West Ham 2-0 Leeds United
by Paul Donovan at the London Stadium

WEST HAM overcame a battling Leeds in a keenly fought FA Cup third round tie at the London Stadium this afternoon. 

West Ham manager David Moyes declared his intent in the FA Cup this year fielding an almost full-strength side for the visit of Leeds. 

The crackling atmosphere on the terraces, though, was not always matched by what was happening on the pitch, with the two sides cancelling each other out for much of the first half. 

An early West Ham sortie saw a Declan Rice cross headed out to Jarrod Bowen, who saw his effort cleared off the line. 

Michail Antonio then skimmed the roof of the net, after picking up a deft lay off from the impressive Nikola Vlasic. 

West Ham took the lead on the half hour, when the same combination saw Vlasic take the ball on in the penalty area. His effort was smothered but in the melee of players the ball came free for the incoming Manuel Lanzini to smash home. 

A VAR investigation found claims for offside to be unproven. 

An exchange of passes between Ryan Fredericks and Bowen saw the defender with the goal at his mercy but his effort was easily pushed aside by Leeds keeper Illan Messlier. 

After the break West Ham continued to press with an impressive cross field ball from Antonio, picked up by Bowen, whose shot was stopped by the legs of Messlier. 

Leeds best two chances fell to Daniel James, first diverting a cross shot over, then repeating the dose with two minutes to go. 

The home side finished the game off in injury time, with Leeds pressing hard for the equaliser, they were hit on the break.
Antonio raced clear, then drawing defenders to him, unselfishly squared for the onrushing Bowen to crash home..  

West Ham manager David Moyes was pleased with his team’s effort on the day, confirming that they want to go as far as possible in the Cup. 

He was though aggrieved at the way he feels his side have been unfairly impeded with the re- arrangement of the Premier League game against Norwich this coming Wednesday. Moyes had hoped to have a clear week to work with the players, after a busy December that saw his team play eight games in all competitions. 

Moyes pointed out that Leeds have had two games postponed due to Covid, and have yet to have one rearranged. West Ham have had the one game postponed (versus Norwich on 18 December) and they are now due to play on Wednesday. 

Leeds return to the London Stadium for a Premier League tie next Sunday, totally rested. 

The West Ham manager was full of praise for Vlasic, who he felt grew into the game. “He is a really conscientious hard-working boy,” said Moyes, who hopes he will take his opportunity now, having joined from CSKA Moscow in the summer. “I think he’ll come good.”