Leeds clinched a UEFA Cup spot by routing a West Ham side reduced by the end
to eight men as Ian Wright, Shaka Hislop and Steve Lomas saw red.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gave Leeds a first minute lead and once Wright got his
marching orders from referee Rob Harris the Hammers were fighting a losing
battle.
Wright picked up a seventh-minute booking for elbowing Alfie Haaland and a
wild off-the-ball challenge in the 17th minute led to an early bath.
Lee Bowyer clattered Eyal Berkovic in the opening seconds and then Haaland
found Hasselbaink unmarked 20 yards out.
The Dutchman coolly curled his shot beyond Hislop to give Leeds a flying
start.
Alan Smith made it 2-0 in first-half injury time, tapping home after Harry
Kewell's weaving run, and Leeds were firmly in the driving seat.
Hammers fans vented their fury on Harris, who had dished out six first half
bookings. The Oxford official had to be escorted from the field.
Paolo Di Canio threw his side a lifeline when he pulled a goal back after
Berkovic's mazy run.
But Leeds were home and dry in the 63rd minute. Hislop was dismissed for
bringing down Hasselbaink when the Leeds striker was clear and Ian Harte beat
substitute keeper Craig Forrest from the spot to make it 3-1.
Di Canio kept his head up and almost pulled a goal back seconds later, Nigel
Martyn saving at his near post.
Yet when Bowyer added the fourth with a blistering long drive which Forrest
could do nothing about, West Ham were finished.
Haaland twisted the knife by adding a fifth to the delight of the travelling
fans.
And the Hammers' agony was complete when Lomas got his marching orders at the
death for serious foul play, leaving the home side to complete the game with
eight men.
The Hammers had shown some promise in the first half before Wright became the
first to press the self destruct button.
John Moncur's impressive right foot drive forced a fine save from Martyn and
Trevor Sinclair's diving header flew just over after he had linked up with
Berkovic.
Moncur and Di Canio had close-range chances which went begging but in the end
the Hammers indiscipline cost them dear.
Leeds' win sets them up for an intriguing clash with third-placed Chelsea next
week - with David O'Leary's men hoping to overhaul them for fourth place in the
Premiership and a Champions' League slot.
Teams:
West Ham: Hislop, Lomas, Foe, Ruddock, Minto, Sinclair (Cole 69),
Lampard, Berkovic, Moncur, Di Canio (Coyne 83), Wright.
Subs Not Used: Forrest, Keller, Lazaridis.
Sent Off: Hislop (61), Lomas (87), Wright (16).
Booked: Moncur, Wright, Foe, Ruddock, Minto.
Goals: Di Canio 48.
Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Bowyer, Batty,
McPhail, Smith (Ribeiro 87), Hasselbaink (Wijnhard 83), Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wetherall, Halle.
Booked: Smith, Batty, Wijnhard.
Goals: Hasselbaink 1, Smith 45, Harte 62 pen, Bowyer 78,Haaland 79.
Att: 25,997
Ref: R Harris (Oxford).
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