When Harry Redknapp reluctantly sold Rio Ferdinand to Leeds for £18million in November he immediately made a £10million bid to lure Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane to Upton Park from Inter Milan.

Keane turned him down, however, holding out instead for a move to Elland Road, where he knew he would be able to play Champions League football.

So it was a doubly bitter pill for Hammers boss Redknapp to swallow as Ferdinand scored one of the goals as he skippered Leeds to victory on his return to east London, with Keane grabbing the other.

It came as no surprise that Ferdinand received a rapturous welcome from the home fans who were seeing him for the first time since his record breaking transfer.

The 22-year-old has matured incredibly in a matter of months. He is now an England regular, captain of Leeds and looking forward to playing in a Champions League semi-final.

Victory for Leeds - unbeaten in the Premiership since January 20 - keeps alive their hopes of finishing in the top three and qualifying for the Champions League automatically again.

Defeat for West Ham leaves them still not mathematically safe from the prospect of relegation.

To add to the drama of the occasion, referee Graham Poll sent off David Batty after 48 minutes after a clash with Joe Cole, but Leeds held out for most of the second half even with 10 men.

Leeds took the lead after just seven minutes. Harry Kewell raced down the left and crossed to the far post, where Ian Harte sent in a powerful header. Shaka Hislop - making his 90th league appearance in goal for the Hammers - blocked it with his legs, but Keane swept home the loose ball.

There was a further blow for the Hammers after nine minutes when Freddie Kanoute - who had been doubtful for this game because of a hip injury - pulled up in pain and was replaced by Svetoslav Todorov.

West Ham had a lucky escape when they survived a goalmouth scramble after 32 minutes.

Harte's inswinging corner from the right was bouncing around the six-yard box and Hislop blocked shots from Kewell and Ferdinand before saving Keane's effort on the line.

West Ham's John Moncur had an eventful few moments after 35 minutes. He left the field for treatment on an injury, was booked for holding back Olivier Dacourt on his return to the field, and was then substituted by Hayden Foxe - the man who the Hammers hope will prove to be a long-term replacement for Ferdinand.

Leeds looked dangerous on the break and Lee Bowyer had a shooting chance after 38 minutes on the right edge of the box, but missed his volley completely.

Then two minutes later, Keane snatched at a chance created by Kewell and sent his shot over the bar.

Hislop came to the rescue after 43 minutes when Keane got the better of Ian Pearce and saw his low shot blocked by the goalkeeper's legs.

West Ham put together the best move of the game in first-half injury time, orchestrated by di Canio.

The ball was worked down the right flank and into the box before Cole sent a half-volley just wide of the far post.

There was a dramatic start to the second half as Leeds doubled their lead and then had Batty sent off.

With just less than two minutes on the clock, Harte curled a right-wing free kick to the back of the six-yard box and Ferdinand sent a looping header beyond Hislop and inside the far post.

Perhaps wisely, Ferdinand just ran back into his own half without celebrating too wildly, although even the home fans cheered as his name was announced as scorer of the goal.

West Ham needed a lifeline, and it came in the shape of the visitors being reduced to 10 men after 48 minutes.

Batty floored Cole with an elbow, and the young midfielder got up and pushed his Leeds counterpart to the ground.

There was no hesitation from Tring official Poll, who showed Batty the red card and then issued a yellow one to Cole.

Redknapp's side needed a goal, so on the hour he took off defender Dailly and threw on striker Kaba Diawara.

West Ham stepped up the pressure and after 65 minutes Michael Carrick unleashed a fierce drive from 20 yards which Nigel Martyn tipped over his bar.

There was an exciting finale to the game, with chances at both ends.

Martyn performed more heroics in the Leeds goal, twice denying Diawara with flying saves.

Bowyer then had a good chance to finish the game as he burst free into the West Ham box after 77 minutes.

Hislop saved at his feet, and Bowyer poked the loose ball towards goal, but Foxe got back in time to hook it off the line.

Leeds were happy to kill time in the closing stages by passing the ball around and, despite the skills of Di Canio, Lampard and Cole, they held on to their clean sheet.

Teams

West Ham: Hislop, Dailly (Diawara 60), Stimac, Ian Pearce, Winterburn, Moncur (Foxe 36), Lampard, Carrick, Cole, Di Canio, Kanoute (Todorov 10).

Subs Not Used: Bywater, Soma.

Booked: Moncur, Cole, Foxe, Stimac, Winterburn.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bakke, Batty, Dacourt, Bowyer, Kewell (Wilcox 81), Keane (Kelly 87).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Burns, Maybury.

Sent Off: Batty (49).

Booked: Mills, Dacourt.

Goals: Keane 8, Ferdinand 47.

Att: 26,041

Ref: G Poll (Tring).