Schmeichel one of the best, Shakespeare says

Leicester ease relegation fears with full points

Craig Shakespeare believes Kasper Schmeichel must be viewed as one of the game’s top goalkeepers after his saves enabled Leicester City to record a fourth successive victory.

First-half goals by Riyad Mahrez, Robert Huth and Jamie Vardy gave the champions a 3-2 win at West Ham United on Saturday, easing the relegation fears that led to manager Claudio Ranieri’s sacking last month.

But West Ham hit back through Manuel Lanzini and Andre Ayew and Leicester needed Schmeichel to make two high-quality saves from Andy Carroll before they could celebrate another win.

“He is in the best form I’ve seen since I’ve been here, so I don’t see why not,” said Shakespeare when asked whether Schmeichel — son of Manchester United goalkeeping great Peter — deserved to be bracketed alongside the Premier League’s star shotstoppers. “All goalkeepers are important, but to bring off those crucial saves was vitally important.”

Shakespeare has known nothing but success since he stepped up from assistant manager to replace Ranieri, initially in a caretaker capacity, but he said it was the result of a simple recipe.

“There’s no secret,” he said. “Hard work, endeavour, resilience — we showed all of them today, aligned with some good football. We scored the goals at the right time.”

Leicester manager