West Ham 2 Leeds United 0: Whites off target as London curse continues

The Whites began brightly but Luke Ayling clipped the speedy Lingard to concede a 19th-minute penalty which led to Lingard firing the hosts ahead after netting the rebound to his saved spot kick.

United's set piece woes then continued in the 28th minute as Craig Dawson headed home from a corner and Leeds were unable to pull a goal back despite creating plenty of chances and West Ham themselves were twice denied by the woodwork.

Leeds created a decent opening in the fifth minute but Helder Costa blasted his shot over from just inside the area.

Tyler Roberts then looked to have fired United ahead one minute later from Costa's pull back but Costa had been fractionally offside.

Patrick Bamford also netted from a tight angle from Raphinha's pull back in the very next minute but the ball had gone out of play before Raphinha crossed.

But the Hammers were then awarded a 19th-minute penalty after Ayling caught Lingard late and whilst Illan Meslier saved Lingard's soft spot kick, the French 'keeper was unable to hold on to the ball and Lingard blasted home the rebound.

A deflected Aaron Cresswell free-kick then flew just wide off Ayling six minutes later but Cresswell raced over to take the corner which was headed home all too easily by Dawson.

From another Cresswell corner, only the post then denied Dawson a second with a stooping header.

Leeds should have pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart when Diego Llorente played Bamford through on goal but the Whites no 9 fired his effort wide.

Lukasz Fabianski then tipped a deflected overhead kick from Raphinha over but only the crossbar denied the Hammers a third as a sublime long range half volley from Pablo Fornals rattled the frame of the goal.

Leeds continued to attack and had several chances to pull a goal back as Raphinha again strutted his stuff and the Brazilian winger saw a thunderous attempt saved by Fabianski.

Bamford also skied a shot over from 12 yards out after Raphinha's cross whilst Dawson cleared a deflected Ayling cross off the line but the London curse continued and the Whites have now gone 16 games in the capital without a win there.

West Ham: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma (Bowen 73), Lingard (Johnson 87), Fornals; Antonio. Subs not used: Martin, Trott, Balbuena, Noble, Lanzini, Odubeko.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich (Alioski 46), Raphinha, Costa (Harrison 46), Roberts (Rodrigo 61), Bamford. Subs not used: Caprile, Davis, Berardi, Jenkins, Huggins, Poveda.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/second-leeds-united-youngster-nominated-for-premier-league-2-player-of-the-month-award-3158182

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins