KEVIN BLACKWELL has given debuts to 26 players at Leeds this season but few have had the immediate impact of his two latest imports, Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry.

Hulse, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, scored his third goal in three games for his adopted team and Derry produced the winner on his home debut after signing from Crystal Palace.

Blackwell persisted in his pursuit of Derry after first trying to sign him before Christmas and the versatile midfielder is keen to repay him.

“Now that I have signed, I am relieved and excited about what the future holds for me,” the 27-year-old said. “I am so pleased that Kevin Blackwell kept his interest in me. I want to thank him and repay him for it.”

Nottingham-born Derry was in the Crystal Palace team that ended West Ham’s promotion hopes in last year’s playoff final. Here, his well-taken goal frustrated the Hammers’ attempts to register a fourth consecutive league win.

The result left Alan Pardew, the West Ham manager, deeply disappointed — and a bit confused about the result. “When we look at the league table we will be kicking ourselves,” he said. “We should be leaving with three points, not just one.”

The match appeared differently through Leeds eyes. “For 60 minutes we dominated,” Blackwell said. “The players deserve credit. They have had to deal with a hell of a lot and they have come through.”

Leeds, with veteran full-back Gary Kelly adventurous down the right, had all the possession in the first half without truly troubling Stephen Bywater in the West Ham goal. Hulse volleyed over the bar after six minutes and headed a corner wide. But the West Ham defence, with Anton Ferdinand outstanding, dealt adequately with a stream of crosses and corners.

It was 38 minutes before the visitors had an attempt on goal but Gavin Williams’s left-foot shot flew well wide. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Ferdinand went off with a pulled hamstring. Blackwell told his strikers during the interval to get to the near post to meet the crosses his wide men were providing and, six minutes into the second half, Hulse did just that.

Aaron Lennon broke to the byline and Hulse met his cross on the edge of the six-yard box to hook the ball past Bywater.

“We lost Ferdinand and within minutes we conceded our first goal in four league games,” Pardew observed.

Instead of punishing West Ham’s weakened defence further, Leeds allowed the visitors back into the game. The promising Williams, signed from Yeovil Town, struck the foot of a post before equalising on 68 minutes.

Steve Lomas played a long ball that Teddy Sheringham chested down and Williams struck a volley into the far corner, the ball taking a slight touch off Paul Butler. West Ham were suddenly looking the team more likely to win the game and Williams might have had a second but dwelled too long on the ball and allowed Simon Walton to make a vital tackle.

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