Paulo Wanchope finally rediscovered his goal touch with a brace for West Ham
to deal a makeshift Leicester a double blow which they found no way back from at
Filbert Street.
The Costa Rican striker, without a goal since November, did much to rebuild
his fragile confidence with two first-half strikes to launch the Hammers to a
comfortable success.
It was a case of Leicester's strained resources finally reaching breaking
point as they struggled to contain a fluid West Ham side who looked the more
inventive throughout.
Wanchope's first goal after 13 minutes was cancelled out by Emile Heskey 11
minutes later, but even by then the Hammers were already well into their stride
and in control.
There was a sour note for West Ham when Steve Lomas departed the action with
what looked a serious leg injury, but the added time that created saw Wanchope
claim an interval lead.
After the restart West Ham secured a deserved third via a teasing Paolo Di
Canio run, Wanchope confirming his change in fortune by setting up the Italian
for the match-clincher.
Depleted Leicester offered a full debut to defender Tommy Goodwin as they
again found themselves without a host of first-team regulars and at times it
showed.
Pegguy Arphexad continued in goal after his penalty heroics against Arsenal in
midweek, though Tim Flowers was declared fit enough to be among the
substitutes.
For West Ham, with a clutch of injuries themselves, Wanchope retained his
place in attack despite his recent poor form, but defender Igor Stimac was
missing through suspension.
Leicester had the first attack of note when Frank Sinclair's half-hit shot
reached Heskey whose effort on the turn was beaten away by Shaka Hislop in the
fourth minute.
The home side continued to press, Stuart Campbell curling a shot wide of the
mark, then Theo Zagorakis firing a powerful free kick just over the bar with
Hislop seemingly beaten.
But it was West Ham who moved ahead against the run of play after 13 minutes
when Wanchope's long wait for a goal ended when he neatly converted a Frank
Lampard pass to make it 1-0.
The strike was his first since November 21 and should finally enable Wanchope
to forget his humiliating open goal miss against Aston Villa a week ago.
But Heskey, himself short of goals of late, levelled after 24 minutes for
Leicester when he cut inside with purpose from the left and rifled past Hislop
for 1-1.
Ironically that goal came just at a time West Ham were starting to settle, but
may have been aided by an injury to keeper Hislop who was replaced moments later
by Craig Forrest.
A fierce Zagorakis tackle, which played both ball and man, left Lomas
grounded after 37 minutes and the West Ham midfielder was carried off.
Lomas was at once replaced by youngster Michael Carrick, while Zagorakis
almost put Leicester ahead in the 44th minute when his 25-yard drive flashed
wide.
Incredibly in the fourth minute of first-half injury-time, Wanchope claimed
his and West Ham's second when he intercepted a Carrick shot and defeated
Arphexad from a narrow angle.
Marc Keller presented Leicester with an opportunity to level after 49 minutes,
but his misplaced backpass was snatched at by Heskey who hit the ball badly over
when well-placed.
West Ham then missed an inviting opportunity when Goodwin's weak header
found Sinclair unmarked, but he nodded the ball wide of target to keep Leicester
in the contest.
Wanchope demonstrated himself still capable of missing chances moments later
when his driving run from deep culminated in a wayward blast over the bar.
On the hour mark, West Ham extended their advantage to 3-1, Wanchope this time
the creator, setting up Di Canio who finished superbly after being played in on
the left.
West Ham were now the dominant force and Arphexad did well to keep out a Di
Canio angled drive on 70 minutes as the visitors threatened to inflict further
damage.
Di Canio was denied what would have been a stunning solo goal on 76 minutes
when after beating three men his shot was headed off the line by Phil
Gilchrist.
Leicester were offering little in response by the end, with Heskey an
increasingly lonely figure, and West Ham held firm to overtake their hosts in
the Premiership table.
Teams
Leicester: Arphexad, Sinclair, Gilchrist, Elliott, Goodwin,
Eadie, Campbell, Zagorakis (Stewart 67),
Gunnlaugsson (Thomas 57), Heskey, Fenton.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Dudfield, McCann.
Booked: Sinclair.
Goals: Heskey 24.
West Ham: Hislop (Forrest 26), Ruddock, Ferdinand, Margas,
Lomas (Carrick 38), Cole, Lampard, Sinclair, Keller, Wanchope,
Di Canio, Carrick (Minto 72).
Subs Not Used: Charles, Coyne.
Booked: Minto.
Goals: Wanchope 13, 45, Di Canio 60.
Att: 19,019
Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook