Leeds United 3-1 Burnley live: Dan James scores killer third goal for hosts

Burnley fell to a 3-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road in their first Premier League match of 2022.

It was the home side who started on the front foot but Burnley settled into the game and weathered the expected early storm from Marcelo Bielsa's men. The first chance of the game arrived on 17 minutes as Stuart Dallas cut inside from the left and fired a low effort at goal, forcing Wayne Hennessey into a routine save.

Leeds then grew in confidence and continued to play at a high intensity, while Burnley's passing - especially in their own half - increased in sloppiness.

Raphinha tried an audacious lob from 40 yards which only just cleared Hennessey's crossbar, before the Clarets' shot-stopper kept Junior Firpo's cute effort out and Tyler Roberts nodded a glorious chance wide.

Burnley did have a wonderful chance of their own to break the deadlock, but Illan Meslier made a point blank save to deny Chris Wood - who was picked out brilliantly by another ex-Leeds man in Charlie Taylor.

And on 38 minutes, Sean Dyche's side were left to rue that missed chance as Jack Harrison got two bites of the cherry and rolled home the opener on the rebound - as James Tarkowski failed to clear his lines.

Before the first-half closed out, Leeds almost doubled their lead as Raphinha, Firpo and Roberts all had chances inside the box. And the final piece of action saw Wood curl a first-time effort over the bar from 15-yards, after Taylor had once again found him with a smart cross from the left.

At half-time, Dyche introduced Maxwel Cornet in place of Johann Berg Gudmundsson and the impact was immediate. Burnley won a free-kick 25 yards out and the Ivorian stepped up to curl a terrific left-footed strike into the top corner.

After that, the Clarets grew in belief and had a couple of moments inside the Leeds box but could not find that elusive goal to take the lead.

Leeds always remained a threat and the hammer-blow was dealt on 77 minutes, as the hosts worked it inside following a short corner and Stuart Dallas placed a fine effort home from the edge of the box.

Dyche's men kept going but in truth, a third goal for the Whites always looked the more likely and Dan James scored it in injury time - with Hennessey unable to keep his powerful header out.