Leeds 4-0 West Brom: Patrick Bamford nets twice after Pablo Hernandez opens scoring after just 16 SECONDS to send Marcelo Bielsa's men top Pablo Hernandez took just 16 second to break the deadlock at Elland Road Striker Patrick Bamford doubled the hosts' lead before the half-hour mark The former Middlesbrough and Chelsea forward fired a third in the second half Ezgjan Alioski popped up in added time to net a fourth for Marcelo Bielsa's men By Jack Gaughan for MailOnline Published: 21:37 GMT, 1 March 2019 | Updated: 21:45 GMT, 1 March 2019 Viewcomments The energy, the sheer insatiability of Leeds United with Marcelo Bielsa in charge might just do it. Friday night was as good as it has been under him. Friday night felt like this is a Premier League club in waiting. A night Leeds really, really needed to turn up and produce at the end of a week whereby their energy levels came in for significant questioning. Bielsa answered those critics emphatically. Pablo Hernandez opened the scoring from outside the area with just 16 seconds on the clock The Spaniard wheels away after opening the scoring against Leeds' promotion rivals at home The no 19 slides on his knees in front of supporters at Elland Road following his early strike MATCH STATS LEEDS UNITED: Casilla, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Hernandez, Roberts, Klich, Harrison, Bamford Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Douglas, Dallas, Berardi, Brown, Shackleton, Gotts Scorers: Hernandez 1, Bamford 28, 63 Alioski 90 WEST BROM: Johnstone, Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Adarabioyo, Harper, Livermore, Barry, Robson-Kanu, Rodriguez, Gayle. Subs: Bartley, Morrison, Townsend, Montero, Bond, Field, Murphy Booked: Barry Referee: Tim Robinson The club’s owner, Andrea Radrizzani, does require promotion – as detailed in Sportsmail on Tuesday – and these will be very nervous months indeed, with the Championship as tight as ever. Continuing playing like this and there will not be quite so much jangling. West Brom, now seven points adrift of Leeds, were lost boys in yellow and green observing a blur of movement around them. Elland Road was volcanic. Hundreds had lined the path outside to welcome their heroes off the coach, saving the biggest cheer for Bielsa. Even after five defeats in 10, even after the midweek accusations about the team’s fitness, expectation remained intense. This old place needed just 16 seconds to erupt. Liam Cooper set the tone, careering into a header he had no right to win straight from kick-off. Jack Harrison took that on, bounding down the left. Harrison found Pablo Hernandez on the box’s edge, West Brom’s makeshift left back Tosin Adarabioyo backed off and Sam Johnstone was fishing one out of his net. Hernandez’s strike was smooth and its accuracy planned. The celebrations of those here were not – instead, chaotic and spontaneous, bodies clambering over each other. Patrick Bamford watches his effort just before the half-hour mark squeeze into the far corner Bamford celebrates his first goal of the game after firing beyond West Brom's Sam Johnstone The former Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker celebrates with team-mate Mateusz Klich That was minute one and by minute 28 Leeds had sewn up a return to the table’s summit. Tyler Roberts and Mateusz Klich were involved this time, combining to slip in Patrick Bamford. The striker steadied himself, waited, and then struck across Johnstone. Kiko Casilla played his part when called upon, staying alert to parry a vicious Jay Rodriguez effort over the bar. Yet Leeds, who normally appear on the precipice of defensive catastrophe and had only kept one clean sheet since mid-December, were resolute for so much of this. Bielsa would not want to individualise, but the roles of Cooper, his central defensive partner Pontus Jansson and holding midfielder Kalvin Phillips were crucial. All three are the embodiment of Bielsa. Jansson is all-action, smashing into tackles. Phillips is more reserved while retaining the same level of steel. ‘Enjoy that, then?’ one supporter asked when heading down to the chairman’s lounge at half-time. ‘What do you think?’ his mate replied. This was Bielsaball on steroids – and the third goal epitomised that. Roberts galloped through midfield purposefully, found Bamford and the striker rammed home via a deflection. Substitutes spilled onto the pitch, so too a pitch invader. The energy of it all took over, as it did when Ezgjan Alioski steered home a fourth in stoppage time. Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa watches on from his trademark crouching position on the touchline Kalvin Phillips has his hand on Jay Rodriguez's shoulder as the pair battle for possession Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility