Premier League

West Ham United 2 (Lingard 21, Dawson 28)

Leeds United 0

West Ham: Fabianski, Cresswell, Coufal, Fornals, Diop, Soucek, Rice, Dawson, Benrahma (Bowen 73), Lingard (Johnson 87), Soucek, Antonio. Subs: Martin, Trott, Balbuena, Lanzini, Noble, Odubeko.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Dalllas, Phillips, Klich (Alioski 45), Roberts (Rodrigo 60), Costa (Harrison 45), Raphinha, Bamford.  Subs: Caprile, Poveda, Davis, Berardi, Jenkins, Huggins.

Two first half goals saw Leeds United suffer defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham United.

Leeds started the game brightly, following some good play by Luke Ayling and Matuesz Klich, Helder Costa broke into the box and fired a fierce strike just over.

The Whites almost made a breakthrough in the sixth minute, when Tyler Roberts had the ball in the back, however following a VAR check, Costa was adjudged to have been offside in the build up by the tightest of margins.

Two minutes later, Leeds saw a second goal ruled out, this time Patrick Bamford fired home from close range, but Raphinha had taken the ball out of play prior to his cross.

Despite Leeds’ dominant start, it was West Ham who went ahead in the 21st minute.  Jesse Lingard fell over the leg of Luke Ayling and was awarded a penalty.  After seeing his spot kick denied by Illan Meslier, he was on hand to convert the rebound.

West Ham nearly doubled their lead from a free kick on the edge of the box, with Aaron Cresswell seeing his strike deflect just inches wide.

From the resulting corner, the Hammers did double their lead, with Craig Dawson heading home at the back post.

Following their two goals West Ham continued to push forward, with Said Benrahma and Lingard firing off target.

Meslier was then forced into a really smart stop as Benrahma unleashed an effort from 25 yards, that was headed for the bottom corner if not for the Frenchman.

In stoppage time, West Ham nearly added a third from another corner, but this time Dawson hit the post.

HALF TIME: WEST HAM UNITED 2-0 LEEDS UNITED

Marcelo Bielsa introduced Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison at the break, as he looked to get Leeds back into the match.

The Whites almost made the perfect start to the second half, Diego Llorente sent Bamford through on goal, but he could only curl his strike wide.

Next, Raphinha tried a spectacular bicycle kick and only a brilliant save by Lukasz Fabianski denied him.

At the other end, West Ham continued to show their threat, with Pablo Fornals hitting the crossbar with a long-range half volley.

Benrahma then struck wide for the hosts from distance, before Bamford fired off target from the edge of the box.

The Hammers threatened at a free kick, with only two fine blocks by Bamford and Phillips denying Declan Rice, before Raphinha once more forced Fabianski into action as Leeds looked to hit back.

Ayling saw a strike well blocked following a Leeds corner, whilst Rice struck just wide for the hosts after a free kick on the edge of the box.

With 13 minutes of regular time remaining, Leeds had another really good chance.  Raphinha picked out Bamford in the middle of the box, but he was leaning back and couldn’t keep his strike down.

In the closing stages Leeds United continued to press with Rodrigo striking just over from 25 yards and Kalvin Phillips taking a shot from distance that went just wide of the post.

West Ham managed to keep hold of their clean sheet in the end though, taking all three points.

FULL TIME: WEST HAM UNITED 2-0 LEEDS UNITED

Booked: Phillips (Leeds) Lingard (West Ham)

Referee: M. Dean

Venue: London Stadium

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors