FRUSTRATED Leeds United slid to a 2-1 defeat to Everton on their new pitch at Elland Road.

Both sides struggled to keep their footing at times on the freshly-installed £300,000 hybrid surface but it was the visitors who strode away with the points after holding off a determined second-half rally by Marcelo Bielsa’s men.

United are struggling to pick up points at home in this strange season, without fans because of Covid-19. Only 11 of their 29 points have been collected at LS11 but their performance against the Toffees was worthy of adding to that tally.

Everton were first to settle and went ahead after only nine minutes, Andre Gomes’ fine pass releasing Lucas Digne down the attacking left and his low, hard centre caught Leeds flat-footed, enabling an untracked Gylfi Sigurdsson to score.

Leeds responded well with Ezgjian Alioski’s thumping 20-yard volley direct from a deep corner hitting the base of the post. Swedish international goalkeeper Robin Olsen saved efforts from Mateusz Klich and Pascal Struijk as Leeds pressed for an equaliser.

Four minutes from half-time Everton won their only corner of the match – and Leeds failed to deal with it.

Former York City youngster Ben Godfrey flicked on Sigurdsson’s left-wing flag-kick and Dominic Calvert-Lewin darted in to end a seven-game barren run and nod in his 12th Premier League goal of the season.

The Whites were back in it within four minutes of the restart as Raphinha passed the ball into the net after being set up from Patrick Bamford.

The goal signalled a charge for the equaliser but they could find no way past the excellent Olsen who made three brilliant saves in the space of two minutes to keep out a deflected effort, Raphinha’s follow-up and a well-hit 20-yarder from Jack Harrison.

Calvert-Lewin could have scored his second of the night on the counter-attack, but was denied by goalkeeper Illan Meslier, although the miss did not prove costly.

Leeds could have snatched a point their performance deserved, substitute Tyler Roberts sending an injury-time opportunity from distance sailing over the bar.