Premier League Recap: Aaronson and Rodon Fire Leeds Back to Winning Ways

Leeds United snapped a three-match winless run in the Premier League with a determined 2–1 victory over a struggling West Ham United side at Elland Road, deepening the visitors’ crisis as they extended their run to six league games without a win (D1, L5).

West Ham, desperate for points after slipping into the relegation zone, endured another nightmare start. Within three minutes, Jayden Bogle’s searching cross was met by Noah Okafor, whose header forced a save from Alphonse Areola, leaving Brenden Aaronson to turn home the rebound from close range.

The Hammers’ response was swift but fruitless. Jarrod Bowen’s spectacular acrobatic effort was comfortably dealt with by Lucas Perri, who soon had more to celebrate. In the 15th minute, Joe Rodon was left unmarked to nod home from a corner, punishing West Ham’s continued frailty at set pieces — their ninth goal conceded from a corner this season.

West Ham thought they had halved the deficit before the interval when Lucas Paquetá struck from close range, only for VAR to rule the effort out for a marginal offside. Leeds carried their two-goal advantage into half-time — their first home match this season leading at the break.

After the restart, Leeds continued to dominate and nearly put the result beyond doubt on the hour mark when Aaronson’s driving run ended with a deflected shot clipping the crossbar. The hosts then controlled proceedings, limiting West Ham’s attacking threat.

A late scare arrived in the 90th minute when substitute Mateus Fernandes diverted Bowen’s bending cross past Perri, but it proved a mere consolation as Leeds held firm to secure a vital victory.

The result restores confidence for Leeds, who had seen their 23-match home unbeaten streak in league football (W18, D5) ended by Tottenham Hotspur earlier in October. For Nuno Espírito Santo, the pressure mounts as West Ham slumped to a league-high seventh defeat of the campaign, sitting seven points adrift of Leeds and facing the prospect of finishing the weekend bottom of the table.