Jesse Marsch and Bruno Lage clash after Leeds United beat Wolves on the opening weekend with it a huge boost for the Whites.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was credited with a second-half own goal which secure Leeds a 2-1 home win in their first Premier League game of the season at Elland Road.
Ait-Nouri diverted Patrick Bamford’s low cross into his own net to as Leeds fought back after Rodrigo had cancelled out Daniel Podence’s early effort before half time.
It was tough luck on Lage’s side, who had been the better side for most of the second half before the 21 year old Frenchman turned the ball past his goalkeeper Jose Sa.
As the left-back tried to clear Bamford’s ball across the face of goal, he suddenly found himself under fierce pressure from Leeds’ summer signing Brenden Aaronson, who was initially credited with the winner on an impressive debut.
Podence had already sent an early shot wide for the away side when he fired them into a lead on the 6th minute.
Leeds right-back Rasmus Kristensen, who is one of four summer signings making his debut for the club, came off second best when chasing for a long ball over the top with Pedro Neto and Wolves ruthlessly took advantage.
Neto sent in a cross to the far post, meeting Hwang Hee-Chan’s head and then Podence’s volley span off the turf and in off the underside of the crossbar.
The Elland Road faithful wanted a response and USA midfielder Aaronson came close to getting an equaliser in his first Premier League appearance, producing a neat turn with his shot was deflected for a corner.
Hwang showed threat when going forward, a neat flick over Diego Llorente, but he sent a shot straight at Leeds keeper Illan Meslier with the goal in full sight. Then came Leeds’ equalised.
Wolves defender Ait-Nouri was caught dithering in his penalty area and, when the ball broke to Rodrigo on the right edge of the box, he drilled a low angled shot inside goalkeeper Sa’s near post.
Meslier managed to prevent Wolves taking the lead in first-half stoppage time when he kept out Leander Dendoncker’s close-range effort.
Wolves took control at the start of the second period and Meslier came to Leeds’ rescue again as he tipped Dendoncker’s header from a corner over the crossbar.
Jesse Marsch and Bruno Lage clash on the touchline at full-time 😡 pic.twitter.com/UjJMmYnvm6
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 6, 2022
Leeds couldn’t get possession and, as Wolves tried to regain the lead, though Kristensen’s superb last-ditch tackle stopped Ait-Nouri from running clear on goal.
Jesse Marsch sent on Mateusz Klich and then Sam Greenwood for Rodrigo and debutant Marc Roca and the changes gave his side some new much needed energy.
Leeds snatched a 74th-minute lead when Ait-Nouri turned Bamford’s low cross from five yards into his own net to make it 2-1, then Bamford saw his header from Jack Harrison’s cross brilliantly saved by Sa as Leeds tried to go forward again.
Aaronson and Bamford were subbed off, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt replaced them in the closing stages and Leeds held on for the big three points.
Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson: “That was exactly what we were looking for!
“I can’t stop smiling because this is such a wonderful place. The crowd push you on, that is why it is a legend here, Leeds United.
“Our plan was to go through the middle and I think we executed that well.”
On the goal which went down as an own goal: “I think it came off me! I can remember touching it with my leg. We shall see, I hope they give me credit though.
“This is the way we wanted to start the season. Awesome.”
🗣 “It was nothing, I just had a quick word with Bruno Lage afterwards.”
Jesse Marsch plays down the disagreement at full-time between himself and Wolves manager Bruno Lage pic.twitter.com/KnszcZBeNI
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 6, 2022
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, speaking to MOTD: “I felt like we had a tough start to the second half. Wolves were pushing, we had to hold on and dig in a bit. The second goal was in some ways a little against the run of play but we were gathering momentum. I was really pleased that the guys who came off the bench made a big difference for us.
“I actually thought we had a bright start to the match. The response to going a goal down was really good and I actually thought we could have had a few more before half time.
“I think all the debutants did quite well. The speed of play on the pitch was at a very high level, both teams trying to impose themselves on the way they wanted to play. In general I think the four players who started their first match for us are going to be good players.
On Aaronson: “He is relentless. He is none stop. His work rate is incredible I know him well and the thing I know about him is he is only going to get better.”
On cross words exchanged with Bruno Lange after the final whistle: “It was nothing, really.”
Wolves boss Bruno Lange, speaking to Sky Sports: “The feelings are I am happy with the performance and disappointed with the result.
“We came here to play with good confidence because the pre-season was good. We scored but then conceded a strange goal.
“Second half I think it was our best period. We had 25 minutes we dominated the game completely but didn’t score.
“The players played how we wanted them to play and we are proud of them.”
🗣 “In this day we cannot say some things, I heard that in the first half, until the first half, end of the game, we have a lot of time to shake hands, apologise, it didn’t happen.”
Bruno Lage explains why he snubbed Jesse Marsch’s handshake at the full-time whistle pic.twitter.com/U6TDYB1Q0B
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 6, 2022
Fans reacted as Jesse Marsch and Bruno Lage clash after Leeds beat Wolves on the opening weekend…
@EmileSZN_: “you are freaking TRASH dude, your franchise sucks and your guys are floppers”
@Panikkar37: Bruno Lage is a clown
@NUFC_Ollie: “i’ll set my homies on you dawg you don’t know what you’re getting into dude”
@juventudmckeown: Big Jimmy Marsch getting in Lage’s face like “Lemme tell you somethin’ buckaroo I’ve had just about enough of your gosh darn bullcrud!”
@BHAMarshal: Marsch was giving it La(r)ge
@ScottOWorrall: Bruno Lage refused a handshake from Marsch. Sore Loser? Anyway Marsch 2 Lage 0. #LUFC
@Jamie09725660: Was that cooper laughing in tunnel
@Jhhhedi: He told him it’s called soccer
@KlichKlichBoom: Lage wouldn’t shake his hand apparently. Big baby
@Matt_Vare: Surprised Bruno didn’t roll around on the floor like the rest of them
@WM80_: Didn’t shake his hand and gets his players to take 5 minutes everytime they hit the deck have done for years 🥱
@foz_182: Marsch hopefully calling out his tactics. Wolves are pathetic, toppling over at every opportunity.
@C1919W: Lage clearly upset that his anti-football tactics came unstuck today. Wolves played such better stuff under NES and their fans must absolutely hate the dirge Lage is making their team serve up.
@ADZ73LUFC: It’s hilarious. Serves Wolves right for spending half the match rolling and cheating on the floor. They play fantastic football but blow it by time wasting and cheating so absolutely buzzing we beat them. #ALAW #MOT
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