Premier League: Leeds 1-2 West Ham – Ogbonna scores winner

Angelo Ogbonna headed in a goal in the 80th minute to give West Ham their first victory at Elland Road in 20 years and send David Moyes’ side fifth in the Premier League.

However, the visitors, who had won only once on the previous 26 occasions when they had conceded first in a Premier League match, tied when Illan Meslier was unable to stop Tomas Soucek’s gentle header.

In an entertaining game in which both teams created numerous chances, the Leeds goalkeeper atoned for his mistake by avoiding a header from Fabián Balbuena in the second half.

Ogbanna rose at the far post to drive home Aaron Creswell’s handsome free kick that turned out to be the winner.

After Meslier denied Sebastien Haller’s aerial kick, Leeds squandered his best chance to level when Rodrigo headed straight to Lukasz Fabianski from six yards.

While the Hammers have now won four games out of five and look destined for a good season under David Moyes, Leeds continues to flatter to cheat.

Although their adventurous approach is admirable, they are still trapped by wise opposition.

They have now accumulated eight points in the last nine games and only one of their last four at home.

VAR makes its mark again

It seems like a long time ago when the debate about the introduction of video technology in football and one of the arguments against was that there would be nothing left to talk about.

Fabianski and Hammers captain Declan Rice had a lot to talk about with referee Michael Oliver when they criticized the decision to allow Klich a second chance to beat his Poland teammate.

To be fair, goalkeepers on your line at penalties is one of those so-called practice where the video assistant referee has to excel. Fabianski was, marginally, out of line when Klich first stepped forward and never returned.

In that sense, VAR Jarred Gillett got it right.

The problem here was how long it took. From the time the initial penalty was awarded until the second was dispatched, four minutes elapsed. However, the total detention time at the end of that opening period was only two minutes.

Little did they know at the time, but it was to mark the climax of the Leeds night.

While the table still shows quite a sizable gap with the four-team group in the thick of the relegation fight, the Christmas games against Burnley and West Brom must be won so Leeds doesn’t end up in trouble.

More to follow.