Transfer failings are laid bare as West Ham hopes hang by thread

Missing in action: Paqueta and Emerson, both of whom will be suspended for the second leg, can only watch as Hofman fires home

-  Malik Ouzia

IF WESTHAM arrived here in Germany under the acceptance that a one-goal defeat would be a decent result, then it figures that 2-0 might have felt around about par.

Certainly, it was no less than Xabi Alonso’s dominant side deserved; they held almost three-quarters of possession, completed in excess of 450 more passes and managed 33 shots to West Ham’s one.

True, the goals came late, one off the boot of Jonas Hofmann seven minutes from time, then the killer from the head of Victor Boniface in the first of that added on. But scoring late is what Leverkusen do, almost as much as losing is what they do not.

This was a 42nd match unbeaten for the German champions-elect this season, and should they extend that to 43 when Werder Bremen come here on Sunday, they may well head to London next week with a first-ever Bundesliga title secured.

So why, then, did it feel so cruel for David Moyes and his side, who were theoretically within seven minutes of halfway house parity, but visibly always clinging on?