an entry in the scoresheet.

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.

But a 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.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020