West Ham 3 Leicester 2

West Ham welcomed back Robert Green in goal. Baldock came in for Diop.

Leicester managed a shot in the first 20 seconds of the game but Nugent's effort from the edge of the area flew wide of the right hand post. The quick start was a bit of a false dawn for Leicester and, after that effort, West Ham dominated the half.

West Ham's dominance was rewarded in the 20th minute. Noble carried the ball forwards before passing to Carew. Carew crossed the ball from the byline and Baldock headed home at the far post from 6 yards.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. Noble took out Konchesky with a great long pass over his head to O'Brien. O'Brien pulled the ball back to Faubert, who shot home from the edge of the area.

In the 30th minute Carew was replaced with Piquionne. Carew was limping as he left the pitch but the fact that the ref had already booked Carew and was penalising him every time he came within two yards of the opposition Allardyce might have been a little worried that he could have seen a red at some point.

In the last five minutes Leicester showed a little more threat going forward. In the 44th minute Vassell crossed low into the area and Beckford managed to divert the ball goalwards forcing a good save from Green.


West Ham had a great opportunity to extend their lead at the start of the second half. In the 47th minute Noble sent Piquionne through. Piquionne could have set up Baldock but chose to shoot instead. His shot was blocked and the ball fell to Faubert whose shot was also blocked.

With West Ham looking in total control of the game Leicester, in the 59th minute, managed to get back into the game. Wellens crossed the ball into the area and King headed home at the far post. Two minutes later and Leicester could have been back on equal terms after Bamba headed a corner goalwards. Green got the ball away but it fell to St. Ledger who fired wide from close range.

In the 63rd minute Faye was replaced with Tomkins. The substitution happened a couple of minutes after Faye was booked. Something tells me Allardyce doesn't trust this referee.

Then in the 70th minute, with Leicester looking the most likely to get the next goal, Robert Green kicked the ball the length of the pitch, Piquionne flicked it on and Baldock shot home from 12 yards. Route one at its best!

West Ham thought they could breathe safely again but five minutes later Leicester took a leaf out of the Allardyce coaching manual. A long ball forward fell to King who got his second, shooting in from the edge of the area.

Leicester continued to throw everything forward. In the 81st minute Howard headed goalwards a Konchesky cross. Tomkins just managed to head the ball off the crossbar. A minute later and Green was forced into a good save to keep out a Peltier header.

In the 85th minute Nugent shot just wide. In the 87th minute Baldock was replaced with Sears.


In the end West Ham managed to just hold onto their lead. Baldock looks a great find. It's bottom of the table Bristol City next. Can we have an easy game please!