This was possibly one of our biggest games in Championship. Everyone knows West Ham and Leeds do not like each other. The game didn’t show too much hate until the last couple of minutes but still provided to be an interesting affair.
West Ham started the game brightly, keeping the ball and making Leeds chase the game, the Hammers looked dangerous from set pieces again, Sam Allardyce really has sorted out this teams aerial ability. First we had a long throw from the left by Ilunga, Cole jumped perfectly to flick the ball behind him and produce a save from the Leeds goalkeeper Lonergan. This led to a corner which was whipped in by Taylor as expected and the first man to that ball was Tomkins again, almost getting the chance to celebrate his second goal in as many games, but unfortunately for him the keeper was equal to it again, but this forced another corner which saw Carlton Cole somehow get his foot in front of the Leeds defender and guide the ball beautifully into the back of the net, Upton Park was sent in to a frenzy, as West Ham went up within 6 minutes.
Once West Ham scored, Leeds decided to up the pressure, giving West Hams players absolutely no time on the ball, making players make the odd mistake, Leeds carved out a very good chance thanks to Clayton and Gradel, but Green spotted the danger and tipped the ball over the bar. Leeds continued to threaten, with no real clear chances at goal, West Ham managed to carve out another chance around 20 minutes with some quick one touch passing that culminated in Noble curling a right foot shot towards the bottom right corner, but yet again the keeper was equal to it. Leeds eventually got their chance to equalise when a throw in resulted in Matt Taylor handling the ball and gifting Leeds a penalty, up stepped Max Gradel, a current West Ham transfer target, but despite Green guessing the right way, it was irrelevant with Gradel shooting wide, West Ham had a major let off. West Ham then had a penalty shout of their own, when Carlton Cole nodded the ball past a defender and charged into the box, but the retreating defender caught Cole’s leg and brought him down, yet the referee waved away the protests from players and the crowd.
The chances then seemed to be equally shared, with neither side looking overly dangerous, I was particularly impressed with how well West Hams midfield coped when forced under pressure to keep moving the ball about and another great half from Tomkins, winning the aerial battle and timing some very good tackles. Gradel had probably been their best player, creating chances from himself and others, although he wasn’t having too much luck as the West Ham team didn’t give the Leeds attacker any time on the ball. Half time and 1-0 to the Irons.
The second half unfortunately for West Ham, started much like the second ended, Leeds piling on pressure constantly, keeping the ball in the West Ham half, with constant threats around the claret and blue goal, a third penalty shout, this time for Leeds from a Scott Parker tackle, on initial thoughts it was a brilliant tackle but replays show Parker didn’t actually touch the ball. This didn’t stop Leeds though who continued worrying the West Ham defence and the pressure eventually paid off when a delightful ball was crossed in from the right to Ross McCormack, who duly obliged in slotting the ball home, right after Faubert had come on for Collison, 1-1 and Leeds definitely deserved it. However just two minutes after the equaliser, a tactical sub from Allardyce paid off as Faubert delivered a beautiful ball which turned home (in rather spectacular fashion) by Leeds defender Patrick Kisnorbo.
Despite the instant reply from West Ham, Leeds carried on pressing but to no avail. The next talking point was a moment all West Ham fans had been waiting for, John Carew’s debut, and it was almost as though the arrival of the big Norwegian drained Leeds as they started to tire, running out of ideas.
West Ham began looking for that two goal cushion, Faubert and Carew linked up perfectly but failed to finish off a lovely move as ball trickled wide. Faubert was again involved, as the Frenchman delivered a brilliant which almost saw another own goal from Kisnobro but thankfully for him it went wide. West Ham then had a series of corners which saw Tomkins denied by Lonergan and then Reid directed the ball towards goal which saw, yet again, some superb goalkeeping from Lonergan, who threw himself low and deflected the ball wide.
Leeds started trying to up the tempo again, keeping West Ham pegged back, thankfully for West Ham they didn’t get a clear target at goal. The chances then appeared to switch between the two sides, Faubert and Parker linked beautifully to carve out a wonderful chance but were denied by the woodwork. Then in the 90th minute, just like at home against Cardiff, heartbreak, Leeds’ constant pressure finally paid off when a superb cross, was smashed against the bar, only for the rebound to drop kindly to Leeds man Clayton who drilled the ball home.
In hindsight Leeds were truly deserving of one point and had they been more lethal in front of goal, it could so easily have been 3 for them. It’s unfortunate as we had a few chances to go two goals ahead but Lonergan was outstanding and was probably Man of the Match. It’s tough to really say who deserved it overall so maybe a point a piece is fair. I personally feel we need George McCartney to get fit fast though, Ilunga was not quick enough to close down the cross for Leeds’ second goal, which cost us dearly again. There were positives though, Carew looked very sharp and Faubert played extremely well at right midfield, so we could see a lot more of those two. Overall though one point from two home games, is far from promotion form.
Follow James on twitter @conflictinbanno
