West Ham 2 Leeds 2

West Ham were unchanged here, with the same first eleven that started against Watford.

Some early pressure from West Ham paid off for the home side. In the 5th minute a Cole header was tipped over the bar for a corner. From the corner Tomkins' header was also tipped over. However from the following corner Cole volleyed the ball home from 7 yards.

Leeds then responded very well to going behind and had the best of the rest of the half, with Gradel looking the best player on the pitch, making good runs down both wings. In the 10th minute Gradel forced Green into a save from 6 yards. In the 12th minute Snodgrass fired in a rasping shot from wide in the penalty area, that clipped the bar as it headed over the goal.

Leeds' pressure was rewarded in the 27th minute when Taylor clearly handled in the area. Luckily for West Ham, the otherwise impressive Gradel, fired his penalty kick wide of the left hand post.

At the other end Cole was unlucky not to have earned a penalty himself when he was taken down inside the area after a great run into the box. Unfortunately the ref saw it as a clean challenge on Cole.

In the 33rd minute Gradel almost atoned for his penalty miss with a great shot from 30 yards that a diving Green just managed to tip around the post. Despite Leeds pressure however West Ham managed to hold on and head into the break a goal to the good.


Early in the second half Leeds dominated the play. In the 48th minute they had another good shout for a penalty when a Parker sliding tackle in the area looked to have taken more of the player than the ball. In the 51st minute Green did well to rush out and block a shot from Keogh, who was clean through. The ball rebounded to McCormack who fired just over from 15 yards.

In the 59th minute Leeds' pressure paid off when McCormack finished off a good Leeds move with a goal from 9 yards. However it looked like it would be West Ham's day when just two minutes later a Faubert (on for Collison) cross from the right wing was put into his own net by Kisnorbo from 8 yards.

West Ham had a number of opportunities after that to extend their lead, particularly from corners, where Tomkins was winning everything at the far post. With minutes left Nolan had a brilliant opportunity to tie up the game after Piquionne managed to flick on a header at the near post. The ball fell to Nolan just two yards out but the ball ran through his legs.

Then in injury time Howson shot against the crossbar, the ball fell to McCormack who shot home from 12 yards.


West Home looked second best for much of this game and Leeds certainly deserved their point.