By Craig Scott

16th Jan, 2022 | 4:15pm

Alan Smith blasts Luke Ayling after 'horrible' moment in Leeds United clash v West Ham

Alan Smith blasted Luke Ayling after a “horrible” pass conceded possession to West Ham moments before they scored one of their goals against Leeds United on Sunday.

Pablo Fornals levelled the score to 2-2 in the 52nd minute after a sloppy spell by the Whites that was summed up by a poor pass by Ayling into Lewis Bate on his Premier League debut.

Smith said on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday [03:10pm] that Ayling was “giving Lewis Bate a horrible pass”.

He added: “I think there was an apology in there.”

Smith then added after Fornals’ goal that there have been some “hurried decisions” from Leeds players and again highlighted Ayling’s poor pass into Bate.

Awkward

Marcelo Bielsa needs to stop playing Ayling as a centre-half because he simply isn’t cut out for it.

There was no need for it on Sunday too.

Junior Firpo went off injured just after 20 minutes with Leo Hjelde coming off the bench.

That means he had three centre-backs on the pitch but only one playing in his natural role as Robin Koch was sat in the defensive midfield slot and Hjelde was at left-back.

Bielsa could have easily moved Stuart Dallas to the left-back position, move Ayling to right back and move Hjelde into the middle to play alongside Struijk.

Or, if he wanted a left-footed and right-footed option in each of the centre-back roles, he could have dropped Koch back and put Struijk in the midfield.

He just needs to stop playing Ayling there.

It simply doesn’t work.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are ready to make a bid for this £8million-rated central midfielder.