While some critics may debate the way in which Leeds United won the game, few can argue the Whites deserved the three points on Monday.
The hosts dominated the game, forcing Everton onto the back foot with five corners inside the first 15 minutes and 12 shots in the first half.
While the three points were taken from the penalty spot, United’s end product in the final third was lacking, underlining Daniel Farke’s calls for more attacking reinforcement.
The penalty itself was controversial, with Everton unhappy that the officials and VAR judged James Tarkowski to have handled the ball. Regardless, Lukas Nmecha kept his composure to slide the ball home and send Elland Road barmy to mark United’s return to the Premier League.
Farke chat with Tanaka
Ao Tanaka put in a fruitful shift with lots of running and elements of guile too. As the season grows, he will too.
The boss was seen guiding him at certain parts of Thursday’s game, perhaps as he’s getting used to the 4-3-3 requirements. At the end of the match, Farke embraced him but had a message for him, pointing to his temples.
Explaining this after the match, he said: “Elland Road is second to none with atmosphere and when the fire is burning the emotions were high. My number eights, Anton Stach and Ao Tanaka, were doing channel runs in the 90th minute.
“I like that we want to go to score more goals and want to go for it, but it's also important with all the emotions of our supporters, our crowd, we're not overdoing things that we still keep the nerves and are still having smart decisions.
"I like that he's such an emotional player who can also set the stadium on fire. But it makes no sense to set the stadium on fire and then you concede the late equaliser. This is what we spoke about.”
Harrison’s gesture
There was a mixed reaction when Jack Harrison took to the pitch in the second half. Loud boos rang out towards him in Dublin but there was more of a mixed reaction on Monday. Farke had urged the fans to get behind the winger while admitting it is up to the player himself to win supporters back.
He was applauded by those in the North Stand corner when he went out to warm up on the touchline in the first half before being booed when he said hello to his former Everton colleagues also warming up, albeit not overly sternly. When Harrison took to the field in-game, it was a direct mix of boos and cheers.
Prior to the game, he had donated money to two local pubs for fans to enjoy a pint on him. At the very least, the winger is aiming to build bridges with supporters again in his own way. For the most part, it went down well. At full time, he handed his shirt to a fan in the crowd after applauding the the fans, who mirrored back.
Other things spotted
Largie Ramazani was seen arguing jovially with Nmecha and Harrison over the rules of rondo during the warm up. It might just be that he was trying to get out going in the middle to chase the ball.
Harrison, by the way, has swapped his former shirt number of 38 for the number 20. Also noted in the warm up was Lucas Perri not facing any shots. Perhaps that was risk management given last night was his first full 90 minutes having arrived with a hamstring injury.
A host of Leeds figures past and present were at the game, including Aaron Lennon who was on radio duty. Of course, chairman Paraag Marathe was there too and will have been pleased with getting off to a win.