West Ham pushed Leeds United closer to relegation from the Premier League after coming from behind to win 3-1 at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Sam Allardyce’s side briefly boosted their fight against the drop when Rodrigo put the visitors ahead with a volley from a throw in.
Declan Rice brought West Ham level at half-time, amid speculation the Hammers captain could be playing his last home game for the club ahead of a summer move.
Late goals from Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini saw West Ham emerge as winners, leaving Leeds two points from safety heading into the final week of the season.
Here, JON WEST fills you in on what you might have missed from the London Stadium.
West Ham came from behind to beat Leeds on Sunday and push the visitors closer to relegation
Declan Rice scored and took the Hammer of the Year award in their last home game
Sam Allardyce’s side head into the final weekend in the bottom three of the Premier League
Big Sam endured an unhappy return to West Ham
Leeds fans wearing Sam Allardyce masks over a white shirt and dark tie combo descended in droves at the home of his former club.
West Ham fans have already had a sense of deja vu even after hearing Allardyce declare on his surprise return to management that he considers himself Pep Guardiola’s equal.
In east London, he probably became the tallest Big Sam for claiming he was passed over for the top four posts because his name wasn’t Sam Allardici.
As Hammers boss, he also argued that players like Lionel Messi were very good but not as entertaining as Andy Carroll.
‘I know we get good goals from dribbling and all that – that’s good and that’s great – but it doesn’t happen as often as someone attacks the ball and it goes into the back of the net,’ according to his opinion in 2013.
Maybe Big Sam has a point. Messi has lifted the World Cup this season but has he ever been sent off for punching the ball into the net five minutes after heading in a legitimate goal, as Carroll did for Reading against Luton this season?
Leeds fans donned Allardyce masks but saw their side slump to defeat at the London Stadium
Allardyce pocketed a small bonus amid Leeds’ woes
Big Sam stands to pocket a huge bonus payment should Leeds lose a drop which looks more and more like a long shot but it’s clear he still possesses an eye for detail.
The Leeds manager spotted a fiver roaming loose on the touchline early in the first half and quickly picked it up and tapped fourth official Andrew Madley on the shoulder to ask if he had dropped it.
He returned to the far dugout to ask Karl Robinson, his number two, if he wanted it before pocketing the money.
Sam Allardyce gained five pounds on the touchline during Leeds’ clash with West Ham
Was Declan Rice’s goal a parting gift to Hammers fans?
Was Declan Rice’s equalizer also a farewell present for West Ham fans in their final London Stadium outing of the season? It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the England midfielder moved in the summer.
Arsenal are keen and so are Manchester United, and Chelsea have long considered paying big money for a player they released as a teenager.
Stuart Pearce believes West Ham could agree to hand Manchester City a wad of cash and a ready-made replacement for Kalvin Phillips. Former England defender Pearce played for both clubs, managed City and was on David Moyes’ coaching staff at West Ham until this season.
Rice performed two laps of honor post-match – one with his teammates and one with himself as the Hammer of the Year.
Declan Rice scored West Ham’s equalizer in his potentially final home appearance for the club
West Ham’s decisive role in the relegation battle
West Ham pushed Leeds to the brink of relegation and Leicester’s season could now be ruined.
The Foxes host the Hammers on the final day in a must-win clash if they are not to pull off a victory at Newcastle tonight.
David Moyes’ side also had a hand in their title destiny by coming back from 2-0 down at Arsenal last month as part of a four-match wobble that cost the Gunners dearly.
West Ham have increased their relegation fears and could potentially knock Leicester out next weekend
‘Knollsy’ earned an ovation for his actions at AZ Alkmaar
There was a standing ovation for one particular West Ham fan from the supporters around him when he came to take his seat.
Chris Knoll, a 58-year-old electrician known as ‘Knollsy’, has been hailed as a hero for his part in preventing AZ Alkmaar ‘ultras’ from invading a section containing the players’ friends and families on Thursday night.
The scenes marred West Ham reaching a first European final for 47 years – but those there were convinced by his actions, with another Hammers fan also preventing the attackers from climbing a stairs, preventing more serious injuries than the bruises he sustained around him. left eye.
Leed’s inability to hold the lead could decide their fate
Leeds have been the joint worst offenders this season for conceding points in the Premier League from top positions.
They squandered a potential 25 points, as did Nottingham Forest. That would lift them level with Brentford in ninth.
Leeds have won just two of their last nine league matches in which they have opened the scoring.
Rodrigo put Leeds in front but the struggling side were unable to hold onto the lead again
