Leeds 0 West Ham 1

	Winterburn heads home the winner (RossKinnaird/Allsport)

While David O'Leary's side have excelled in Europe, their League form has been so inconsistent that they are in serious danger of missing out on such elite company next season.

Home defeats already by the likes of Manchester City and Ipswich Town suggest that, despite the excuse of a lengthy injury list, the progress at Elland Road is not all that it should be.

So when West Ham made the journey north without a victory on the ground for 22 years, they did so with both hope and optimism.

And after a hesitant start, in which Leeds assumed their customary control, only to fade during the first half, Harry Redknapp's side grew in confidence, defended with a fierce determination and broke upfield with such pace as to keep the home fans in a constant state of anxiety.

All the attention was focused on Rio Ferdinand - a £15million target for O'Leary earlier in the season - and in a composed, commanding performance, the young England defender showed why he is so highly rated.

Yet Ferdinand was not alone in creating a favourable impression for the visitors.

French striker Frederic Kanoute, often ploughing a lone furrow up front, troubled the Leeds defence all afternoon with his ability to hold the ball up and attack at pace. At the back, 37-year-old Stuart Pearce was at his competitive best.

After Shaka Hislop had saved a 20-yard piledriver from Olivier Dacourt in the second minute and Alan Smith hooked over from close range following a knock-down by Mark Viduka, West Ham proceeded to have the better chances in the first half.

A telling tackle by Michael Carrick on Lucas Radebe enabled loan signing Kaba Diawara to race clear and his fiercely-struck drive was parried by Paul Robinson.

When Kanoute twice burst clear, Leeds were fortunate not to suffer a sending-off and a penalty. The first time Danny Mills brought him down outside the area and escaped with a yellow card. Moments later, when Kanoute strode past Radebe, who appeared to bring him down in the area, referee Paul Taylor waved aside the visitors' appeals.

It was to be only a brief respite for Leeds, however. In another speedy breakaway, Kanoute and Diawara worked the ball through the middle before it was transferred to Trevor Sinclair breaking down the right and the former QPR winger's cross was headed home by Winterburn.

The goal, scored seconds before half-time, gave West Ham the perfect impetus to keep fighting hard for only their second away victory of the season.

For most of the second period it was frustration for the home side as Redknapp's ploy of flooding the midfield gave Leeds little space to work a way through.

A series of potentially dangerous free-kicks just outside the penalty area all came to nothing, the best being a low effort from Dacourt which Hislop smothered well. For the rest, free-kick expert Ian Harte had an off day, when most of his efforts would have been more in place at Twickenham.

For all their pressure, Leeds rarely troubled Hislop, their best effort coming 16 minutes from time when Alan Smith spun on the edge of the area to send his shot just past the far post.

Two minutes from time, Steve Lomas unnecessarily dragged back Mills 25 yards out but, after receiving a booking, was not made to pay further for his folly as Harte drove the free-kick high.