West Ham 3 City 2
A sunny full Upton Park in the East End. Ground full.
The two big spending pre-season Championship favourites meet. Early fortunes stamped by big manager personalities. The home side were good away at Brighton last Monday after losing at leaders Southampton but not playing the “West Ham” way, secure defensively, direct and aggressive away, built on defence, the fans fretful at home. Safely in the top two under Big Sam.
Leicester, manager less, after the home Milwall debacle last Saturday, predictable of late in the narrow Sven diamond formation, playing without passion, seeking inspiration and a renaissance whilst the season has time. The away crowd sing: “We have no manager, we want Mourinho!”
By the end many expectations confounded: the home fans whistling for the final whistle, they scored three but Leicester were ascendant and unlucky, scoring twice, not to take a point after a rousing last third of the game.
Leicester began 4 – 5 – 1 with Nugent and Vassels wide. Beckford the target man and two midfield anchors in Abe and Wellens. St Ledger played alongside Bamba for the last game of skipper Mills’ suspension. The formation seemed to surprise the home side who took time to settle….
An untidy and equal first 15 minutes then the Hammers got on top – their mobile forward movement the key. Two goals in quick succession: Carew with good touch on the by-line and running an inside right channel crossed well for Baldock to out jump Peltier at the back post; worst was to follow for the visitors – in acres of space on the City left a cross field ball over Konchesky found O’Brien – he cut the ball back to the penalty area quadrant, Faubert took a comfortable forward touch and shot across Schmeichel with time to spare. City were now playing the wrong formation to catch-up at 0 – 2 but persisted, Beckford cut a forlorn and lonely spearhead – the wrong game for him.
Carew, clumsy, was booked and substituted quickly for the home side by Piquionne. Before half time the Foxes had a better attacking spell, Bamba to the fore, but lost Vassells injured – he was replaced by Dyer after the break – giving width and directness.
The second half began without real intent, yet there was a recognisable growing feeling of complacency in the home side. At the hour mark Beckford was substituted – he gave the barracking visiting fans a hard stare on the touchline.
Steve Howard came on, guaranteeing commitment and a more direct approach. Things developed and City applied pressure. King headed in easily, as the first West Ham goal, at the back post for 2 – 1, and City deserved it.
They pressured West Ham, but were saved by a brilliant Schmeichel reaction right hand goal line stop from close in, and then went close to an equaliser before being caught out with a classic route one home goal, West Ham substitute Piquionne flick headed over St Ledger and Baldock, a Championship Defoe in style, ran on to beat the keeper.
Dyer was injured and replaced by Johnson causing a further Leicester midfield reshuffle in what was clearly a 4-4-2 formation now. For the Hammers, Faye was booked and substituted quickly – this followed a persuasive Foxes’ penalty shout for a trip on King going left beyond the 6 yard box. Howard was proving both combative and passionate and Leicester used their target man well. He headed on, Nugent teed up King and a superb left foot shot from central 20 years flew into the top left corner of Green’s goal. 2 – 3 but an unfussy celebration!
Leicester had time to equalise as the game broke up further: Peltier headed point blank for Green to parry low to his right; Howard headed on to the bar via a defender; Green saved comfortably from Howard at distance, Bamba missed his header from a right wing corner and Abe fired over. The visitors were going well, playing wide and causing West Ham problems so the home fans were more welcoming of the end of the game after 5 minutes of injury time.
This was a better Leicester performance for the fans, the team looked like they cared: a draw would have been fair. It was a very entertaining game in the second half, a one-off in a way as Leicester’s direct longer style was in sharp contrast to the Erikson era of tight and intricate short passing through midfield.
West Ham were well organised, with skilled players and a formation they understood; Baldock was always lively – a “little and large” combination up front with Carew. There was a determination and harder edge to their game. They will be consistent as befits their manager’s philosophy and in the mix at the end of the season.
The Foxes’ fans’ conviction was that Erikson’s dismissal was fair over his whole record, he had been conservative and inflexible and had been given every resource request by the City owners. Performances had become spiritless and ambition needs time that was running out.
Who needs a manager? Leicester do, and quickly.
City: Schmeiche, Peltier, St. Ledger, Bamba, Konchesky, Wellens, Abe, King, Vassell (Dyer 46 (Johnson 74)), Beckford (Howard 56), Nugent. Unused subs: Weale, Pantsil.
Goals: King 59, 75
Booked: Konchesky
West Ham: Green, O'Brien, Faye (Tomkins 66), Reid, McCartney, Faubert, Noble, Nolan (c), Collison, Carew (Piquionne), Baldock (Sears 88). Unused subs: Boffin, Bouba-Diop.
Goals: Baldock 20, 71; Faubert 22
Booked: Carew, O'Brien, Faye
Attendance: 30,410 Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight)
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation
A good summary of the game as I was in the stand above the City's 3,000 fans amongst the West Ham fans who became very worried as the second half progressed, with one Hammer's fan saying "we'll be lucky to get a point at this rate!"
The removal of Beckford (whose face was like thunder looking at the City Fans as he exited), he is so poor with no committment, does not attempt to jump for long balls, cannot pass (except out for oppo's throw ins), etc etc was a turning point with Howard giving his usual combatitive performance, winning headers, holding the ball for mid-field to come into play and surely must start a game as our first half performances of late are unacceptable. Even if he doesn't last 90 minutes, he's an outlet for Schmeichel's long punts and if route one (eg Hammer's third goal – nice one Sam) is required, so be it, giving King and Nugent the chance to feed off Howard.
The City defence cannot deal with long, high balls and corners, so the new manager's first job is to sort that out, and, hopefully with Mills returning, give a base to start re-building a team that needs a win desparately, not only for themselves, but the fans who keep turning up, especially at away games, the Hammer's fans saying "blimey they are well supported away from home"
Kevin Keegan? – the paper's need to fill space, but who will it be as there are so many names being banded about, every manager not that's not employed + Lee Clark. Make it quick and certainly by next Sunday.