The tale of the tape was written in the first 15 minutes with quickfire goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon doing the damage for Daniel Farke's team.

Just three minutes had elapsed before Alphonse Areola was picking the ball out of the net when Noah Okafor saw his back-post header brilliantly saved by the visiting goalkeeper, only for Aaronson to follow up on the rebound.

Having seen Jarrod Bowen's bicycle kick saved at the other end, the Hammers' troubles deepened in the 15th minute when another corner-kick proved to be their undoing.

It proved all too simple for Rodon, who easily made his way past Lucas Paqueta inside the box to thump Sean Longstaff's inviting set-piece into the back of the net.

Paqueta then thought he had reduced the arrears when he thundered the ball in off the crossbar just after the half-hour mark, but the Brazilian was adjudged to have been in an offside position, with the on-field decision confirmed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Okafor then curled a strike just wide before Areola was on hand to thwart Jayden Bogle's attempt at the near post.

The pattern of the game continued after the restart but provided few clear-cut chances, with Aaronson coming closest to altering the scoreline after his driving run ended with a shot that deflected over Areola and on to the crossbar.

But West Ham reduced the deficit on the stroke of full-time when Bowen's delivery into the box was glanced on by Mateus Fernandes, but it proved in vain for the struggling Hammers.

After another damning display, West Ham captain Bowen was adamant it was up to the players to turn things around.

"Probably a lot of reasons why [we started slowly]. But a dressing room when you're second bottom of the league is low," Bowen said.

"The only way this will change is if we step up and show some fight. We need more of that. It's easy to hide and be scared almost.

"It's easier said and harder to do sometimes. Roll your sleeves up and dig in. No one will give this to us. We're in a real situation, and we have to face the reality of that. You have to face up to the reality of where we are, and we're in trouble now.

"We have to go out there and fight more than anything. The Premier League is the hardest league. We're not playing well and not getting results. We need to change it. We're the only ones that can change it.

"We've talked as a group, but it's down to the players as well. We speak to each other, but there's only so much. It's got to come from within. We can show it a lot more.

"Nine games we've had, one win, and we're second bottom. We haven't been great at home, but now is the time to roll your sleeves up."

Nuno insisted both he and the players are determined to turn things around for the fans.

"It's a simple explanation. We didn't deal with the problems. We didn't deal with many things," the Hammers boss said.

"We have to work hard and be much better. I feel the players want to, but they switch off in many moments.

"[Now] we work. Now is the time for sadness. Let's keep on going. We need the fans since we arrive; it's up to us. We need to give them something to deserve that support."

Leeds's third league win of the campaign has moved it up to 13th on the table ahead of the rest of this weekend's action.

West Ham, meanwhile, remains mired in the relegation zone with just four points.