West Ham player ratings vs Leeds United: Issa Diop and Craig Dawson struggle in roller coaster clash

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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_16 January 2022

West Ham fell to a first defeat in five games as a Jack Harrison hat-trick saw Leeds United claim three points from a rollercoaster of an afternoon.

Leeds dominated the early stages from the off and took a deserved lead after just 10 minutes, Adam Forshaw alive to pick up the loose ball and play in Harrison after Lukasz Fabianski had saved from Mateusz Klich.

Harrison was well placed to strike into the far corner with Fabianski still getting back to his feet after the stop.

West Ham were brought to life by the goal and finally started threatening themselves. Craig Dawson headed wide from six yards as he met a devilish Aaron Cresswell corner. Leeds had been warned of the threat posed by set pieces but were undone at the next corner, the dipping ball from the West Ham left-back finding Jarrod Bowen to score his fourth goal in three games.

Having battled back to get level, sloppy play at another set play sent Leeds ahead again. Those in claret and blue were sleeping as Luke Ayling headed to the far post where an unopposed Harrison arrived to nudge his second in.

Moyes decided against making any changes at the break and his side were level shortly after the restart. Michail Antonio miscontrolled a pass from Declan Rice but managed to prod it forward for Pablo Fornals, who cut inside and finished low at the near post.

There was time for another twist, this time in the favour of the visitors, as Nikola Vlasic was robbed in midfield before Raphinha found Harrison in acres of space on the left allowing the former Manchester City man to clip the ball over Fabianski for his treble.

Here is how Jack Rosser rated the Hammers…

Lukasz Fabianski 6

Little the Pole could have done about all three of Harrison’s goals given the defending performances ahead of him.

Vladimir Coufal 6

Caught out of position for the third goal but largely a decent showing.

Craig Dawson 5

Some good challenges and a threat from set pieces but a couple of hairy moments following poor decision making.

Issa Diop 4

Rash with challenges and put his teammates in danger time and again with poor balls out from the back.

Aaron Cresswell 7

The full-back’s superb set piece deliveries have made West Ham a threat in that area once more. Did well to win the ball and get West Ham going for their second goal too.

Declan Rice 7

Worked hard without the absent Tomas Soucek by his side, amde some impressive runs and continued pushing until the very end.

Manuel Lanzini 5

The effects of three games in a week showed, struggled to make an sort of impact and was overrun by Leeds in midfield.

Jarrod Bowen 7

Four goals in three games now and did well to get away from Stuart Dallas at the corner. Missed glorious chance to level at the death, though.

Pablo Fornals 7

A first goal since early November for the Spaniard and very well taken too. Still not at the level he was earlier in the season but improving.

Nikola Vlasic 5

Couldn’t get going in the first half and switched off in being robbed of possession ahead of the third Leeds goal.

Michail Antonio 6

Claimed an assist and kept plugging away with runs in behind but struggled with poor service through the middle.

Substitutes

Arthur Masuaku 5

Wasted a good opening with a very poor cross.

Andriy Yarmolenko 6

Provided an additional threat for Leeds to deal with and saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Sonny Perkins n/a

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