Kyle Newbould: I watched Leeds United's 3-0 defeat vs West Ham - here are my 3 key conclusions
Key takeaways from a disappointing but relatively meaningless final-day defeat at West Ham.
Leeds United’s 2025/26 season ended in disappointing fashion as they lost 3-0 at West Ham on Sunday. Second-half goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson condemned the Whites to a first defeat in nine but it did little to dampen the away-end spirits, with a 14th-place Premier League finish confirmed.
The Whites went into Sunday’s game with a raft of key injuries and struggled to make their attacking mark on the game. West Ham had survival on the line and after a nervy first-half, got their opener through Castellanos before Bowen and Wilson capitalised on some poor defending.
But the Hammers went down regardless, with Tottenham Hotspur beating Everton, while Leeds remained comfortably in mid-table. Below are the YEP’s key takeaways from a somewhat flat end to the season.
Potential Leeds United goodbyes
Last weekend’s 1-0 win at home to Brighton belonged to Sam Byram, his likely send off a fitting tribute for someone who has served Leeds so well over two spells. The veteran defender didn’t get on against his former club West Ham but a handful of teammates might just have played their final game under Farke.
A near-certainty is Facundo Buonanotte, whose 79th-minute introduction brought league appearance number three in an underwhelming four months at Leeds. Joel Piroe replaced Ao Tanaka at the same time and equally, it’s difficult to see him being part of next season’s Premier League progression plans given the lack of minutes this term.
Wingers Daniel James and Willy Gnonto got 20 minutes each and both might feel uncertain over their futures, again with minutes already lacking. It would be a disappointing way to go but the latter three - Piroe, James and Gnonto - will always be remembered as part of that 100-point, Championship title-winning group.
A stress-free afternoon - thank God
It’s testament to Farke and his squad that even in a season where 39 points has led to relegation for West Ham, they travelled down to the capital on the final day long safe. Sunday’s fixture had long been tipped as a potential relegation decider but while the majority of the London Stadium was tense beyond belief, it was a care-free occasion for the away end.
And thank God it was, as any survival tension coupled with a performance like that would have been unbearable. Leeds were poor, the poorest they’ve been in several weeks, and it’s likely they’d have been far more intense had anything but Premier League positioning been on the line. In the end it mattered little, with travelling fans enjoying their day regardless.
West Ham got their three points on the day and were good-value for it eventually, but they’d have taken being in Leeds’ position any day of the week. Farke’s side got their final Elland Road win last weekend and after the instant disappointment of defeat, can reflect on a quite excellent season.
And to summer...
What Sunday’s performance should show Leeds is that there is still plenty of work to do ahead of next season. Fellow newly-promoted side Sunderland claimed a seventh-placed finish and Europa League place by beating Chelsea on Sunday and have overshadowed Farke’s side in terms of over-achievement.
There is no reason the Whites can’t get there next season. The mid-table pack is incredibly tight - so tight that Leeds could have actually finished above Sunderland had results gone the other way - but work is to be done.
49ers Enterprises will need no reminding not to sit on their hands this summer, Farke has already made it clear ambition is needed, but Sunday’s result had strengthened that need. It’s going to be a big few months.