Leeds Player Ratings: Leeds 4 - 3 Fulham. Leeds claim their first win back in the Premier League.

Leeds United gave half their fanbases a real scare, with Fulham coming back to 4-3 from 4-1 down, but they held on for a win and their first three points back in the Premier League.

Leeds took the lead after just five minutes. Fulham failed to clear a Kalvin Phillips corner, it fell to Helder Costa who smashed the bouncing ball in off the crossbar.

Fulham got level from the penalty spot through Aleksander Mitrovic following a really poor sliding tackle attempt from Robin Koch on Joe Bryan. Koch tried to stop and I aren’t sure there was any real contact but the decision to slide gave the referee a decision he shouldn’t have needed to make.

Fulham then gave away their own stupid penalty. Joe Bryan pushed Patrick Bamford in the box for no real reason and Mateusz Klich stepped up to calmly convert the penalty and leave Leeds ahead at half-time.

Patrick Bamford made it 3-1 early in the first half with a great right-foot finish following a good through ball from Klich. Bamford was involved again in Leeds fourth, his great run down the left and cross was finished emphatically by Helder Costa.

Fulham soon got one back. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa beat Kalvin Phillips in central midfield and played a good through ball to Bobby Decordova-Reid. Reid got in behind Stuart Dallas and finished well across Illan Meslier.

Then, 4-3, Kenny Tete put in a great cross from the right and Serbia international Aleksandar Mitrovic powered a header home. Neeskens Kebano hit the post for Fulham almost straight after.

Time now to look at each player and how they performed. As always you can tell me how wrong I am @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.

STARTING LINE-UP

Illan Meslier - Gave a needless half-chance to Harrison Reed when punched clear from a corner when it was an easy ball to catch. Will never knock a GK score down for not saving a penalty - but once he went the right way he will think he should have saved the penalty from Mitrovic. Really good long pass to Jack Harrison in the build up to Leeds fourth goal. Started to come for the cross and then went back on Fulham’s third goal. 6/10

Luke Ayling - Lost possession a bit too much. Got forward well on occasion. The goals didn’t seem to be his fault. 6/10

Robin Koch - Had a good header tipped over from a corner. Gave away a stupid penalty for a stupid slide tackle in the area. He tried to pull out but it was a bad decision. Mostly he was decent but centre-backs can’t make decisions like that. 6/10

Liam Cooper - Good defensively throughout the first half. Won possession really well in the build up to Leeds’ third goal. Got beaten in the air by Mitrovic for Fulham’s third goal but I don’t think he could have done much about it from his position. 6.5/10

Stuart Dallas - Some poor passing in the first half. Broke forward well on a few occasions. Got caught out by Decordova-Reid’s run on Fulham’s second goal. 5.5/10

Kalvin Phillips - Won the ball back well on many occasions. Beaten a bit too easily by Anguissa for Fulham’s second goal. 6.5/10

Helder Costa - Fantastic goal to give Leeds an early lead. Looked a danger throughout. Great finish to claim his second goal and put Leeds 4-1 ahead. Was able to bring Leeds forward with the ball and looked one of the less panicky on the ball at the end of the match. 8.5/10

Mateusz Klich - Calmly taken penalty to put Leeds 2-1 ahead. Fantastic through ball to set up Bamford for Leeds’ third goal. Won the ball back well throughout and did some really good things with it (barring one awful pass when Leeds had a great chance to get a fifth). 8/10

Rodrigo - Came in late for Pablo Hernandez who pulled up with a groin strain in the warm up. Looked unfamiliar at with the system at times with teammates having to point out which was his man on a couple of occasions. Some good moments on the ball but he seemed to cause his teammates a lot of issues off the ball. Wasn’t surprised to see him go off at half-time. 6/10

Jack Harrison - Played well throughout without being spectacular. Really good flick on to Bamford in the build up to Leeds fourth goal. As always his energy levels were massive and very useful when the game lost it’s shape. 7/10

Patrick Bamford - Won the ball high up the pitch on a couple of occasions early on. Won Leeds a penalty, Joe Bryan’s challenge was every bit a stupid as Koch’s a few minutes earlier. Great finish with his right foot to put Leeds 3-1 up. Brilliant work down the left to beat Denis Odoi and set up Costa for his second of the game. 8/10

SUBSTITUTES

Tyler Roberts (for Rodrigo, HT) - Better out of possession than Rodrigo. Moved up front once Bamford was replaced. Some good skill and a couple of passes that could have lead to goals. 6.5/10

Ezgjan Alioski (for Bamford, 69mins) - Came on in the centre of midfield which was surprising. Good movement which would have give him some great chances but the passes to him were poor. 6.5/10