They also hit the bar and had the game’s best goal ruled out. Jack Harrison will rightly get the headlines for his hat-trick, ironic that he did so in front of David Moyes, who had been touting Jarrod Bowen for an England call up.

Raphinha was electric when he came on but more than anything, the team spirit, when goals and events went against them, was extraordinary.

They took the lead early after Lukas Fabianski could only parry out a Mateusz Klich shot. Forshaw set up Harrison who did the rest.

Marcelo Bielsa will be less pleased at the free header that allowed Jarrod Bowen to equalise, shortly after he had been forced to introduce the two debutants. The momentum seemed to be swinging the London club’s way.

But Harrison poked Leeds back in front again three minutes later to lead 2-1 at halftime.

That lead lasted seven minutes when Pablo Fornals sidestepped defenders to equalise. Despite losing a second lead and maybe enduring periods of Hammers pressure, the Yorkshire side showed amazing resilience.

But it was a beautiful and creative piece of skill from Raphinha that restored Leeds’ advantage for the third time. He slid a sublime ball into Harrison’s half. The on-form Englishman was more than too good for Fabianski’s onrushing attempts to deflect and distract.

After that it was Leeds who looked most likely to get the game’s sixth goal. Raphinha hit the woodwork with a free-kick and set up Klich superbly for what should have been Leeds’ fourth. Sadly Rodrigo was on the line and VAR decided his presence was enough to chalk the goal off.

Harrison will get the plaudits but Dutch defender Pascal Struijk was outstanding in his battle with Bowen and Robin Koch neutralised Michail Antonio superbly.

Leeds have Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton next. Seven points from those could put their relegation woes to rest