Grayson lauds Leeds’s fighting spirit as they rescue point through Clayton

The Elland Road club had seemed on course for defeat at Upton Park as yesterday’s game reached the end of normal time.

An own goal by Paddy Kisnorbo together with a sixth-minute strike from Carlton Cole meant the Hammers led 2-1 with just seconds remaining on the clock, the visitors’ reply having come through Ross McCormack shortly before the hour.

An opportunistic strike from man of the match Adam Clayton changed all that, however, as United rescued a point from a truly pulsating contest that had seen both sides create and mainly spurn a host of chances. Chief among these wasted opportunities was the 28th-minute penalty miss by Max Gradel, the Ivory Coast international firing wide of the posts in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello.

That squandered opening together with other misses by McCormack, Andy Keogh and Ramon Nunez explained Grayson’s mixed emotions at the final whistle.

The Leeds chief said: “From start to finish, we were very good. Certainly, if you take away the first five minutes when West Ham came out of the traps, I thought we did well.

“After the start we had and Cole scoring, we could have buckled but instead we got back into the game and, rightly so, got a point.

“We had the stuffing knocked out of us when we were on top but again, full credit to the players as they dug deep.

“They showed tremendous desire and the equaliser (by Clayton) was the least we deserved.

“You need luck at times in games and we didn’t get that. But I am sure Sam (Allardyce) will be saying the same about his team.

“But I am immensely proud of my team, especially when you look on paper at the players we were up against.

“Max showed great character after missing the penalty to play like he did.

“It has been a good week, even though I am slightly disappointed not to have won. When you feel disappointed at not beating a team like West Ham it shows the immense quality of our performance.”

Along with the pulsating manner in which play raged from end to end, the main post-match talking point was referee Michael Oliver’s performance.

The Northumberland official turned down two very strong West Ham appeals for a penalty, Kisnorbo looking to drag James Tomkins to the floor and then Cole crashing to the earth under a challenge from Aidy White.

In the second half, it was White’s turn to feel aggrieved when Oliver waved away his own appeal after the young left-back was tripped by Scott Parker.

Of the two managers, West Ham’s Sam Allardyce was by far the more critical of the officials after the final whistle.

He said: “I dislike it when the major decisions go against me in any form and two majors went against us against Leeds.

“It is part of why we have not won but it is not the ultimate reason. That is ourselves because we were in control.

“But there was a part of the game where we could have had two blatant penalties. I have seen them from our technology at half-time and again at full-time so am speaking from a position of strength.

“No one will convince me they were not blatant penalties. It is very disappointing when you see the referee not doing what he is paid to do.”

Grayson, when later asked about Oliver’s display, added: “I thought the referee was very good. It was a tough game to referee with a hostile atmosphere.

“Maybe on another day, both teams could have had penalties. In that respect, it could have gone either way. But, despite that, I thought he was decent.”

On his side’s display, Grayson added: “We had said to the players beforehand that it isn’t easy being favourites for a division. We know that from our three years in League One when everyone wanted to beat us.

“West Ham are facing that this season and we wanted to take advantage of that pressure atmosphere.

“They will have to deal with that situation as everyone will be desperate to do well against them and their international players.

“When you look at our players and the level they are up against, it was a good display. Scott Parker is wanted by top Premier League teams.

“But we showed great work-rate on and off the ball, and that saw us through. Certain individuals can be proud of their performances but what pleased me most was the team display. They worked for each other.

“We may not have started how we wanted to but credit to my players for coming back like that.”

As for Allardyce, he was left frustrated after seeing his side concede in the 90th minute for a second consecutive home game – Kenny Miller having scored the winner for Cardiff City at Upton Park on the opening weekend.

The Hammers chief said: “It is two points thrown away. For me, it is extremely disappointing after a game that we seemed in control of.

“We were in control, then Leeds were in control, then us again, then Leeds. That was how the game went. But once we got to the final 20 minutes, we changed our system and I thought we could have won it 3-1.

“But we then couldn’t see the game out.

“Leeds loaded the box up and got the goal to make us all feel disappointed.

“What needs to be done at that stage of a game is to show a bit more professionalism.

“Away from home, the opposition have not had a sniff, both against Doncaster and Watford.

“It puts the fear factor in us until we get that first win (at home). We have lost three precious points in two home games and that anxiety will only go away when we win games of football.”

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Match report: Page 3.