Leeds use Elland Road ‘X factor’ to beat Everton in Premier League opener

Leeds, amid the cacophony, pinned passive, panicky Everton back in the first half, every tackle bringing supporters to their feet – especially a crunching challenge by Ethan Ampadu that left Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall prone on the turf.

If there was a worry for Leeds and Farke, it was that their dominance in the first half brought no reward, their attack a blunt instrument despite their superiority, with only one of their 12 shots on target.

Could they maintain that intensity after the break? The answer was no.

Instead, Leeds showed other qualities they will require this season as they dug deep, did the dirty work – albeit with little or no threat from a dreadful Everton – and eventually claimed the win with that dramatic late twist.

New Leeds keeper Lucas Perri was given a comfortable introduction as Everton left him virtually unemployed apart from one low shot from Carlos Alcaraz in the closing stages, which he saved comfortably.

Everton introduced new loan signing Jack Grealish with 20 minutes left, but this was a performance beyond rescue and redemption – an illustration of why Moyes has expressed his concerns about the lack of new arrivals, with acquisitions needed at right-back, on the right side and in the central midfield position.

Moyes clearly feels France under-21 striker Thierno Barry is a raw work in progress, but it is hard to see how he could have delivered anything worse than the performance Beto served up at Elland Road.

Leeds, in contrast, will be buoyed by the sheer exuberance and energy that poured down from the stands into Farke’s players. One game only, yes, but the surge of belief and optimism this result and performance will deliver is vital.