please log in to view this image Leeds United vs West Ham United Friday 24th October@20:00 | Elland Road Leeds welcome West Ham United to Elland Road on Friday evening in a clash that both sides will see as a must-win. Leeds have managed just one victory in their last eight outings across all competitions, while Nuno Espírito Santo continues to search for his first win since taking charge of the Hammers. The stakes are high, and with both teams struggling for form, this encounter promises a tense atmosphere. Historically, Leeds once held the upper hand in this fixture, winning eight of nine home league meetings with West Ham between 1996 and 2005. However, fortunes have shifted in recent years—Leeds are now winless in their last four Elland Road encounters with the London club (two draws, two defeats). This time around, the home side’s attacking statistics tell the story of frustration: they average 13 shots per game—the highest figure for a promoted side since Leeds themselves in 2020–21—yet their conversion rate of just 6.7% marks their worst efficiency in a decade. Injury and illness continue to influence Daniel Farke’s team selection. Willy Gnonto remains doubtful after hernia surgery but has returned to training this week, as has Noah Okafor who still has groin issue. Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk both missed training through illness and will undergo late fitness tests. Harry Gray is back in team sessions following a hip problem. First-choice goalkeeper Lucas Perri should be ready to start, and Dan James could also feature from the outset. Supporters are eager to see summer signing Jaka Bijol handed his Premier League debut, while Ao Tanaka’s creativity may prove valuable in midfield. For West Ham, Nuno Espírito Santo faces additional challenges with Konstantinos Mavropanos joining Niclas Fullkrug on the injury list after limping off against Brentford. Youngster George Earthy remains unavailable due to a long-term hamstring issue. This fixture also marks Crysencio Summerville’s first return to Elland Road since his £26 million move, adding a personal subplot to the evening. With both sides desperate to turn their seasons around, Friday’s clash under the lights could define their momentum heading into the winter schedule
This is the right fixture to start Bijol, return Perri in goal and bring Tanaka into midfield ... James needs to start ahead of Brendy as well
I’d like to add a penetrating insight: we need to win this one. I see Dyche got Forest winning last night v Porto. My fear has been for a while that one of the bottom 3 will come into a bit of form and overtake us.
Half day today at work then heading up for the game tonight with pre beers in Leeds city centre. What’s realistically your starting 11 tonight. Mines; Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Longstaff, Tanaka, James, DCL & Aaronson (Okafor if fully fit)
Possible scenarios We win and it’s 4 points from last 12. Acceptable A draw and it’s 2 from 12. Very poor Defeat 1 from 12 and it’s deplorable. Forget hard luck stories, bad refs etc
It's a slugfest at the bottom and will be all season so buckle up. Get rid of a couple in January and maybe it eases the budget to bring in an old hand up front. A bit of experience might keep us in the league.
With how West Ham have been playing, where they are in the table and our home form being key to survival it’s a game we need to be winning. It doesn’t define our season but we need a win just to settle our nerves, give us confidence otherwise our heads will drop and the owners might get twitchy with Farke. With how we’ve been playing at how I see no reason why we don’t win. Should be a good atmosphere tonight.
Given the upcoming fixtures, this is a MUST win. We're only fooling ourselves if we believe anything else. 35 of our supporters group on the ferry at present on their way
Good morning all Our record against London teams so far this season played 3 lost 3 scored one, conceded eight, still this time were playing west ham 2nd bottom, conceded eighteen which is more than anyone else, only one victory all season, and a team in a right mess. Now going by all the above if you were a West ham fan, which premier league team would you most like to play tonight ?
The one that lets any and all teams break their ongoing run of not scoring / not winning / never scored more than x goals in a game so far etc etc? That one?
Talking of Dyche I think his appointment brings in an 'unstable element' into the relagation battle. When he was at Burnely he wasn't really backed and had to bring players in from the Championship then Everton were skint so he couldn't bring in quality so he had to bring the likes of Ashley Young. Now Forest has a fair whack of cash behind them and a good sqaud with what I think is a smart recuritment team. We could see Forest doing pretty well under him.
Honestly, ours are just as bad, if not worse. We look absolutely **** and I expect to lose tonight, all you have to do is put in decent crosses or hoof it up front and watch our CBs utterly fail to deal with them, I've never seen CBs with such terrible aerial skills. I'll start worrying if we get to Feb and we're still in the bottom 3 with little sign of improvement, before that it's just same old, same old.
