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Leeds were condemned to a second defeat in a row after West Ham United scored from two set-pieces to go fifth in the table.
Mateusz Klich opened the scoring from the penalty spot but Tomáš Souček and Angelo Ogbonna headers meant all three points headed back to East London.
The game got off to a frantic start when defender and club captain Liam Cooper fantastically strode out with the ball and set striker Patrick Bamford through on goal. Łukasz Fabiański rushed out and brought Bamford down in the box, leaving referee Michael Oliver with no option but to point to the spot, with the goalkeeper picking up a yellow card for his troubles.
Midfielder Mateusz Klich stepped up and uncharacteristically missed, with Fabiański pulling off a save. He thought he had kept the scoreline goalless, however, after a VAR check, the West Ham shot-stopper was caught off his goal line when Klich stuck the ball and the penalty had to be retaken. The Poland international made no mistake with the retake, grabbing his third goal of the season to give Leeds the lead with just six minutes played.
David Moyes' side responded well though, with striker Sébastien Haller's header from close range being blocked off the line by Kalvin Phillips.
Haller then had another chance after he was found with plenty of space in the box by Bowen, but after a clever turn his shot was blocked, this time by Luke Ayling who was covering in at central defense for the injured Robin Koch and Diego Llorente.
Marcelo Bielsa's side pushed for a second, and good build-up on the left-wing resulted in Gjanni Alioski crossing to Rodrigo in the box, however, the Spanish striker's first-time volley fired just wide of the goal.
Despite Leeds' best efforts to double their lead, West Ham found the equliser on 25 minutes.
Leeds United's set-piece woes continued as Tomáš Souček rose highest from a corner to level the scores, despite 20-year-old French goalkeeper Illan Meslier getting a hand to it.
Leeds looked to take the lead again with Rodrigo bursting through into the West Ham box, he cut the ball back onto his favoured left foot but his shot went straight down the mouth of the goal and into the palms of the goalkeeper.
The Whites had a case for another penalty towards the end of the first half. Defender Angelo Ogbonna looked to have touched the ball with his hand, but VAR dismissed the home side's claims.
As the half drew to a close, Leeds started to see more of the ball but lacked creativity and cutting edge in key areas. Ayling's left-footed curling shot from distance was caught easily by Fabiański.
Half-time: Leeds United 1-1 West Ham United
The half-time break saw Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa make a double substitution, introducing Jamie Shackleton and Helder Costa who replaced Gjanni Alioski and Jack Harrison.
West Ham started the second-half brighter though, with Sébastien Haller seeing the better of the early chances created by the Hammers as his effort from point-blank range was blocked by Ayling.
Saïd Benrahma, after seeing an earlier free-kick go over the bar, set his sights from long range again. This time his shot just missed the top right-hand corner.
Leeds then had a couple of sights on goal in quick succession. Phillips burst through and saw his left-footed shot saved by Fabiański. Then from the following corner, Klich hit a clean strike from the edge of the area but Fabiański did well to hold onto the shot and deny Bamford a tap in.
The best chance of the half then fell to Pablo Fornals who pounced on a Cooper error and shot just inches past the post.
Eventually, West Ham did take the lead with ten minutes to go, capitalising again on Leeds' set-piece frailties. Aaron Cresswell delivered a free-kick into the box, finding Ogbonna who left Meslier rooted to the spot as he headed home to secure all three points for the visitors.
It's back-to-back defeats for Leeds United which leaves them in 14th place in the Premier League table still before the rest of the weekend's action. A quick turnaround needed as the Whites welcome Newcastle United to Elland Road on Wednesday night.
Match information
Leeds United vs. West Ham United
English Premier League
Friday 11th November 2020
Elland Road
Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Meslier (GK), Alioski (Shackleton 46'), Ayling, Cooper (C), Dallas, Phillips, Raphinha, Klich, Rodrigo, Harrison (Costa 46'), Bamford (Roberts 74'). Unused substitutes: Casilla (GK), Poveda, Hernandez, Struijk.
West Ham United (4-4-1-1): Fabiański (GK), Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Bowen (Johnson 85'), Rice, Souček, Fornals (Snodgrass 90'), Benrahma (Noble 84'). Unused substitutes: Randolph (GK), Fredericks, Dawson, Lanzini.
Referee: Michael Oliver
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