Leeds United’s last-minute winner was a huge win in the grand scheme of the season, but was dampened somewhat by West Ham also snatching a win late on at Spurs.

The tension at the bottom end of the Premier League is unlikely to dissipate any time soon for Leeds or any of their neighbours.

This weekend just gone, though, was a hugely positive one for each side. Every side from 20th-placed Wolves up to Leeds in 16th all avoided defeat, as the Whites won at home to Fulham.

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West Ham snatch all three points with stunning away derby win over Spurs

As Leeds looked to get the better of Fulham at Elland Road, West Ham were tasked with a local derby against Spurs away from home.

Neither side went into the game in particularly high spirits. But, Dr Tottenham was on hand to prescribe the Irons picked up a much-needed first win since November 8th.

Crysencio Summerville cut inside in typical fashion and saw his deflected effort give West Ham the lead. That was his third goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a brace for Leeds back in November 2022.

West Ham’s Callum Wilson scores the winner against Spurs. (REUTERS/Tony O Brien)

Openings at both ends went begging before an unstoppable header from Cristian Romero restored parity.

However, as both sides searched for a late winner, Callum Wilson was the man to get it for Nuno Espirito Santo. First denied by Pedro Porro’s last-ditch block for a corner, Wilson profited from Guglielmo Vicario flapping at a cross under his crossbar, as Wilson prodded in a winner deep in added time.

West Ham should have lost the game as Spurs were robbed of clear handball and penalty

It wouldn’t be a week of Premier League action without VAR controversially in the spotlight. That was the case here in North London.

As Leeds hoped for more woe for the Irons, they were handed an incredibly fortunate lifeline at 1-1. As Conor Gallagher drove to the by-line in the 84th minute, controlled a diagonal pass from Djed Spence. Looking to cross, the ball then glanced off the outstretched arm of back-tracking West Ham man Ollie Scarles.

Spurs’ Conor Gallagher crosses the ball after what appeared to be handball from West Ham’s Ollie Scarles. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

VAR briefly checked the decision before deciding not to instruct Jarred Gillet over to the pitchside monitor.

Had West Ham been punished for what looked a fairly clear cut handling of the ball in the penalty area, it would likely have seen them lose the game, rather than win it. As a result, Leeds could have been looking at an 11-point gap to the bottom three instead of eight.

The Handball rule is so confusing – Leeds United harmed three times in 2026 by controversial decisions

Already in 2026, Leeds have been hampered three times and helped once by the handball rule. It’s clearly too confusing for inconsistent officials to get right.

First, Ethan Ampadu is booked and given a one-match ban for controlling the ball around the ‘shirt line’ of his arm. In this instance, not only is the ambiguous definition of a shirt line up for contention, but it was not an ‘intentional’ handball either. It meant Ampadu missed our game against Man United, where his presence could have helped us win.

Then, at Newcastle United, two handballs were penalised for penalties. Both Leeds and Magpies fans bickering about the rulings of both. Aaronson’s arm for Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty in stoppage time wasn’t actually in an unnatural position. It was made to look unnatural by virtue of a football hitting him at high speed.

Now, you’ve got West Ham avoiding punishment for a player stretching his arm out in the box and diverting the ball (even if it’s slight). I think what saved him is the lack of appeal from Gallagher.

That being said, the rules have to be streamlined, because it’s just complete nonsense.

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