● HIGH FIVE FOR HAMMERS:
Ogbonna delivers a late show for Moyes
ANGELO OGBONNA headed home a second goal in three games as West Ham came from behind to win at Elland Road.
Victory for David Moyes’s Hammers came late in an thoroughly entertaining encounter and moved them into fifth place ahead of today’s Premier League matches.
Just once in 26 previous times they have gone behind have West Ham left with three points. But after Matuesz Klich’s penalty and Tomasz Soucek’s first half header cancelled each other out, Ogbonna’s powerful 80th- minute header sunk a spirited Leeds.
Leeds had been without a win in four at Elland Road while David Moyes’s side have given up eight points from winning positions already this season – a fact that made their position in the table all the more creditable if frustrating.
After a dazzling start, the realisation that there are no points for artistic impression has led to some more workmanlike displays.
Yet even with a less swashbuckling style they still commit forward quickly and they got off to the perfect start here albeit with a little little help from VAR, Klich converting from the spot at the second attempt.
There was no need for Stockley Park’s intervention to award a penalty in the first minute, Patrick Bamford brought down by Lucasz Fabianski after being rounded after a fine Liam Cooper ball.
But after a dreadful first attempt was saved by the Hammers goalkeeper, Michael Oliver was informed that he had inched off his line before the ball was kicked.
It was a marginal decision – a matter of an inch or two perhaps – but given the chance again Klich buried it the other way. West Ham have got used to taking the lead this season, opening the scoring in their last six league outings before last night but they proved resilient despite going behind and were level on 23 minutes after a howler by Ilian Meslier.
Jarrod Bowen had won a corner on the right flank and his dead ball to the far post was met with a firm but far from unstoppable header from Tomas Soucek rising above Stuart Dallas. The connection was decent, but it was straight at Meslier whose airy waft failed to stop it going in. On balance of play it was fair to the Hammers. Buoyed by the break, West Ham started to cause problems, Bowen had been a constant threat and Said Benrahma was lively too.
But collectively they struggled to trouble Meslier further. Bielsa made a couple of changes at half- time, bringing on Helda Costa and Jamie Shackleton and they started brightly, Bamford having a decent turn and shot within minutes. It was begging for a winner which Ogbonna provided with a rocket header. LEEDS Meslier 4; Dallas 5, Ayling 8, Cooper 7, Alioski 4 ( Shackleton 46, 5); Raphinha 5, Klich 6, Phillips 6, Harrison 5 ( Costa 46, 6); Bamford 7 ( Roberts 74), Rodrigo 5. Klich 6 pen.
Fabianski 5; Coufal 6, Ogbonna 6, Balbuena 6, Cresswell 6; Rice 6, Soucek 7; Bowen 7 ( Johnson 85), Benrahma 6 ( Noble 84), Fornals 4 ( Snodgrass 90); Haller 6. Soucek 25, Ogbonna 80.