West Ham fight back but still lose

West Ham United 3, Leeds United 4 (full-time)

West Ham looked down and out as they trailed Leeds 4-1 at half-time and the pressure on Glenn Roeder looked immense.

But an amazing fightback in the second half by the West Ham players might just have kept their manager in the job a little longer, as they gave everything to the cause, led by inspirational captain Paolo di Canio, and pulled back two goals

Roeder’s players started the day with a huddle but ended it in an exhausted heap as they suffered another home defeat.

The Hammers are the only team in the Premiership yet to win at home this season, and Roeder’s team stood on the edge of the centre circle before kick-off and performed a very public show of unity as they huddled together in a bid to psyche themselves up for another crucial clash.

The match appeared to be all over by half-time as Terry Venables’ Leeds team - themselves looking to restore confidence after taking only two points out of their last 18 before this game – ripped apart West Ham to lead 4-1 and several home fans were already heading for the exits.

But nobody could have foreseen the amazing fightback in the second half, during which Leeds hardly got a touch, and if West Ham had played with that spirit from the first whistle they surely would have recorded that elusive first home win.

Nick Barmby gave Leeds the lead after 11 minutes with the 50th League goal of his career. Ian Pearce’s back-header sold David James short, Harry Kewell lobbed the stranded goalkeeper and Barmby scored with a diving header into an empty net from five yards.

The Hammers equalised after 19 minutes when Michael Carrick’s fierce drive from 25 yards was parried by Paul Robinson and skipper di Canio pounced to tuck home the loose ball from six yards.

But Kewell restored the visitors’ advantage after 27 minutes when he rose highest on the edge of the six-yard box to meet Ian Harte’s corner from the left and scored with a header inside the far post.

Kewell grabbed his second, and Leeds’ third, after 40 minutes when West Ham again failed to clear a Harte corner and he fired home an angled drive from 12 yards.

West Ham’s luck deserted them again in injury-time as James rushed out to clear another weak back-pass, this time from Christian Dailly. The ball rebounded off Mark Viduka and ran towards an empty net. Viduka had all the time in the world to slide the ball home and effectively seal the three points with half the game completed.

Upton Park was a sombre place as the half-time whistle sounded, and the home fans chanted: “What a load of rubbish” but nobody could have predicted the fightback which came in the second half.

After 47 minutes di Canio charged into the Leeds penalty area and went crashing to the floor, but the referee waved play on.

However, a minute later the Italian conned Gary Kelly into tripping him inside the box and this time he was awarded the penalty.

It needed a cool head and di Canio was the man for the moment as he drove home the spot-kick to reduce the deficit.

You couldn’t make it up, as West Ham stunned Leeds with another goal, this time from man in the mask, Trevor Sinclair after 74 minutes, as he played protecting a fractured cheekbone.

Sebastian Schemmel – a half-time replacement for Tomas Repka – curled in a corner from the right and Sinclair rose on the six-yard line to beat Robinson with a header at the near post.

Those fans who had sung “What a load of rubbish” at half-time were suddenly singing the club anthem: “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” as they sensed their team might complete a miraculous comeback.

The miracle never happened, but at least the home fans appreciated the effort and at the final whistle instead of boos they were chanting the name of di Canio - who must surely wonder what he must do to earn an extension to his current contract.

Roeder’s job may well have been preserved but next up at Upton Park are Manchester United in a week‘s time – so only time will tell if this proves to be a temporary stay of execution.