Leeds United - 1 West Ham - 0:English FA Premiership: Lee Bowyer's afternoon back in familiar surroundings ended in bitter anti-climax, lost amid the poisonous taunts of "scum" viciously spat from the stands. For West Ham, reality is just as demoralising this morning though they appear condemned to relatively uncharted territory.
After a decade blowing bubbles with the best, the First Division, and with it the financial calamity of relegation, looms large at the Boleyn. Their gloom deepened by Saturday's defeat in west Yorkshire, visiting players were left clutching at straws.
"At least West Brom scoring late on keeps the pack of four teams together," muttered David James, before seeing sense. "Ultimately, if we keep losing it doesn't matter what the rest do."
That much is depressingly clear. For all Bowyer's bright opening and Joe Cole's tireless effervescence in midfield, this was another dreadful afternoon for Glenn Roeder, standing cross-armed, exasperated and helpless on the touchline. There has been a solitary win in 17 Premiership games. Against patched-up opponents apparently distracted by their own malaise, they rarely threatened another.
Most disturbingly, the attacking bite that was supposed to offer them the edge over fellow stragglers appears blunted. Cole struck a post but the talismanic Paolo Di Canio, who arrived sitting next to the coach driver as if chomping at the bit to play his first game as a Hammer in this arena, was anonymous. Frederic Kanoute, his groin healed to permit a second start since September, was so frustrated that he slapped Seth Johnson with 20 minutes remaining and saw a red card to match the mist.
With the forwards misfiring, defeat was inevitable given the shortcomings at the back. The Londoners have not kept a clean sheet since October and, though Leeds rarely threatened, Johnson's 20-yard drive, which clipped Ian Pearce's backside, was enough.
Guardian Service
LEEDS: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Matteo (Kilgallon 90), Bravo, Kelly, Okon, Seth Johnson, Wilcox, Bakke (McMaster 90), Milner. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Barmby. Booked: Bravo, Okon. Goals: Seth Johnson 20.
WEST HAM: James, Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett (Sinclair 83), Bowyer, Lomas, Carrick (Hutchison 90), Cole, Kanoute, Di Canio (Defoe 73). Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Dailly. Sent Off: Kanoute (70). Booked: Brevett, Bowyer. Attendance: 40,126.
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
