Lee Bowyer's eagerly-anticipated return to Elland Road ended in defeat as his old Leeds team-mates proved he is now yesterday's man.

Seth Johnson, playing in the attacking midfield role which Bowyer once made his own during his six-and-a-half year reign at the club prior to his transfer-window switch to West Ham a month ago, scored the only goal of the game.

It was Johnson's first for Leeds since his £7million move from Derby 16 months ago and one which plunges the Hammers and Bowyer deeper into the relegation mire.

To rub salt into West Ham's wounds, they will also be without Freddie Kanoute for three games following the Frenchman's 70th-minute red card for slapping Johnson round the back of the head in an off-the-ball incident.

It added further spice to a game which had simmered before kick-off for despite the hopes of Leeds boss Terry Venables and Hammers counterpart Glenn Roeder that Bowyer be given a good reception by Leeds supporters, that was far from the case.

As soon as Bowyer stepped off the West Ham coach and made his way inside a ground which used to be his haunt, they vented their anger.

Cries of "scum" and "Judas", along with a loud, long chorus of boos, whistles and jeers greeted Bowyer, and it set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

His every touch of the ball was met with further boos, and when Johnson rifled Leeds into a 20th-minute lead, it led to a chorus of "Bowyer, Bowyer what's the score?"

With a touch of irony, and with a sense of humour, that was followed moments later by a chant of "He's going down, he's going down, Bowyer's going down."

It referred to the Hammers' impending plunge into the Nationwide League, yet not so long ago it was a taunt which echoed around grounds throughout the country during Bowyer's high-profile trials.

Bowyer may now face the spectre of relegation with his boyhood heroes, but he is unlikely to embark "on a Nationwide tour" as the Leeds fans also sang.

The 26-year-old only signed a short-term contract until the end of the season, so it is more than likely he will move on again when the transfer window re-opens in the summer.

Roeder had hoped Bowyer would prove a catalyst for his seemingly-doomed side, and recapture the form which inspired Leeds on their adventurous way to the semi-finals of the Champions League, despite the dashes he used to make from Hull Crown Court to Elland Road.

But even on old familiar ground Bowyer was still a shadow of his former self.

In the opening few minutes he was twice denied, firstly as he was outmuscled on the edge of the area by Michael Duberry, and then by an outstretched clearance from the right boot of Spain international Raul Bravo just when Bowyer was ready to pounce.

The left back, on loan from Real Madrid for the remainder of the season and with a further touch of irony wearing Bowyer's old number 11 shirt, adapted well on his debut.

Worse followed for Bowyer early in the second half. It antagonistic streak led to a booking as he protested too long for referee Dermot Gallagher's liking, appealing in vain for nothing more than a corner, with the caution leading to another caustic chorus from the home faithful.

For West Ham, the situation became worse when Kanoute was dismissed following his altercation with Johnson, one from which they never recovered.

Leeds were by far the better side in the first half and deserved the lead afforded them by Johnson's searing strike from 22 yards which squirmed under the hand of David James.

James, apparently due to start for England in Wednesday's friendly with Australia at Upton Park, had previously showed why as he just managed to tip wide at full stretch an inadvertent goal-bound flick from Tomas Repka.

Eirik Bakke, playing up front again alongside James Milner due to Venables being without all his strikers, and Gary Kelly both came close to doubling the lead before the break.

The visitors, though, had the chances to equalise after the restart, with Joe Cole first striking the post and then James' main rival for the England goalkeeping spot in Paul Robinson pulling off the save of the game to deny the Hammers midfielder.

Leeds, though, still looked comfortable and but for a drive from Jermain Defoe - on as a 73rd minute substitute for Paolo di Canio - at Robinson, it failed to prevent the home side from ending a run of four Premiership games without a win.

But it came at a price as skipper Dominic Matteo and Bakke were both stretchered off in the closing stages with hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

Teams

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Matteo (Kilgallon 90), Bravo, Kelly, Okon, Seth Johnson, Wilcox, Bakke (McMaster 90), Milner.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Barmby.

Booked: Bravo, Okon.

Goals: Seth Johnson 20.

West Ham: James, Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett (Sinclair 83), Bowyer, Lomas, Carrick (Hutchison 90), Cole, Kanoute, Di Canio (Defoe 73).

Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Dailly.

Sent Off: Kanoute (70).

Booked: Brevett, Bowyer.

Att: 40,126

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).