West Ham 3-0 Leeds United: Irons relegated despite late blowout of Leeds

West Ham fans will know this, but other may need reminding that Graham Potter was the Irons’ manager for the first five games of this season, as a 1W-4L start but them under significant pressure.

It turned out to be more than a manager problem, as Nuno Espirito Santo needed another month to get the boys back in the win column before a 10-match winless run between November 22 and January 6 sent them into dire straits.

The second half of the season wasn’t just fine — it was good. Nuno’s men went 7W-4D-6L after January 17. Throw in Weeks 19 and 20 — both losses — and West Ham’s second half of the season represented a 50-point when projected over 38 games. That would’ve been enough to challenge for Europe.

Instead, they’ll hope for a centurion’s run through the Championship but who will remain with the side through the summer?

And that’s that — West Ham are doomed by a miserable start to the season and will go down with one point fewer than 40 and two fewer than 17th-place Spurs.

A laser to likely end West Ham’s PL tenure with beauty.

Well, it’ll be decisive at least, even if West Ham seem doomed to the bottom three.

Castellanos isn’t challenged at all as he nods a back post corner into the goal and wheels away in celebration.

VAR is checking after Karl Darlow was busying himself with Callum Wilson but this should never be in question.

Not only have West Ham failed to find the net but they now needs Everton to find two goals without conceding at Spurs, who will have every reason to sit behind the ball knowing a draw will do just fine.

West Ham have been fine but Leeds are a decent team who have not mailed in their finale performance.

Hearts sink around the London Stadium as Spurs have scored through Joao Palhinha to possibly render the result at West Ham moot.

Pablo Felipe comes out of the corner to slip a cross to the far post.

Taty Castellanos can’t get a lot on a looping header that sails tantalizingly wide of the other post.

0-0, 43'.

You have to say Leeds have been in control for a bit here.

Mads Hermansen makes a close range save of a desperation shot in traffic to keep it 0-0 in the 36th minute.

Darlow makes a poor clearance and it leads to Mateus Fernandes unleashing a rocket from outside the 18.

It’s swerving and Darlow has to do well to bail himself out.

Danie Farke’s men have not started their vacations early, unfortunately for West Ham.

The visitors have two shot attempts to West Ham’s single one, though the hosts are on 55% possession.

West Ham are buzzing about as expected, anxious to get a lead established to put heat on Spurs.

Starting XI: Darlow, Bogle, Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Bijol, Ampadu, Tanaka, Aaronson, Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Perri, Byram, Bornauw, Cresswell, Chadwick, Buonanotte, James, Gnonto, Piroe

Starting XI: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Disasi, Mavropanos, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Pablo Felipe, Castellanos

Subs: Areola, Kilman, Wilson, Lamadrid, Magassa, Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Potts, Kante

Lukasz Fabianski remains out for West Ham while Adama Traore’s status is in doubt. Everyone else is in play including any combination of forwards Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos, and Callum Wilson.

Leeds have been in fine form but could rest some not 100% players. Quality players Pascal Struijk, Ilia Gruev and Noah Okafor are out while Anton Stach, Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Facundo Buonanotte could miss the game as well.

Kick off time: 11am ET Sunday

Venue: London Stadium — Stratford

TV Channel: USA

Streaming: Watch on USA