Guardian 21/8/11
Adam Clayton's late strike earns Leeds a deserved draw at West Ham
Championship - West Ham 2 Leeds United 2 Jonny Weeks at Upton Park
Adam Clayton pounced in the 90th minute as Leeds twice fought back from a goal down to earn a point from a colourful clash at the Boleyn Ground. But in a game riddled with penalty appeals, Max Gradel's failure to score the only spot-kick that was awarded might have cost Leeds dearly.
The Ivorian dragged a tame effort wide in the first-half, with Leeds trailing to Carlton Cole's early strike, but second-half goals from Ross McCormack and Clayton rescued a deserved draw for the visitors.
Gradel's abundant talents had attracted the West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, earlier in the summer, though Leeds refused to part with their player of the year last season for the £2.5 million the Hammers offered.
Allardyce's may now reconsider the need for such a player but much, of course, will depend on his ability to retain the services of Scott Parker and Cole.
Cole gave West Ham the advantage in the sixth minute of the match – the Hammers taking an early lead for the third game running – despite the valiant efforts the Leeds goalkeeper Andrew Lonergran, The England striker stabbed home a close-range volley from Matthew Taylor's corner after the visiting keeper had tipped successive headers from Cole and James Tomkins over the bar.
After such a thirsty opening, the Hammers allowed Leeds to settle. Robert Snodgrass clipped the bar with a rising volley for Leeds before Matt Taylor gifted the visitors a needless penalty when he stifled a cross with his right arm, though Gradel's spot-kick bobbled harmlessly past Robert Green's right hand post.
Cole appealed heartily for a West Ham penalty following an injudicious challenge from Aidy White before half-time; the latter seemed at fault as he bundled Cole to the floor with the striker in on goal, but the referee was unmoved.
Leeds began the second half with renewed vigour and had a strong appeal for a penalty denied when Scott Parker's sliding tackle brought White to the turf. If Parker made contact with the ball it was all but impossible to see, leaving the visiting fans incensed.
Leeds finally earned their equaliser in the 59th minute and it was a goal fashioned with stealth and skill. Andy Keogh's cute back-heel fed Snodgrass whose incisive cross was drilled home by McCormack from close range.
But parity did not last long. Within three minutes Patrick Kisnorbo had blasted into his own net from similar range following the substitute Julien Faubert's left-wing cross.
The Hammers might have scored a third and fourth – Winston Reid was denied at point-blank range by Lonergran before Parker's deflected shot nicked the post. But Leeds remained lively to the last and when Jonathan Howson rattled the bar Clayton rammed home the rebound.
Adam Clayton's late strike earns Leeds a deserved draw at West Ham
Championship - West Ham 2 Leeds United 2 Jonny Weeks at Upton Park
Adam Clayton pounced in the 90th minute as Leeds twice fought back from a goal down to earn a point from a colourful clash at the Boleyn Ground. But in a game riddled with penalty appeals, Max Gradel's failure to score the only spot-kick that was awarded might have cost Leeds dearly.
The Ivorian dragged a tame effort wide in the first-half, with Leeds trailing to Carlton Cole's early strike, but second-half goals from Ross McCormack and Clayton rescued a deserved draw for the visitors.
Gradel's abundant talents had attracted the West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, earlier in the summer, though Leeds refused to part with their player of the year last season for the £2.5 million the Hammers offered.
Allardyce's may now reconsider the need for such a player but much, of course, will depend on his ability to retain the services of Scott Parker and Cole.
Cole gave West Ham the advantage in the sixth minute of the match – the Hammers taking an early lead for the third game running – despite the valiant efforts the Leeds goalkeeper Andrew Lonergran, The England striker stabbed home a close-range volley from Matthew Taylor's corner after the visiting keeper had tipped successive headers from Cole and James Tomkins over the bar.
After such a thirsty opening, the Hammers allowed Leeds to settle. Robert Snodgrass clipped the bar with a rising volley for Leeds before Matt Taylor gifted the visitors a needless penalty when he stifled a cross with his right arm, though Gradel's spot-kick bobbled harmlessly past Robert Green's right hand post.
Cole appealed heartily for a West Ham penalty following an injudicious challenge from Aidy White before half-time; the latter seemed at fault as he bundled Cole to the floor with the striker in on goal, but the referee was unmoved.
Leeds began the second half with renewed vigour and had a strong appeal for a penalty denied when Scott Parker's sliding tackle brought White to the turf. If Parker made contact with the ball it was all but impossible to see, leaving the visiting fans incensed.
Leeds finally earned their equaliser in the 59th minute and it was a goal fashioned with stealth and skill. Andy Keogh's cute back-heel fed Snodgrass whose incisive cross was drilled home by McCormack from close range.
But parity did not last long. Within three minutes Patrick Kisnorbo had blasted into his own net from similar range following the substitute Julien Faubert's left-wing cross.
The Hammers might have scored a third and fourth – Winston Reid was denied at point-blank range by Lonergran before Parker's deflected shot nicked the post. But Leeds remained lively to the last and when Jonathan Howson rattled the bar Clayton rammed home the rebound.