West Ham United's 1999-2000 season started earlier than any other Premiership team, as they attempted to become the first English club to qualify for the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto Cup. To their credit, they managed this: playing Metz in the final, they overcame a first leg single goal defecit by winning 3-1 in France. What's more, the competetive edge required to do so well in the Intertoto paid dividends in the Premiership too. By mid September, they had won four out of their first five Premiership games and were sitting pretty in third place, on thirteen points.

However, their single goal defeat of Watford at Upton Park, on September 11th, represented the peak of their season so far - and they arrive at Elland Road on Saturday amidst something of a slump, particularly in terms of their away form. On Wednesday, they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, their fourth cosecutive away loss in the Premiership. Indeed, you have to go back as far as August to discover the last time they avoided defeat in the League: a 3-0 victory at Bradford City. Add to this, a 2-0 defecit to turn around in the UEFA Cup against Steaua Buchareast and it becomes obvious that an uplifting result against Leeds is imperative, as they attempt to kick start their season back to life.

Of course, traditionally speaking, Elland Road has not been the Hammers' happiest hunting ground over the years, as the above table indicates. Indeed, you need to go as far back as 1977-78 to find their last victory at Elland Road. Last season, in the corresponding fixture, we played some of our most sparkling football of the campaign to beat them 4-0. As if that wasn't bad enough, we then trounced them 5-1 at Upton Park in May. So revenge should be a motivitating factor at the weekend.

Of course, one player who West Ham must be thoroughly sick of the sight of is Lee Bowyer. Not only was Lee a West Ham fan as lad but has the annoying habit of playing a blinder - and scoring - almost every time the teams meet. Last season, he got a couple at Elland Road and one in the away fixture. Despite suffering from a continual groin problem, he looks set to play tomorrow and renew his personal battle with Frank Lampard, who Keegan appears to prefer in his England squad at present. In fact, O'Leary looks to be able to choose from near full strength, with Duberry available again after a lengthy lay off. For West Ham, Redknapp may go for a more defensive line up than of late, with John Moncur or Marc-Vivien Foe possibly replacing Joe Cole.

United produced another fine display of possession football to defeat a stubborn, if somewhat lack lustre, West Ham outfit - a win which keeps us at the top of the Premiership pile. However, despite enjoying the bulk of the play and rarely looking troubled for eighty minutes of this encounter, the match was only decided by a single Ian Harte strike midway through the second half. What's more, we needed to bite our nails for the last ten minutes, as West Ham suddenly decided to makle a game of it.

O'Leary had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged team for the third consecutive game, with Huckerby once again left to make his mark as a substitute. Harry Redknapp, however, was without the services of two of his most influential players, De Canio and Sinclair, and decided to keep teenage sensation Joe Cole on the bench.

The first half started promisingly for Leeds with Harry Kewell, as usual, right in the thick of things - and a constant thorn in the Hammers' defence. In the eleventh minute, he fired crisply across the face of goal, then, less than ten minutes later, was picked out from the right by Kelly. Unfortunately, though, he couldn't quite adjust his feet in time and the header looped harmlessly over the bar.

His best chance came half way through the opening period when he hit a scorching thirty yard drive, which was brilliantly tipped over by Hislop - who was keeping the Hammers in the game with some solid keeping. Then, just before the interval, Kewell tried a crafty side footed lob from the left hand edge of the box, which the keeper managed to scramble to safety.

As usual, United's forwards were a constant menace, with their pace and clever interplay. Bridges was at the heart of much of our best moves and Smith had a couple of efforts, just before the break to give us the lead. Firstly, Bridges floated a ball over to him, just a little too high to control the header. Then, as Bridges fired a cross from the by-line across the goalline, Smith was just unable to connect.

Despite the 0-0 scoreline, O'Leary must have been reasonably pleased with his lads' play. As always, they looked likely to score but this time, unlike the Everton game, they looked solid at the back, with Lucas back to his usual dependable self. Martyn was barely troubled.

This continued into the second half with United pressing for the opening goal and the first to almost every second ball. The goal, when it came, was not from a forward. As a cross was whipped into the West Ham area from the right, it was cut out by Lomas, but only to the left hand corner of the box. Harte, finding himself unexpectedly in space, controlled the ball neatly and hammered (excuse the pun!) an unstopppable drive int Hislop's goal. It was certainly no more than we deserved.

Immediately, O'Leary replaced Smith with Huckerby for his usual late run out - as Leeds pressed for a second goal to kill the game off. With twenty minutes remaining, Kewell again produced a blistering drive which was this time blocked by Wanchope then, minutes later, Huckerby was picked out by Bridges on the right hand side of the area. His shot was powerfully struck but, hit across the goal, it swerved just wide of Hislop's left hand post.

Redknapp's final throw of the dice was to replace Foe with Wonderboy Cole which seemed to have the desired effect, as West Ham began to press forward. Bizarrely, having assumed total control of the first eighty minutes without bagging the hatful of goals our possession merited, we suddenly seemed to lose the plot as the Hammers pressed us back in our box. Panic seemed to spread across the Park like a disease with Martyn and radebe flapping at balls which, only minutes earlier, they had been dealing with comfortably.

The result hinged on a moment nine minutes from time. Batty conceded a free kick on the edge of the area which Lampard stepped up to take. He hit a blistering free kick round the United wall which Martyn managed to get his fingertips to, to keep us in the lead. As panic set in, Lampard in particular had other half chances to equalise but, had West Ham managed to grab a point from this game it would have been a travesty of justice.

The win keeps us top of the Premiership for another week at least. In fact, with Arsenal only managing a 0-0 home draw against Newcastle, we've actually extended our lead to two points. The Scum have now moved rather ominously into second place. O'Leary's boys can now face the daunting return trip to Moscow in midweek not only with a three goal cushion but knowing they we are still league leaders.

United star Man: Harry Kewell