West Ham 3 Leeds 4
Leeds gave their under pressure manager Terry Venables something to smile about with a thrilling 4-3 win over fellow strugglers West Ham at Upton Park today.
Former England coach Venables has been facing mounting criticism while the ambitious Yorkshire club slipped into the bottom half of the table.
But four first-half goals ensured the visitors took all the points with striker Harry Kewell scoring twice.
Mark Viduka also scored with England midfielder Nick Barmby opening Leeds' account in the 11th minute.
But Leeds, 4-1 up at the break, had to stave off a spirited second-half West Ham fightback.
Earlier West Ham's temperamental Italian striker Paolo di Canio kept the Londoners in touch with a 21st-minute goal before adding a second from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
England midfielder Trevor Sinclair then gave West Ham fresh hope with a near-post header 16 minutes from time.
However, this latest defeat still leaves Glenn Roeder's side looking for their first home win of the season and on the edge of the relegation zone.
Their plight was summed up by Leeds' first goal when defender Ian Pearce's header left goalkeeper David James in no man's land.
Kewell lobbed the England international and Barmby scored with a diving header into an empty net.
West Ham hit back eight minutes later when Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson could only parry midfielder Michael Carrick's 25-yard shot and Di Canio pounced on the rebound.
Leeds then restored their advantage in the 28th minute when Kewell, on the edge of the six-yard box, headed in Ian Harte's corner.
Kewell then extended Leeds' lead after 40 minutes when more poor defending saw West Ham fail to clear a Harte corner allowing the Australian to drive the ball home from 12 yards.
West Ham 'keeper James was left in despair again when his clearance from a Christian Dailly backpass in first-half injury time rebounded off Viduka and into the empty net.
Di Canio gave West Ham a lifeline five minutes after the break when he was tripped in the box by Gary Kelly.
He took the penalty himself, giving Robinson no chance.
And just when Leeds seemed to be cruising to victory a defensive lapse saw Sinclair rise unchallenged at the near post to head home West Ham's third.
The home team pressed forward and Pearce came within inches of scoring what would have been an extraordinary equalliser.