Ian Wright could have sent West Ham heading for the InterToto Cup - but
Leicester ended happier after a game that miraculously ended goalless.
West Ham made a late, late bid for the English nomination on Thursday, and now
must grab fifth spot back from Aston Villa to give themselves a summer of
pre-UEFA Cup activity.
The point, however, virtually assures Martin O'Neill's side of continued
membership of the Premiership. But Wright, just seven minutes after coming on as
substitute following three months of injury agony, squandered a wonderful chance
to secure the three points for the Hammers.
Unmarked and 12 yards out, his shot lacked the usual clinical accuracy, and
the best move of the match failed to produce a goal.
Goalless it might have been, but both sides will wonder just how. West Ham had
to thank a solid display by Shaka Hislop as they survived the Leicester barrage,
crosses powering across the box all afternoon but with West Ham's luck holding,
helped by sound defending by Neil Ruddock and Ian Pearce.
West Ham relied on the silky skills of Paulo Di Canio and Eyal Berkovic, but
the two talented imports just couldn't contrive the moment of magic that would
have settled the matter.
In the end it was Wright, still West Ham's top scorer despite his absence, who
will rue his miss and the moment to write his own headlines yet again.
Leicester were all brave, hard running, drive and determination, but they
couldn't overpower a West Ham side who these days don't capitulate like Hammers
sides of old.
Ex-Hammer Tony Cottee, fresh from his 200th top-flight goal, got a fine
reception from his old east London fans and was in the thick of the action,
linking well with his midfield to play colleagues into the game.
Much of Leicester's early play revolved around left winger Steve Guppy. Steve
Potts and Trevor Sinclair struggled to contain him as West Ham ventured forward
rarely under an early barrage of effort and running from Leicester.
But they had the best chance in the opening period when Di Canio crossed from
the left and Sinclair saw a diving header flash inches wide of the far post.
Arnar Gunnlaugsson then embarked on a personal duel with Hislop, who was
forced to touch over the bar. Gunnlaugsson then took a Guppy lay-off and then
fired in a shot that the Hammers keeper saved well.
A minute later Emile Heskey found Gunnlaugsson, who made Hislop save well
again to his right. The Icelandic ace was running from midfield and just not
being picked up.
West Ham survived this spell and Di Canio's runs and positioning started to
cause problems. His classy partner Berkovic slowly began to find space and time,
but it was all counter attacking from the Hammers, while they struggled to
contain the aggression of Robbie Savage and Neil Lennon in midfield.
Leicester should have scored after 29 minutes when Di Canio dithered on the
edge of the box going for a clearance, confused Neil Ruddock and the ball ended
up being pushed between them for Heskey to hook inches over the angle with the
outside of his right foot.
West Ham managed their first on target shot after 31 minutes when Steve Lomas'
low drive was palmed away by Kasey Keller and away for a corner before Paul
Kitson could reach the loose ball. Then fine play by Di Canio and Berkovic
allowed the little Israeli to skip into the box and fire in a low drive that
Keller saved with some difficulty.
Leicester started the second period in the same vein as the first, with Hislop
in continued action. Sinclair tested him again when fired in a fine drive that
the big keeper held.
But Frank Lampard should have scored for the Hammers after 48 minutes when he
was played in by Sinclair, and forced Keller into a point-blank block. He got
the ball back, created space again, but only six yards out, mishit his shot and
it bobbled wide. Hislop made more excellent saves from Guppy and Lennon, before
O'Neill threw on another big striker in Ian Marshall to put even more pressure
on West Ham in the air.
Heskey and Impey both had shots that whistled just wide as Leicester increased
the pressure. West Ham finally got Wright back into action after three months
out when he took over from Kitson with 18 minutes left.
Seven minutes later Wright missed that glittering chance to put West Ham
ahead. Berkovic, and then Lampard, constructed a brilliant move through
midfield, with the latter's ball finding Wright unmarked 12 yards out.
But Wright hit the shot too hard and too high when he should really have
buried the chance, and Keller was able to get a fingertip on the shot to flick
it over.
Harry Redknapp went for safety after that with John Moncur taking over from Di
Canio to secure the point.
Teams
Leicester: Keller, Sinclair, Elliott, Ullathorne,
Impey (Miller 63), Savage, Lennon, Gunnlaugsson (Marshall 63),
Guppy, Heskey, Cottee.
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Kaamark, Taggart.
West Ham: Hislop, Ruddock, Pearce, Potts, Sinclair, Lomas,
Berkovic, Lampard, Minto, Di Canio (Moncur 86),Kitson (Wright 72).
Subs Not Used: Forrest, Cole, Keller.
Att: 20,402
Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
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