Moyes upbeat as safety looms but Leicester pile on pain for Puel
West Ham United are within touching distance of Premier League safety after digging deep to finally summon an iron-willed performance that simply overwhelmed feeble Leicester.
Desire and intensity, not words always associated with the Londoners’ efforts this season, hallmarked the display of David Moyes’s men, who rose impressively to the demands of the occasion.
Defeat would have left West Ham vulnerable, with pressure heaped on their final two matches, against Manchester United and former manager Sam Allardyce’s Everton, both at the London Stadium.
But a close-range finish from Joao Mario and a magnificently struck volley by captain Mark Noble crowned a compelling all-round display.
Defender Angelo Ogbonna, midfield power unit Cheikhou Kouyate and the creative Manuel Lanzini were outstanding. “We are staying up,” sang the jubilant West Ham fans as they saluted their players at the final whistle.
Moyes said: “I was really pleased with the performance and, of course, the result. With games running out we were aware of the importance and the players went about it really well today.
“We played good football, were brave in the box, passed it well and if we’d been a bit more clinical up front we would have got more goals. This team is capable of winning a lot more games.”
It was, however, another wretched afternoon for Leicester manager Claude Puel. Given a vote of confidence by the club owners 24 hours earlier, this was the tamest of surrenders.
Leicester have won just four times in 19 league matches under Puel and home supporters gave full vent to their disgust at the end.
Puel said: “We have had a lot of injuries and it is difficult to find a good balance. We did not have enough freshness in our minds or physicality to give a reward to our fans. It’s not the time to talk about the summer. Now it’s the time to try and finish the last two games.’’
West Ham hardly looked like a side arriving on the back of successive 4-1 drubbings in a lively opening in which Marko Arnautovic twice caused panic down Leicester’s left flank before inadvertently deflecting Lanzini’s ontarget drive away from danger in the 10th minute.
They deservedly moved in front 11 minutes before the interval after Arnautovic had twice gone close, shooting at Leicester goalkeeper Ben Hamer, then hitting the crossbar. Now he turned provider. Arthur Masuaku tore down the left, his deep cross being pulled back by Arnautovic for Mario to stroke in from close range. Jeered off at half-time, Leicester tried to remedy the situation after the break.
West Ham were in trouble immedi- ately, Aaron Cresswell guiding the ball with his arm as he slipped under pressure from Jamie Vardy and receiving a yellow card. There were to be few other moments of concern for the visitors.
West Ham’s work-rate was typified on the hour when home dangerman Riyad Mahrez wriggled free in the visitors’ penalty area but was instantly swamped by three defenders.
Terrace discontent was again evident when Puel made a double switch, Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray replacing Hamza Choudhury and Fousseni Diabate. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” was the indictment of the increasingly frustrated home supporters.
It was the perfect time for West Ham to strike and three minutes later they had doubled their lead.
Leicester only partially cleared a free-kick and there was Noble to flash a 20-yard screamer beyond Hamer. There was still almost half an hour to play but Leicester were beyond salvation.
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Hamer 5; Benalouane 5, Morgan 5, Maguire 5, Fuchs 4; Choudhury 4 (Iheanacho 61), Iborra 4 (Dragovic h/t); Mahrez 5, Silva 4, Diabate 5 (Gray 61); Vardy 5. Subs not used Jakupovic (g), Thomas, Barnes, Hughes. Booked Dragovic. West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Adrian 6; Rice 7, Ogbonna 8, Cresswell 6; Zabaleta 6, Noble 8, Kouyate 8, Masuaku 7 (Evra 90); Lanzini 8 (Carroll 75), Mario 7; Arnautovic 7 (Fernandes 79). Subs not used Hugill, Obiang, Cullen, Trott (g). Booked Arnautovic, Cresswell. Referee Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).