Leeds slipped closer to relegation from the Premier League after a 3-1 defeat against West Ham in their penultimate game of the season on Sunday.
🗣️ “Very disappointed. The second half is just not good enough. We can’t seem to go again, we put so much into the first half and have nothing.”
Luke Ayling says Leeds United ran out of steam in the second half against West Ham. pic.twitter.com/p85Es3ShJu
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 21, 2023
Sam Allardyce’s side blew the lead at the London Stadium as Rodrigo’s opener was erased by goals from Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini.
Leeds remain third bottom and are two points adrift of fourth bottom Everton, with both teams having just one game left.
Even if Leeds beat Tottenham at home on the final day of the season, the Yorkshire club would still be relegated if Everton win their last game against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Leeds, whose goal difference is three worse than Everton’s, are likely to need the Toffees to lose to have a chance of staying up.
Second bottom Leicester, three points from safety, have slender hopes of avoiding relegation with games at Newcastle on Monday and West Ham on the final day.
Leeds, who last played in the Championship in 2020, have lost twice and drawn once in three games since Allardyce replaced the sacked Javi Gracia earlier this month.
“We haven’t shown the quality when needed. So next week has to be much better to beat Tottenham. That’s all we can do,” Allardyce said.
“The players need to roll their sleeves up, apply themselves in the right way, beat Tottenham and hope other results go in our favour.”
Allardyce had labelled Leeds’ trip to his former club West Ham as a “cup final”.
But the defeat means Leeds need a repeat of last season’s final day escape when they won at Brentford to climb out of the bottom three.
Just three days after beating AZ Alkmaar to reach the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, West Ham made six changes.
Leeds scented a chance to seize the momentum and they took it the 17th minute with a goal straight from Allardyce’s favoured direct game-plan.
Weston McKenzie’s long throw reached Rodrigo in the heart of the West Ham area and the Spanish striker volleyed a fine finish past Lukasz Fabianski.
Despite having little to play for with their own safety secured, West Ham responded well and Joel Robles had to use his legs to save Tomas Soucek’s close-range effort.
– Leeds prayers unanswered –
A section of Leeds’ travelling support had come to east London dressed as nuns, but if Allardyce was hoping for divine intervention in the relegation battle, his prayers were not answered.
In what could be his final home game for the club amid speculation linking him with Arsenal, West Ham captain Rice equalised in the 32nd minute, meeting Bowen’s cross with a cool finish at the far post.
Leeds suffered another blow when injury-plagued striker Patrick Bamford limped off.
West Ham enjoyed total dominance after the equaliser, with Robles making good saves to deny Emerson, Lucas Paqueta and Soucek.
Allardyce’s men finally cracked again in the 72nd minute when Danny Ings’ pass teed up Bowen for a deft strike that survived a VAR check for offside.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Brighton secured European football for the first time in their history with a 3-1 win against Southampton.
🔵 Brighton have qualified for European football — it’s the first time in the club’s history. #BHAFC
Huge achievement for the club, players and for the coach Roberto de Zerbi. pic.twitter.com/8wfhMepSwf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 21, 2023
Brighton’s Evan Ferguson netted with composed strikes in the 29th and 40th minutes.
Mohamed Elyounoussi got one back for already-relegated Southampton after 58 minutes, but Pascal Gross wrapped up the Seagulls’ victory.
Roberto De Zerbi’s sixth-placed side will ensure they play in the Europa League if they take a point from their last two games against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
🗣️ “We want to play in the Europa League, not in the Conference League.”
Roberto De Zerbi sends a message to the Brighton fans. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/4w8fNVNiqu
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 21, 2023
Brighton’s vastly superior goal difference to seventh placed Villa should ensure they don’t drop into the Europa Conference League regardless of their last two matches.
Later on Sunday, Manchester City will stage their title-winning party when Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium.
City were crowned champions for the fifth time in the last six seasons on Saturday after second placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Pep Guardiola’s side are set to be presented with the trophy as they celebrate a third successive title.
MANCHESTER CITY ARE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AGAIN 💙💙💙💙💙💙pic.twitter.com/RNZ7GnSScb
— 17 (@DxBruyneSZN) May 21, 2023
smg/pb
© Agence France-Presse