07:57
8 minutes: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
Declan Rice fell to the ground and was injured when Rodrigo caught the Englishman in the face while they were both on the ball. There is no evil in the challenge, though. After a while, Rice is bandaged and the Leeds man gets yellow for his troubles.
07:56
Homage to David Gold at Elland Road
07:55
6 minutes: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
Ayling is a West Ham striker, the ball is above his head in midfield, but the right-back is throwing forward at every opportunity, and the intentions of the hosts are clear.
07:53
5 minutes: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
Leeds started with the brighter and more energetic of the two – they pass the ball well. But after a mistake by Koch in the middle circle as I write, Scamacca enters the goal. West Ham’s striker cuts right and backs up for a shot that is eventually blocked by Leeds backline. The flag was already up, so any goals wouldn’t count.
07:51
3 minutes: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
Early chance for the hosts as Rodrigo enters the penalty area, but Nayef Aguerd’s big challenge just before he can find his shot means Fabianski won’t have to save.
07:49
2 minutes: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
Bad stat for Hammers fans – they lost five in a row…
Good stats for Hammers fans – they’ve won in their last two visits to Yorkshire’s most beautiful city*
*We apologize to those living in York…
07:47
1 min: Leeds 0-0 West Ham
They are driving along a wet and windy Elland Road. Both parties are in their traditional attire – no flashy tops on display.
07:43
The teams took the field
A noisy Elland Road (not when…).
07:39
Jesse Marsch admits to pressure…
…as a Premier League manager…
“It’s incredibly stressful. I try to enjoy the moments, be there for the team and what they need, but I hate stress. Enjoyment is in the people, the players and the relationships we have, the people on the team. staff and extended staff. There’s nothing better than standing still. [technical area] before [first] whistle – right where you want to be. But it’s also terrible.”
07:35
Here’s more on David Gold’s death
David Moyes said…
“I am deeply saddened to hear this news, and on behalf of all the players and my team on the training ground, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of David Gold at this very difficult time.
“Mr. Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and has always been a great source of support and encouragement to me and the players. It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the club and was a true fan at heart. He was always willing to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed.”
READ: West Ham co-owner David Gold dies at 86 after ‘short illness’
07:26
Robin Koch of Leeds speaks…
On the importance of tonight’s match…
“Every game is important to us, even more so when you look at the table. But we have to focus on the game, every game.”
In West Ham…
“They have really good players, they haven’t performed very well in the last few games, but they still have really good players.”
07:17
Here are two teams in black and white
LEEDS XI WILL FACE WEST HAM: Meslier (GK), Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Roca, Adams; Aaronson, Summerville, Gnonto; Rodrigo. Substitutes: Robles, Firpo, Harrison, Llorente, Gyabi, Kristensen, Gelhardt, Greenwood, Klich.
Two changes for the hosts in their tough 0-0 draw with Newcastle. Jack Harrison and Adam Forshaw are replaced by Marc Roca and Crysencio Summerville.
WEST HAM XI WILL FACE LEEDS: Fabianski; Coufal, Kehrer, Dawson, Aguerd; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Paqueta, Fornals; smack Substitutes: Areola, Johnson, Cresswell, Antonio, Lanzini, Downes, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Emerson.
David Moyes has made four changes to the West Ham team, which lost 2-0 to Brentford last time. Pablo Fornals, Thilo Kehrer, Nayef Aguerd and Tomas Souce are in the game and Emerson Palmieri, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma are sent to the bench.
07:08
Gold’s name and image at the London Stadium tonight
07:03
Here are West Ham’s starting 11
07:03
Here is Leeds XI
07:01 PM
West Ham pays tribute to David Gold
This will be a difficult evening for Hammers after co-chairman David Gold passed away at the age of 86.
Gold has been co-owner of David Sullivan since 2010 and grew up opposite Upton Park before playing for West Ham’s youth teams.
David Moyes said, “I am so sorry to hear this news. On behalf of all the players and my team on the training ground, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to David Gold’s family at this very difficult time.
“Mr. Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and has always been a huge source of support and encouragement to me and the players. It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the club and was a true supporter at heart.
“He showed great interest in the people working behind the scenes and was always willing to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed.”
18:58
Scrap to avoid relegation dogfight
By Tom Ward
At the start of this season, not many would have guessed that tonight’s match between Leeds and West Ham would be a relegation breakout, but that’s where we are.
Each has struggled for any consistency thus far in this campaign, and managers will be painfully aware that an upswing in form is necessary given both clubs’ Premier League futures and the managers’ own business.
Leeds has not been able to win the league since the beginning of November and Jesse Marsch continues to have great faith in his young members of his team.
Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto and Sam Greenwood have all already made significant contributions this season, but a relegation dogfight is another matter and if Leeds loses tonight, it’s undeniable that they’re together.
There are some reasons to be cheery though, at least after a tough 0-0 draw with high-flying Newcastle at St James’s Park last weekend. Yes, Newcastle had more than enough chances to win the game but Marsch will have enjoyed the way his team struggled in such a hostile atmosphere.
11 of Leeds’ 16 points this season have come at home, meaning clashes against other sides battling at Elland Road are of paramount importance.
For David Moyes, every match now feels like it matters a lot. West Ham’s loss to Brentford last week marked their fifth consecutive loss in the Premier League and only saved them from the relegation zone on goal difference.
Whether you think their success in recent seasons is an overkill, 17th place is well below expectations for a roster of this quality and Moyes’ time is running out fast.
Fans will be cheered by Gianluca Scammaca’s return from injury against Brentford last week, but if Michail Antonio recovers from a mistake he will definitely be on the way.
Join us for all the team news from 6:45 PM.