Paolo di Canio scored the goal which gave West Ham three valuable points, and
left everyone wondering if he had delivered a parting gift to the fans who have
worshipped him for the past three years.
The colourful and controversial striker is rumoured to be heading to
Manchester United, and although nobody at Upton Park will begrudge him a dream
move with which to see out his career, he showed today why his immense talent
will be sorely missed.
The Italian favourite settled a tense affair when he hooked the ball home at
the far post after 35 minutes, after Frank Sinclair had blocked Joe Cole's
effort and Sebastian Schemmel headed the loose ball across the face of the
goal.
It was former manager Harry Redknapp who shocked the soccer world when he
signed di Canio from Sheffield Wednesday for £1.6million almost three years
ago.
The striker was worth much more as a player, but was allowed to leave
Hillsborough on the cheap because he had been banned for a record 11 matches
following his infamous push on referee Paul Alcock.
Pundits queued up to claim Redknapp was mad for taking such a gamble. But
today di Canio made his 99th appearance for West Ham and scored his 37th goal,
which is not a bad return on the investment.
Upton Park boasted a sell-out crowd as West Ham fans came to see what might
prove to be his final appearance for the club, even if kids were let in for just
a pound.
The way di Canio hugged his team-mates and saluted the fans before kick-off
had all the signs of a man who knows he is making his farewell appearance.
Despite expectations this would be a physical battle, both teams tried to play
football in the early stages, although there was a difference in the build-ups.
The home team tried to use the silky skills of di Canio and Cole to work the
ball forward, whereas Leicester hit long balls for their big strikers Brian
Deane and Ade Akinbiyi to chase.
Leicester went close after 13 minutes when a long throw from the left was
helped on by Akinbiyi and James Scowcroft headed just over the crossbar.
West Ham then relaxed a bit too much after 16 minutes when Tomas Repka allowed
a ball to run back to goalkeeper David James.
Akinbiyi refused to give up the chase and blocked James' clearance, and the
loose ball rebounded towards Deane, with an open goal at his mercy.
But Repka's blushes were spared as Nigel Winterburn and Christian Dailly
combined to close him down and block his attempt at goal.
Upton Park erupted in celebration after 35 minutes when that man di Canio kept
to the script by giving the Hammers the lead, and he spared Cole's blushes in
the process.
The ball fell to Cole in plenty of space, just seven or eight yards from goal,
and he looked certain to score.
But Sinclair did a brilliant job of getting back to block the shot, and
Leicester thought they were off the hook.
However, the loose ball was headed back across goal by Schemmel and di Canio
pounced at the far post to hook home his sixth goal of the season.
With England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's deputy, Tord Grip, in the stands,
there was every incentive for the England hopefuls to make an impression.
One of them, Trevor Sinclair, was having a quiet game, but crossed well after
54 minutes and the ball was headed behind for a corner. When the ball came
across again, Dailly headed narrowly over.
Dailly was immediately involved again as play switched quickly to the other
end, when he appeared to bring down Dennis Wise as West Ham defended poorly.
Unfortunately for Leicester, referee Dermot Gallagher waved play on.
Leicester had scored just 14 times in 20 matches before today and they needed
some inspiration if they were going to salvage something here.
Even Walker joined the attack as Leicester won two corners in injury time, but
Leicester failed to find an equaliser and this defeat leaves them further adrift
at the foot of the table, especially as Ipswich won today too.
For West Ham, the run extends their current run to one defeat in eight in the
Premiership, but the headlines will be about one man - Paolo di Canio.
He was the last man off the pitch, waving to all four corners of the ground,
and you just wondered if there was a tear in his eye as he walked off with his
head bowed.
Teams
West Ham: James, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn,
Hutchison, Moncur (Foxe 85), Cole, Sinclair, Di Canio,
Kanoute (Defoe 71).
Subs Not Used: Andersson, Kitson, Courtois.
Goals: Di Canio 36.
Leicester: Walker, Davidson, Sinclair, Laursen,
Rogers (Marshall 64), Impey, Savage, Wise, Scowcroft,
Akinbiyi (Stevenson 84), Deane.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Oakes, Stewart.
Booked: Davidson, Savage.
Att: 34,698
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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