Leeds United twice came from behind to add a well-deserved point to the tally against a West Ham United side who will feel two missed penalty decisions cost them the game. 

In truth, both teams will have reason to feel they should have won this one. Max Gradel missed a first half penalty for The Whites and Aidy White also had what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty decision rejected by the referee.

As for the Hammers’ two calls; the first was undeniable – Patrick Kisnorbo seemed to be attempting to take the shirt from West Ham’s striker. The second however was much harder to call, and I think which ever way it went, one set of fans would have been complaining.

The questionable penalty decisions aside, Leeds will still feel they did enough to win this one, and perhaps would have had it not been for a sensational volley from Patrick Kisnorbo into his own net. Not the kind of error he makes regularly, so certainly forgiveable, but he’ll no doubt feel he cost his side two points with that blunder.

That goal came just minutes after Ross McCormack finished an excellent piece of passing play involving Robert Snodgrass and the back-heel of Andy Keogh. Snoddy had the opportunity to shoot himself, and I dare say most of our team would have, but he kept his head up and saw McCormack perfectly placed in the centre of the box and selflessly set him up for an easier finish.

The passing play from Leeds United, as demonstrated perfectly with McCormack’s equalising goal, was at times incredible to watch. You really had to slap yourself round the face a couple of times as you struggled to believe this was the same team that surrendered to Southampton on opening day.

But we hadn’t slipped off into some beautiful dream where Leeds United looked like a team capable of doing well this season. Over the last three games, things have really started to come together and if we can play like we did against West Ham and Hull City for the next 42 games, we won’t be too far off come May.

But I digress. Had it not been for a well-struck stoppage time goal from Adam Clayton (his first for the club) we’d all still be talking about positive signs and potential, as opposed to positive results and a little bad fortune.

The fact both teams feel disappointed that they didn’t take all three points makes the draw seem somewhat justified. Neither Leeds or West Ham were playing for one point, both attacked from the first kick of the game and neither side deserved to lose.

Aside from the dubious penalty decisions, you have to credit the ref for allowing the game to flow. He reached into his pocket only once throughout the entire game to book Darren O’Dea and James Tomkins for an off-the-ball incident that started a game of handbags between the two sides. A game Leeds did well to walk away from before John Carew started eating people.

At this point I’d generally pick out the players who impressed most, but I don’t think that would be fair on this occasion. It was a team performance and not one where you can single out individuals for a game-changing contribution. Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass for example were uncontainable on the wings, but was their contribution more worthy of mention than Andy Lonergan’s fine saves or the box-to-box performances of Jonny Howson and Adam Clayton?

Each and every player has good reason to pat themselves on the back after this one.

As ever, the travelling support were fantastic too. Our truly disgusting new away shirt prompted the chant “we’re Leeds United, we glow in the dark” whilst Carlton Cole was branded “a **** Tresor Kandol” and his replacement, John Carew was subsequently branded “a **** Carlton Cole”.

There was also the slightly tasteless chant of “you should be out robbing tellies” in reference to the recent London Riots. Made me laugh, but the bloke alongside us was not amused.

Four points from the last two leaves plenty to smile about as we head to an out-of-sorts Ipswich Town next week who will be without two first team regulars and could struggle to pick up the pieces in time after a humiliating 7-1 defeat to newly promoted Peterborough. On and on…

Simon Grayson post-match interview

Courtesy of @MojoLUAFC