LONDON-West Ham United maintained their push\u00a0for\u00a0a top-four finish as goals by Jesse Lingard\u00a0and\u00a0Craig Dawson earned them a 2-0 home victory over Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lingard converted a rebound from his own saved penalty in the 21st minute for his fourth goal in six appearances since arriving on loan from Manchester United. Dawson headed in West Ham\u2019s second goal seven minutes later to help his side up to fifth spot with 48 points from 27 games. David Moyes\u2019s side are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game less. Leeds twice had goals ruled out before West Ham scored and squandered several good opportunities to get back into the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end a frustrating night for Marcelo Bielsa\u2019s side left them in 11th spot. England forward Lingard arrived at West Ham with something of a point to prove after slipping down the pecking order at Old Trafford and he has not disappointed. The 28-year-old has given Moyes a different attacking option alongside the power of Michail Antonio and is clearly enjoying himself since his move to east London. His surging run into the penalty area in the 20th minute caught Luke Ayling flat-footed and the Leeds defender stuck out a leg to bring Lingard down for a clear penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lingard\u2019s penalty was poor though and Illan Meslier made a save, only for the ball to squirm from his grasp and back out for a relieved Lingard to convert at the second attempt. It was against the run of play because Leeds had twice had goals ruled out, firstly when Helder Costa played in Tyler Roberts to score, but Costa was ruled offside with a VAR check going fractionally West Ham\u2019s way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patrick Bamford then fired in at the near post but the ball had just gone out of play before Raphinha\u2019s cut-back. \u201cLeeds caused us problems, two disallowed goals, we had to wake up and get into the game,\u201d West Ham skipper Declan Rice said. \u201cWe could have been one or two goals down and that would have been hard to come back against a team like Leeds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Ham doubled their lead when Dawson escaped his marker from Aaron Cresswell\u2019s corner and headed in from close range. Leeds still looked a threat after the break and West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski had to tip over Raphinha\u2019s deflected overhead kick while Bamford scooped a great chance over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawson cleared off the line late on from Rodrigo\u2019s weak effort, although West Ham could have added to their tally when Pablo Fornals thumped a dipping shot against the crossbar. Leeds ended up with 17 attempts at goal and Bielsa felt they deserved something from the game. \u201cWe had the first 15 minutes in the first half which was the best for us in the game. In the second half the dominance was continuous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Chelsea extended their impressive turnaround under new coach Thomas Tuchel with a 2-0 home win over in-form Everton as Kai Havertz played a key role in both goals on his return to the starting 11. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON-West Ham United maintained their push\u00a0for\u00a0a top-four finish as goals by Jesse Lingard\u00a0and\u00a0Craig Dawson earned them a 2-0 home victory over Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday. Lingard converted a rebound from his own saved penalty in the 21st minute for his fourth […]<\/p>\n
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