Aaronson And Rodon Punish Woeful West Ham As Leeds Race To Victory

If Nuno Espírito Santo had considered a relaxing cruise aft being sacked by Nottingham Forest, he yet sewage to bask nan emotion by watching his West Ham defence look each astatine oversea while nan driving rainfall was his water spray. Two lapses successful attraction wrong nan opening 4th of an hr gave Leeds triumph and further highlighted that nan Hammers are successful a relegation battle.

West Ham beryllium 2nd bottommost of nan Premier League 9 games into nan season, and their only triumph came against their existent caput coach. They had nan mostly of nan shot astatine Elland Road and were yet rewarded pinch a precocious consolation extremity from Manuel Fernandes, but nan stuttering commencement nether Nuno continues, acknowledgment to early close-range strikes from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon.

Considering nan 2 sides could boast 1 triumph betwixt them successful their past 10 games, that coming for Leeds against bottommost nine Wolves, nan hopes for intermezo were not precocious wrong Elland Road. The hosts, however, made a accelerated start, helped by having a group structure, while West Ham were still trying to activity retired theirs nether Nuno.

As nan timepiece ticked past 3 completed minutes, nan Hammers’ vulnerability was already clear. A heavy Jayden Bogle transverse was headed on nan six-yard statement and Aaronson was nan only 1 to react, while nan Hammers defenders were each inevitably stood successful nan incorrect place. Nuno is known for being capable to organise a defence, truthful will beryllium profoundly worried by nan disorder suffered erstwhile trying to defender their ain goal. West Ham are reliant connected their astir talented individuals to nutrient nan moments that support them successful matches. Jarrod Bowen did his champion pinch an acrobatic overhead footwear but it was consecutive astatine nan recalled Lucas Perri successful nan Leeds goal. It was nan first denotation that a title mightiness return place.

The chants of “Sack nan board” had already started successful nan distant extremity by nan clip Sean Longstaff’s 15th-minute area recovered Rodon unmarked 5 yards from goal, acknowledgment to Lucas Paquetá’s dismal effort astatine staying tight. It was different lawsuit of players failing to do basal protect duties. Nuno turned away, looking heavy successful thought arsenic nan Yorkshire rainfall pounded down. Maybe taking clip disconnected aft leaving Nottingham Forest would person been much relaxing.

Joe Rodon plants his header beyond Alphonse Areola arsenic West Ham concede astatine a ninth area this season, already a Premier League record. Photograph: Richard Sellers/Getty Images/Allstar

Ollie Scarles was replaced successful nan 25th infinitesimal aft a lengthy hold while aesculapian unit dealt pinch what appeared to beryllium a superior enarthrosis injury. Nuno sent connected striker Callum Wilson to extremity nan inverted full-backs experiment, successful nan hopeless dream it could alteration nan guidance of nan match.

West Ham were opening to show intent and Paquetá thought he had made immoderate grade of amends for his non-marking erstwhile he rifled nan shot into nan tile of nan nett aft a Bogle clearance was blocked by Wilson into nan Brazilian’s path. The emblem belatedly went up, followed by a bizarrely agelong video adjunct referee cheque caused by technological nonaccomplishment – somewhat explaining nan 13 minutes of added clip successful nan first half – erstwhile it was clear Paquetá was offside.

If West Ham could support nan momentum they had built precocious successful nan opening period, they had a chance. Maybe it was nan elongation of nan lucifer but neither broadside were capable to find hit instantly aft nan break, regularly losing nan shot and incapable to find a important last transportation erstwhile required.

It was nan visitors looking nan much vulnerable successful nan last 3rd but nan deficiency of invention was intelligibly frustrating Paquetá, who was booked for remonstrating pinch nan referee Stuart Attwell. The Brazilian’s irritation was complete a throw-in fixed against him, which was each alternatively pointless.

Leeds were ceding possession to West Ham, happy to hold to deed them connected nan counterattack. Luring nan Hammers successful almost worked erstwhile Aaronson won nan shot backmost heavy successful his ain half and dribbled 60 yards to nan separator of nan guidance box, from wherever he thrashed a changeable that was deflected connected to nan bar. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who opted against taking nan knee earlier kick-off, Leeds besides had nan action to spell nonstop and fto nan striker clasp up nan ball. It was a smart outlet to alteration nan move successful an instant.

Leeds were capable to support West Ham astatine arm’s length, until Fernandes’ 90th-minute headed flick brought a level of intrigue to wounded time. By being beingness and aggressive, Leeds cognize what they are doing nether Daniel Farke, who has been successful complaint for much than 2 years. Nuno has had only 4 matches but already knows nan imaginable of bringing calmer waters to eastbound London is simply a very difficult task.