An unlikely hero came to the fore the last time Leeds United beat West Ham, and Daniel Farke looks set to turn to him again as injuries mount in his forward line.
The pressure is on Leeds boss Daniel Farke to deliver a result at Elland Road on Friday night, as his side takes on West Ham in a proverbial relegation six-pointer as he looks to end an unwanted 20-year Leeds record.
Leeds missed a string of chances in their defeat against Burnley, leaving the Leeds boss in desperate need of reinforcements for his forward line.
Whilst Dan James could be in contention, after featuring from the bench at Turf Moor, doubts over the fitness of Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto mean that Farke looks likely to be short up front once again.
Jack Harrison started on the left for Leeds against Burnley and could face West Ham on Friday, if Okafor is ruled out. Thankfully for Leeds, he has fond memories of facing the Hammers, having scored a hat-trick in Leeds’ last win over the side from East London.
Jack Harrison scores during West Ham United v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Jack Harrison was the hero for Leeds United against West Ham in 2022
Leeds also found themselves battling relegation in the 2021/22 season under Marcelo Bielsa, as they failed to live up to their dream return to the Premier League the year before.
They travelled to the London Stadium in desperate need of a win to keep them in touch in the relegation battle, having also been knocked out of the FA Cup by the Hammers the previous week.
Enter Harrison, who scored his first career hat trick in the game, thanks in no small part to the inspirational Raphinha, who played a part in all three goals.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Harrison’s first came from a left-footed strike inside the box, after West Ham failed to deal with a shot from Mateusz Klich, which was created by Raphinha, before current West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen pulled his side level with a goal from a corner.
The Leeds winger then tapped home from close range after a Raphinha corner was flicked on by Luke Ayling to give Leeds the lead for a second time. But Pablo Fornals appeared to have denied Leeds victory when he pegged them back again.
However, a wonderful piece of vision from Raphinha played Harrison through for the winner, as the Brazilian threaded a pass through a seemingly impossible gap. Harrison made no mistake with the finish, dinking over the onrushing Lukasz Fabianski to claim all three points for Leeds.
Farke would be delighted to see Harrison repeat the trick this weekend, although he would also love to have a player of Raphinha’s quality available in his attack.
Dan James and Jack Harrison celebrate during West Ham United v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Daniel Farke on Leeds’ goal-scoring problems
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the crucial encounter against West Ham, Leeds boss Farke defended his side for their lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
Brenden Aaronson was guilty of missing the best chance in the game, but Jayden Bogle and Lukas Nmecha also wasted good opportunities as Leeds fell to a damaging defeat.
However, Farke does not believe his players should be punished for missing those chances, stating: “I’m pleased with the way we have played, also how dominant we are.
“We had several games where we were able to collect points on this level, and I would say even the games where we lost, perhaps apart from the Arsenal game, because they deserved to win against us.
“In all the other games, in all the statistics that matter, expected goals, short, big chances created, the better side, but not the more effective side, and that’s definitely a fact.
“But it’s [important] not to accuse the players in this moment. It’s not like Jayden Bogle from one yard out, of course, he wants to score a goal, or Brenden Aaronson alone in front of the goalkeeper, or Lukas Nmecha, of course, he wants to score the goal.
“Hard work, hard work on the training pitch, will always bring them into the position that they improve. Being clinical and finishing the moments when it counts, and also to encourage them never to underestimate any situation.
“So to always be on it because the only statistic that matters in football is goals. And for that, we know that we have to be better at converting our big chances.”