FOXES EXPECT BIG GUNS TO TARGET SUPERHERO KASPER
KASPER SCHMEICHEL is as good as any goalkeeper in the Premier League, says Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare. Several stunning saves from Leicester’s keeper saw the champions secure their first away win of the season. Schmeichel denied Andy Carroll in stoppage-time with a save of the season contender and it came after his Champions League heroics led Leicester into the quarter-finals. His team-mates say they are aware the 30-year-old will be wanted in the summer but insist not many will be able to afford him. Asked where Schmeichel ranks among the League’s best shotstoppers, Shakespeare said: ‘He’s got to be up there. ‘You see that the saves are very, very crucial. I’d have to rate him up there with them all. ‘Kasper is a larger than life character. He is in a rich vein of form and long may that continue. I’d rather him not have so much to do. But when he does, he’s making crucial saves.’ Leicester’s Marc Albrighton added: ‘Over the last two legs against Sevilla, he was the main factor in us winning the tie. He’s won us this game as well. ‘He pulled off two or three saves where I thought he had no chance. Kasper has been a brick wall in that goal. ‘He is rightly getting recognition now as one of the top keepers in Europe and he deserves the plaudits. Teams will probably come sniffing for him but not many could afford him.’ Riyad Mahrez, Robert Huth and Jamie Vardy scored for Leicester, who have secured
four successive wins since Shakespeare took over from Claudio Ranieri.
SUPER STAT: Craig Shakespeare is the first Premier League manager to have his side score three or more goals in his first three games.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Randolph 4.5; Byram 5, Fonte 5, Reid 5 (Snodgrass 18min, 6), Cresswell 5 (Masuaku 73, 6); Kouyate 6, Obiang 6 (Fernandes 67, 6); Antonio 6, Lanzini 6.5, Ayew 6.5; Carroll 6. Subs not used: Nordtveit, Feghouli, Adrian, Collins. Scorers: Lanzini 20, Ayew 63.
LEICESTER (4-4-2): Schmeichel 8.5; Simpson 6, Huth 7, Benalouane 6.5, Fuchs 6.5; Mahrez 8 (Chilwell 87), Ndidi 6, Drinkwater 6, Albrighton 7; Okazaki 6 (Musa 76), Vardy 7 (Slimani 76). Subs not used: King, Amartey, Zieler, Gray. Booked: Drinkwater. Scorers: Mahrez 5, Huth 7, Vardy 38. Man of the match: Kasper Schmeichel. Referee: Roger East 6.