It’s the hope that kills you. For a while here at the London Stadium, relegation-threatened Leeds was full of it.
Towards the end, hope gave way to hopelessness – the resignation of what is likely to follow.
When Sam Allardyce was called up to save Leeds with just four games left to play, he is said to have labeled this encounter against his former club as a must-win.
Despite all their efforts, his players failed to perform. As a result, Leeds need a last day miracle.
Indeed, there was no sugarcoating of the situation by Allardyce after the game as he placed the blame directly on his players.
Sam Allardyce knows his team now faces a huge battle to stay in the Premier League
Manuel Lanzini capped off West Ham’s win with a stoppage-time tap
Lanzini drives off to celebrate with West Ham captain Declan Rice after his goal
Jarrod Bowen scored for West Ham in the second half to leave Leeds in the bottom three
Patrick Bamford was forced off after Rice’s equalizer as the striker suffered another injury setback
“There was no impact from the switches. I expected more,” he said.
“I don’t think any of the substitutions made the difference today when we needed them. We didn’t show enough quality.
“We have to look at ourselves and say that if we win next week and miraculously stay in the league, we have a long way to go in terms of quality for the squad.
“I may be unkind to them, but it’s only what my very experienced eyes see at the moment.”
It smacked of a final roll of the dice, a last-ditch effort to shake a reaction out of its players.
Injuries to key duo Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo will only add to fears. Allardyce’s insistence that he may have to change the system if both players are unavailable is another indication of what the veteran coach really thinks of his players.
The 68-year-old is open to staying on next season; after these comments, his players may not be so welcoming to that prospect.
A win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday may not even be enough to save them, should Everton and Leicester get the results they need over the next seven days.
Leeds and Allardyce live by prayer; in the last days of the season – that’s never a good place to be.
The pain was constantly etched all over their faces. They believed.
Three points here and they were in control of their own destiny. They don’t anymore. That’s crushing.
Thanks to West Ham, they turned up when it would have been easier for them not to.
Their season will be decided in Prague next month when they meet Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Here against Leeds they fought when it might have been easier to go through the motions.
Of course, David Moyes wouldn’t accept that. His team is a true embodiment of what the Scotsman stands for: work ethic, courage and honesty.
Moyes came close to being fired three times this season. But here he is – fighting and struggling for every point.
Rodrigo had put Leeds ahead with a stunning volley from a long throw in the 17th minute
Rice equalized for West Ham less than 15 minutes after Rodrigo put Leeds ahead
If they lift their first trophy since 1980 next month, he’ll have earned the right to shape his own future. He deserves that.
That won’t mean much to Leeds and their demoralized supporters at the moment.
For 30 minutes the Yorkshiremen prevailed in a gripping encounter that you couldn’t take your eyes off.
They started with an intensity unidentifiable from the rest of their season.
This meant more to Leeds. This was do-or-die – and you could see that for most of the first half.
Allardyce’s assignment was clear: test the tired West Ham players on Thursday evening after their bet against AZ Alkmaar.
In the 17th minute, their quick start paid off when Rodrigo drove in a relentlessly executed volley straight from Weston McKennie’s long throw.
West Ham’s defense left much to be desired: Rodrigo was unmarked and unchallenged. However, the finish was unstoppable.
Allardyce sprang to his feet before waving a clenched fist in the air accompanied by that unmistakable smile.
The laughter continued on the Hammers bench and found a £5 note on the floor. Allardyce picked it up before offering the money to fourth official Andrew Madley.
The referee saw the funny side; as did Allardyce and his assistant Karl Robinson. They didn’t laugh for long.
The interplay between Lucas Paqueta, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen opened the Leeds defense way too easily.
Similarly, like Rodrigo for the opener, Declan Rice was given too much freedom to finish at the back post in the 31st minute.
Rice was named Hammers of the Year before kickoff. If this is the West Ham skipper’s last appearance at the London Stadium in a burgundy and blue shirt, then he’s signed off in style.
On the ropes, Leeds couldn’t wait for the whistle to blow. Still, West Ham served more of the same after the restart. The grin that came from the Leeds bench during the first half had turned into fearful eyebrows.
Allardyce suffered a stroke in the 65th minute when he felt his team had pushed too hard for their own corner kick.
Rice celebrated for West Ham fans over what may have been his last home appearance as he continues to be linked with a big money transfer this summer
Luke Ayling looked devastated after the final whistle after a disappointing defeat for his team
Big Sam knew what was coming. In the 71st minute – it duly arrived.
Danny Ings’ reverse pass confused the Leeds rear, Bowen did the rest by firing past Robles.
The agony was extended by a VAR check for offside. The roar that followed told you everything you needed to know. West Ham were ahead, Leeds, on the other hand, were on their knees.
The cameras panned to a Leeds fan, his hands fixed on his scalp. He looked shocked, abandoned and emotional. He wasn’t alone.
You expected the Alamo from Leeds, but it never actually arrived, though Crysencio Sumemrville was denied in the 85th minute by a last-ditch Emerson challenge.
By the time Manuel Lanzini added a third in stoppage time, the damage to Leeds’ dream of survival had already been done.
Heap? Hardly for Leeds.