Leeds remain third bottom and sit two points adrift of fourth bottom Everton, with both teams having just one game left. Leeds slipped closer to relegation from the Premier League after a 3-1 defeat against West Ham in their penultimate game of the season on Sunday.
Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Leeds, whose goal difference is three worse than Everton’s, are likely to need the Toffees to lose to have a chance of staying up.
Second bottom Leicester, three points from safety, have slender hopes of avoiding relegation with games at Newcastle on Monday and West Ham on the final day.
Leeds, who last played in the Championship in 2020, have lost twice and drawn once in three games since Allardyce replaced the sacked Javi Gracia earlier this month.
Allardyce had labelled Leeds’ trip to his former club West Ham as a “cup final”.
But the defeat means Leeds need a repeat of last season’s final day escape when they won at Brentford to climb out of the bottom three.
Leeds United’s English head coach Sam Allardyce shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Leeds United at the London Stadium, in London on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP).
Just three days from beating AZ Alkmaar to reach the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, West Ham made six changes.
Leeds scented a chance to seize the momentum and they took it the 17th minute with a goal straight from Allardyce’s favored direct game-plan.
Weston McKenzie’s long throw reached Rodrigo in the heart of the West Ham area and the Spanish striker volleyed a fine finish past Lukasz Fabianski.
Despite having little to play for with their own safety secured, West Ham responded well and Joel Robles had to use his legs to save Tomas Soucek’s close-range effort.
A section of Leeds’ travelling support had come to east London dressed as nuns, but if Allardyce was hoping for divine intervention in the relegation battle, his prayers were not answered.
Leeds United’s German defender Robin Koch reacts after the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Leeds United at the London Stadium, in London on May 21, 2023. – West Ham won the match 3-1. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP).
In what could be his final home game for the club amid speculation linking him with Arsenal, West Ham captain Rice equalized in the 32nd minute, meeting Bowen’s cross with a cool finish at the far post.
Leeds suffered another blow when injury-plagued striker Patrick Bamford limped off.
West Ham enjoyed total dominance after the equalizer, with Robles making good saves to deny Emerson, Lucas Paqueta and Soucek.
Allardyce’s men finally cracked again in the 72nd minute when Danny Ings’ pass teed up Bowen for a deft strike that survived a VAR check for offside.
Later on Sunday, Manchester City will stage their title-winning party when Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium.
City were crowned champions for the fifth time in the last six seasons on Saturday after second placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Pep Guardiola’s side are set to be presented with the trophy as they celebrate a third successive title.
In Sunday’s other game, Brighton host already relegated Southampton.
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