Leeds boss David O'Leary punched the air in delight as Leeds claimed the final place in next season's Champions League.

O'Leary was on the pitch with the rest of his team when news of Bradford's win over Liverpool meant the Yorkshireman had secured the European place that had seemed destined to be theirs for so long this season.

In the top two from September until April, Leeds had stumbled with a run of six straight defeats that saw their UEFA Cup dreams shattered amidst the tragedy of the death of two of their supporters in Istanbul.

A season that had promised so much suddenly promised nothing, but O'Leary's youngsters gathered themselves to finish the season with an unbeaten run to hold off the challenge of Gerard Houllier's side.

The result at Upton Park was in the end immaterial given Bradford's win at Valley Parade.

But that did not prevent a frantic end to the game with Marc-Vivien Foe sent off in injury time in what could be his last game for the club.

Foe, close to sealing a move to Lyon in the summer, blatantly kicked Matthew Jones as he lay on the ground in the penalty area and was deservedly dismissed by referee Graham Barber, although Jones was lucky to escape unpunished after he appeared to land the first kick.

It meant an unsavoury end to a passionate game that always threatened to boil over, with the magnitude of what was at stake obvious to Leeds.

Wilcox had the first sight of goal in the second minute but his header from Gary Kelly's cross was safely over Stephen Bywater's crossbar.

The visitors were enjoying the majority of the possession but clear-cut chances were at a premium as West Ham fought hard to go out on a high in front of their own supporters.

After 11 minutes Harry Kewell and Michael Bridges worked a good opening on the right-hand side of the area, Kewell pulling the ball back intelligently only for Jones' shot to be blocked and Danny Mills to blast the follow-up wide.

The home side's first opening came on 16 minutes as Steve Potts tried to find Frederic Kanoute with a delicate chip into the area but Nigel Martyn was quickly off his line to gather.

Seconds later Martyn and Kelly were involved in a slanging match after the goalkeeper failed to come for a ball Kelly thought he should have, forcing the Republic of Ireland international to hack the ball clear.

From the resulting corner Rio Ferdinand got on the end of Paolo di Canio's centre but Martyn had recovered his composure in time to save at his near post.

John Moncur, always seemingly involved in any flashpoints, was then booked by referee Barber for another foul as the home side turned in a fully committed display despite having nothing to play for.

Paulo Wanchope came closest to the opener after 22 minutes, flashing a drive past Martyn's far post after being put through by di Canio, while at the other end Stephen McPhail screwed a left-foot volley wide.

O'Leary was forced to make a change just before the half-hour mark, Alan Smith replacing Bridges up front before Mills joined Moncur in the referee's notebook.

For the most part Kewell had been effectively chaperoned by Igor Stimac and Ferdinand at the back and it took until the 42nd minute for the dynamic Australian to get a clear sight of goal.

Smith climbed highest to flick on Mills' long clearing header and Kewell always had the pace to hold off Stimac, but from a tight angle he could not beat Bywater and the Hammers keeper beat away his left-foot drive.

Kewell began the second half with a speculative shot well wide but the Leeds fans were still celebrating news of Bradford's half-time lead over Liverpool courtesy of their former player David Wetherall.

Kewell then looked to have put Smith in the clear but just as the youngster shaped to shoot Ferdinand threw himself at the ball and did enough to put Smith off, his shot trickling harmlessly to Bywater.

A moment of hesitation then almost cost Leeds dear, Lucas Radebe and Martyn debating who should collect Mills' back header, allowing di Canio' to collect the ball and round the keeper, but his pull back across the six-yard line found no-one in a claret and blue shirt.

The Italian was veering between the sublime and ridiculous, almost talking himself into a booking as the referee booked Kanoute and then producing two impudent back heels to release Moncur, the second of which saw the midfielder force a good save from Martyn.

Seconds later di Canio turned Kelly inside out on the edge of the area before chipping a superb left-foot shot that flew inches wide of Martyn's far post, although the keeper did look to have it covered.

Lee Bowyer then replaced Eirik Bakke and promptly got himself booked within three minutes of coming on.

West Ham were a much more potent force in the second half but Leeds could not afford to rely on the result at Valley Parade.

Kewell put Jason Wilcox through with five minutes remaining but Steve Potts made a last-ditch lunge at the ball that was enough to distract Wilcox, who could only stab the ball straight at Bywater.

Teams:

West Ham: Bywater, Margas, Ferdinand, Stimac, Potts, Sinclair, Foe, Moncur, Di Canio, Wanchope, Kanoute.

Subs Not Used: Feuer, A. Newton, McCann, Alexander, Forbes.

Sent Off: Foe (90).

Booked: Moncur, Kanoute.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Radebe, Mills, Jones, Bakke (Bowyer 78), McPhail, Wilcox (Huckerby 88), Bridges (Smith 29), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Duberry.

Booked: Mills, Bowyer.

Att: 26,044

Ref: G Barber (Tring).