Exit Kanouté and Hammers' fading hope

Leeds United 1 West Ham United

A regular feature in the Leeds United match programme has a supporter of the opposing clubs in conversation. In yesterday's, Jim of Leedssaid of his team's season, "It's been a nightmare", and Tom of West Ham concluded, "It's been a nightmare." United, in every sense, before the game, they had different emotions after Seth Johnson's first goal for the home team suggested the worst of the nightmare at Elland Road might be over, while the London side found dreams of survival as far away as ever. Joe Cole hit a post as they improved considerably in the second half but once Frédéric Kanouté, on his return to the side, was sent off, their hopes of even a point diminished again.

"Extra 20 per cent off" the signs read in the Leeds shop, but to Terry Venables' relief the transfer window closed without Johnson departing, his proposed sale to Middlesbrough having fallen through. That did not prevent about 150 supporters, outnumbered by orange-jacketed stewards, gathering outside the main entrance to make their displeasure felt. The return to Yorkshire of West Ham was a grim reminder of how bad things had become: on their previous visit, 13 months ago, Leeds' 3-0 victory put them on top of the Premiership.

Even yesterday, Venables' relief at a win after three defeats and a draw in the Premiership was marred by three further injuries to add to a depressingly long list. Raul Bravo, a left-back acquired from Real Madrid, inevitably dubbed "Juliet" in the dressing-room, took a knock early on, though he still looked a useful acquisition; while the captain, Dominic Matteo, and Eirik Bakke – already forced to play as an emergency striker – both had to be helped off in the final minutes as the visitors threatened to leave, like West Bromwich Albion before them, with a draw.

However deeply felt the supporters' anger may be, this is no time to judge the strength of the team; yesterday Lucas Radebe, Teddy Lucic, Alan Smith, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were all missing, while Nick Barmby had to do duty on the bench after two months' absence and just one training session.

In the circumstances, Venables felt: "The way we played was excellent." Safe in mid-table, he may take consolation of a sort from the predicament of his former Queen's Park Rangers captain Glenn Roeder. As the optimism engendered by a home victory – at last – over Blackburn Rovers turned to dust four days later against Liverpool last weekend, Roeder must have felt like that equally put-upon head of a dysfunctional EastEnders family, Ted Slater. Just as Albert Square's well-meaning cabbie is unwise enough to express his pleasure that all is going well for the family at last (soaps are always big on irony), Kat falls pregnant; no sooner has Roeder congratulated his defence on looking more solid for once, than Tomas Repka forgets about marking at corners. Cue theme music and final credits, with Glenn/Ted staring into space.

"Stood there looking like a lost soul," was how Ron Atkinson described the West Ham manager's demeanour in The Independent yesterday. It was a similar pose as his fragile team fell behind after 20 minutes and continued to look like conceding every time the home side – hardly bursting with confidence themselves – went forward.

Repka was a liability again and would have put a header past his own goalkeeper in the first 10 minutes had David James not retreated alertly to divert the ball for a corner. James, expected to start for England on his home ground on Wednesday, was at fault with the goal soon afterwards, touching but not keeping out Johnson's low drive from 20 yards, which had taken only a modest deflection. He looked unsettled a few minutes later in failing to cut out a right-wing corner that Bakke headed over.

When the visitors had possession, they gave Roeder and his coaches rather more encouragement, as a team with four internationals in midfield ought to. Lee Bowyer made some characteristic darting runs into the penalty area but chances did not materialise until early in the second half. Cole then drifted in from his position wide on the left, and shot right-footed from 20 yards, striking the foot of a post.

Paul Robinson, under-employed in the Leeds goal compared to his England rival James, was required to make a fine save to foil West Ham's best move of the afternoon in the 53rd minute. With the home defence stretched, Bowyer swung a cross to the far side that Paolo di Canio nudged down for Cole to strike well again, Robinson diving to his right to preserve his team's lead.

The Londoners' revival was seriously impaired in the 70th minute, however, as Kanouté appeared to slap Johnson in retaliation. As several other players joined in with the game going on, West Ham broke dangerously but the referee's assistant flagged, told Dermot Gallagher what he had seen, and Kanouté was off. As Roeder admitted, it was particularly irresponsible behaviour from someone who had been out for several months and will now be suspended for three games.

Jermain Defoe, sent on for the ineffective Di Canio as a lone attacker, was his usual lively self and with 12 minutes to play wriggled inside two defenders before forcing Robinson to beat out his shot. West Ham, to their credit, finished the stronger and in stoppage time James charged forward for a corner and created sufficient panic to have the home supporters holding their breath.

"There's no need to start talking about desperation," said Roeder. There will be soon.

Leeds United 1 West Ham United 0
Seth Johnson 20

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 40,126