West Ham 2-0 Leeds United: Hammers up to fifth in table

West Ham maintained their unlikely push for a place in next season’s Champions League with a deserved Premier League victory over Leeds United at London Stadium.

Jesse Lingard sparked West Ham into life when his menacing run into the penalty area drew a foul from Luke Ayling. Lingard, on loan from Manchester United, converted the rebound after his spot-kick was saved by Illan Meslier.

Leeds had found the net twice in a blistering opening spell, but Tyler Roberts’ finish was ruled out for a marginal offside against Helder Costa, and Raphinha ran the ball out of play before crossing to Patrick Bamford.

But they were two goals down before half-time when the unmarked Craig Dawson headed in Aaron Cresswell’s corner.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds went close to a response five minutes after the restart when Raphinha’s sensational overhead attempt was tipped over by Lukasz Fabianski, while Bamford blazed over from Raphinha’s cut-back and Dawson cleared off the line as Leeds chased a late lifeline.

Pablo Fornals struck the crossbar with a dipping second-half shot, but the Hammers ultimately held firm at the back to see out the three points.

Rice and Soucek at heart of West Ham efforts

Moyes said on Sunday that he would not sell England midfielder Declan Rice for £100m, which was reported to be the club’s valuation.

This match was the latest reminder of why Moyes is keen to ward off potential suitors as, alongside the equally dependable Tomas Soucek, Rice proved the antidote to Leeds’ incessant pressing, particularly in a second half which the visitors dominated for large periods.

In Rice and £19m summer signing Soucek, former Everton and Manchester United boss Moyes has a holding midfield combination he can trust, allowing West Ham’s attacking players to flourish.

Such solid foundations enable Lingard to shine. This was his fourth goal in six league appearances since his January move – as many as he had managed in his previous 38 in the competition for United.

Dawson, on loan from Watford, continues to prove as shrewd a signing as any. This was his 11th successive league start at the heart of West Ham’s defence and his fourth goal in all competitions this term.

Involved at both ends on Monday, he hit a post with another header before half-time and somehow prevented Rodrigo’s shot creeping over the line in the closing stages.

A European place in any form would mark significant progress for a West Ham side that finished only five points clear of the relegation zone last season. With 11 games to play, a Champions League place remains a real possibility.

Wasteful Leeds

A first season back in the Premier League after a 16-year absence was first and foremost about safety for Leeds, and that objective apears almost guaranteed with a nine-point cushion separating Bielsa’s side from the bottom three.

There is no denying that Bielsa’s all-or-nothing approach has paid off, with Leeds in 11th and in contention for a top-half finish. They have drawn only two league games this season and none of their past 18.

Aided perhaps by a nine-day break since their 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa, Leeds played in typically relentless style, and on another occasion the result could have been different.

Welcoming back midfield stalwart Kalvin Phillips from injury, they dominated possession and had 15 attempts at goal in the second half, but poor finishing consigned them to a fourth defeat in five league games.

Striker Bamford, with five shots, was as guilty as any of profligacy and was visibly frustrated when he failed to even find the target from Raphinha’s cut-back.

That Rodrigo’s shot from close range failed to find its way over the line before Dawson could clear suggested it was simply not Leeds’ night.

A first top-flight double since 1930 – the stats

• West Ham completed their first league double over Leeds since 1953-54 and their first in the top flight since 1929-30.
• Leeds have lost 13 of their past 14 games in London in all competitions, losing all five in the capital in the league this season.
• West Ham manager David Moyes registered three victories in a row at home in the Premier League for the first time since winning his last six at Everton in 2013.
• No Premier League defender has scored more goals in all competitions this season than West Ham’s Craig Dawson (four).
• West Ham full-back Aaron Cresswell has seven assists this season (in 27 games), his joint-best return in a Premier League season (seven in 36 games in 2017-18).
• No side has faced more penalties in the Premier League this season than Leeds (eight, level with Liverpool).

What’s next?

Leeds host Chelsea on Saturday at 12:30 GMT, while West Ham travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday at 19:15.