Premier League
West Ham United 2-0 Leeds United 

Monday, 8th March 2021
by Chris Wilkerson

West Ham United kept the pressure on the pack above them as a 2-0 home victory against Leeds United put them back in fifth place, and with a game in hand on those ahead of them.



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Player Ratings

Lukasz Fabianski
Not tested in the first half, he stood up to the challenge in the second. Some great saves, came out well and even the ball across the box that Coufal put in, it was his rushing figure that put off the Leeds forward.


Vladimir Coufal
Solid and unspectacular, the calling card of an old-school defender who relishes the challenge of defending.


Aaron Cresswell
To his credit, the assist might be eye-catching but Cresswell did really well defensively, making important headers at the back post and standing up to Raphinha well. The corners were whipped in dangerously, a dream for someone to meet because the pace of the ball does much of the work.


Craig Dawson
The defence may be a little concerned about the amount of chances Leeds had, but the two big interventions at either end settled the game, and it was Dawson once more proving a vital cog.


Issa Diop
Going from strength-to-strength since returning to the team and making a mockery of calls to sell him on the cheap. Long legs get to things they shouldn?EUR(TM)t, in a way not dissimilar to Kouyate.


Declan Rice
A poor start was soon forgotten as Dec showed his class against a midfield nowhere near his level. Showed his defensive ability before getting into the box-to-box style that is balancing really well with the pair in the middle. His freekicks still need a lot of work, and probably a word from an experienced player.


Tomas Soucek
In the wars this evening, kicked around by Leeds player and colliding with a post too, but his defensive work in the middle stood out. A little sloppy with his passing, 63% accuracy is not good, but went box-to-box when the game suited it, before settling in to defend when the team required.


Pablo Fornals
Oh that volley deserved more! As ever, Pablo got everywhere, running endlessly, a part of the defensive work one second and then the attacking moves the next. His movement and positional sense is a joy.


Jesse Lingard
Excellent in that first half dominance, he looked tired in the second half, and the flicks and turns that had worked in the opening 45 were not coming off in the second. Gets a rest next week, which is probably deserved, as he cannot play against Manchester United. The penalty was awful, and hopefully proves he should leave them to others. But when we were good, he was key to it.


Said Benrahma
He and Lingard have proven before that they complement each other well, and Fornals added to that mix well. Benrahma has balance that opponents struggle to match and he makes space for himself brilliantly whilst on the move. Some will find his shooting frustrating, but we do need the threat of those efforts so as to keep the defence guessing.


Michail Antonio
This game was pretty typical of Antonio. Moments of brilliance, wonderful strength and great runs, worked hard and held the ball up. Then a pass awry or a simple touch goes wrong. And in moments where he looks to have lost a battle, he pops up with the ball. Did his job, worked the defence but little to feed on for goals.



Substitutes

Jarrod Bowen
(Replaced Benrahma, 72) By the time he came on, the side had mostly given up attacking, but he ran hard, offered energy in attacking runs and helping the defence. Did his job.


Ben Johnson
(Replaced Lingard, 86) Barely anything to do in a game with little time left and all the energy sucked from it.


David Martin
Did not play.


Nathan Trott
Did not play.


Fabian Balbuena
Did not play.


Mark Noble
Did not play.


Manuel Lanzini
Did not play.


Ademipo Odubeko
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Issa Diop, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Pablo Fornals, Jesse Lingard, Said Benrahma, Michail Antonio.

Goals: Jesse Lingard 21 Craig Dawson 27                .

Booked: Jesse Lingard 79          .

Sent off: None.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Dalllas, Phillips, Klich (Alioski 45), Roberts (Rodrigo 60), Costa (Harrison 45), Raphinha, Bamford.

Subs not used: Caprile, Poveda, Davis, Berardi, Jenkins, Huggins.

Goals: .

Booked: Phillips (49).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Mike Dean.

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: Craig Dawson.