In busy night for Premier League, farcical own goal sets Leeds on way to win

Further first half goals from Ezgjan Alioski, Jack Harrison and Rodrigo, and a brilliant strike in the second from Raphinha, gave Leeds their biggest top-flight victory since a 6-1 win at Charlton Athletic in April 2003 and confirmed the enormous task facing West Brom manager Sam Allardyce to keep his side up.

Leeds move up to 11th in the table with 23 points, while West Brom remain second-bottom on eight points from 16 games, five shy of safety.

The home side fell behind in the ninth minute as Sawyers put the ball into his own net. He was pressured 25 yards from his goal, swivelled and played a back-pass to where he expected goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to be.

But the gloveman had taken up a position to the left of his goal to give Sawyers an option for the pass, and the ball nestled into an empty net, a calamity from which the home side never recovered.

The match was billed as the defensive structure of Allardyce against the swagger and verve of Leeds under their manager Marcelo Bielsa, but it was proved no contest as the Baggies’ wilted at the back and offered virtually nothing in attack.

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette scored 43 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute to secure a 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to create chances, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang going closest five minutes after the break as Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez managed to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

Lacazette replaced Gabriel Martinelli in the 66th minute and wasted no time putting his side ahead, taking a touch to control Bukayo Saka’s pass in the penalty area before curling the ball into the bottom corner.

Brighton never looked like equalising and the defeat leaves them in 17th place on 13 points from 16 games, two points above the relegation zone. Arsenal move up to 13th on 20 points.

Elsewhere, Southampton missed a chance to move into the top four as they were held 0-0 at home by resilient West Ham United.

Saints dominated possession and had an early Danny Ings goal ruled out for offside but struggled to find any cracks in a well-drilled West Ham rearguard.

The visitors had the best chances after the break with Tomas Soucek squandering one opportunity and substitute Said Benrahma being denied by home keeper Alex McCarthy.

Southampton remain in ninth position with 26 points while West Ham are in 10th spot.

In another of the night’s matches, winless Sheffield United’s dreadful season continued as the Blades fell to a 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

Burnley captain Ben Mee rose to head home a Robbie Brady corner in the 32nd minute as Sean Dyche’s side secured a victory which moved them up to 16th place on 16 points.

Bottom placed United have just two points from their opening 16 games — the worst ever start to a top flight season in English football.

REUTERS