Yorkshire | Leeds United get first home win since opening day

Leeds United 2 - 1 West Ham United

Leeds finally found home comfort in again, ending a long wait for victory aand deepening the gloom surrounding a struggling West Ham.

Author | Oliver W

Stadium | Elland Road 

Daniel Farke’s team climbed to 13th with the win, while West Ham remain marooned in the bottom two after suffering a seventh defeat in nine league matches.

A closer look at what happened

Brenden Aaronson needed only three minutes to put the hosts ahead, capitalising on slack defending after Noah Okafor’s header was pushed out. Joe Rodon then doubled the advantage just past the quarter hour, rising unchallenged to meet a Sean Longstaff corner. It marked the earliest Leeds had established a two-goal lead in the top flight for more than two decades.

The visitors were again undone by defensive lapses, with Ollie Scarles and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at fault for the opener, and Jean-Clair Todibo slow to react at the set piece that led to the second. Supporters have grown increasingly frustrated with the club’s direction, empty seats and protests marking the recent loss to Brentford at the London Stadium, and those who travelled to Yorkshire endured another night bereft of encouragement.

Mateus Fernandes offered the faintest of late consolations in the 90th minute, yet it could not prevent a third straight defeat in what is now West Ham’s worst top-flight start since the early 1970s. Nuno Espirito Santo remains winless after four matches in charge, his task made tougher by an injury to the young defender Scarles and a Lucas Paqueta finish ruled out by VAR. A lengthy stoppage after those incidents contributed to 13 minutes of added time to close a bleak first half for the visitors.

Farke's side bring the fire

Leeds arrived with concerns over their lack of cutting edge, having struggled for goals across their opening eight league fixtures. The Premier League's most porous defence offered welcome relief. Daniel Farke’s team wasted no time in taking full advantage.

Brenden Aaronson was central to the early dominance, marking his first top-flight goal since August 2022 and striking the bar during a powerful burst from midfield. West Ham’s shortcomings at set pieces resurfaced once more, with Joe Rodon’s header making it nine goals conceded from corners already this season. No side has shipped more at this stage of a Premier League campaign.

Leeds carved out further chances to stretch their lead, with Ethan Ampadu, Okafor and Jack Harrison all going close. At the other end they stood firm, defending with resolve to ensure the visitors offered little threat as the contest drew to a close.