Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has admitted that one of their best qualities was missing this term.

The club's stand-in skipper spoke about their 3-1 loss to West Ham United on Sunday.

Leeds now have to beat Tottenham on the last day of the season and hope other results go their way to avoid relegation.

Asked why they may be struggling, Ayling pointed to their fitness - a key factor under former manager Marcelo Bielsa.

"Very disappointed," he said post-game. "We started the game well, we go 1-0 up, then we concede a goal again and then we come off at half-time and we feel ok but the second half just isn't good enough. We just couldn't seem to go again. We put so much into the first half and then in the second half we just had nothing. It's very disappointing

"I think in years gone past teams have feared us when it comes to a running point of view, we had our fitness and stuff, but it just doesn't feel like it's there.

“This season we start so well, we started bright, we scored a goal, then they score a goal. Just like that, it can happen at this level, but then we came out for the second half and we just can't go again. It's very disappointing."