West Ham finished the season with a typical East End knees-up but it was just not enough to secure them a place in Europe next season.

The afternoon began with a small demonstration by a section of home fans in the Bobby Moore stand who were complaining about an increase in ticket prices for next season.

They unfurled a banner which read: "30% increase on prices. Sack the board. Hammers fans robbed again."

But by the end, the board were probably wondering what they were moaning about as this thrilling encounter was typical of the football served up at Upton Park all season.

The Hammers started the campaign as one of the teams expected to struggle in the Premiership. But miracle-worker Harry Redknapp, who has more tricks up his sleeves than Paul Daniels, steered his entertaining team into eighth place in the table and gave much hope for next season.

The fact that opponents Leicester finished just below them in 10th is another triumph for the small club and an equal testament to the management skills of Martin O'Neill.

Frank Lampard started the ball rolling with a stunning strike after 14 minutes with a goal manufactured by Eyal Berkovic.

Berkovic released Samassi Abou but he was crowded out on the left edge of the box and could only lay the ball back to Berkovic. The Israeli star had his back to goal but teed up Lampard who drilled the ball into the far right corner from 20 yards.

Sadly for West Ham, that was the last significant contribution from Berkovic in a highly successful first season for the club as he limped off 11 minutes later to be replaced by Scott Mean.

A major flashpoint came two minutes later when Trevor Sinclair raced clear of the Leicester defence but went crashing on the edge of the box as he appeared to have his heels clipped by last man Neil Lennon.

Referee Uriah Rennie reached for his cards and everyone thought Lennon was heading for the proverbial early bath. But Rennie booked Sinclair for diving and awarded a free-kick instead to the visitors.

But the Hammers were soon celebrating again as Abou doubled their lead after 30 minutes. Stan Lazaridis picked him out with a long ball and the French under 21 striker produced a burst of speed, turned inside Steve Walsh and rammed the ball home.

After 54 minutes when former Hammer Tony Cottee came off the bench and received a rapturous welcome as he replaced Walsh.

But the West Ham defence showed too much of a welcome to Cottee as he capitalised on some hesitancy from keeper Bernard Lama to pull a goal back just four minutes later.

The amazing goal spree continued after 64 minutes when Sinclair forced the ball home from a Lampard corner to restore the two-goal cushion but within a minute Emile Heskey had struck for Leicester.

The ding-dong afternoon swung West Ham's way again after 73 minutes when Lazaridis's great run ended with a second goal for Abou.

But Cottee made the home fans sweat right to the end as he nipped in again after 82 minutes to pull it back to 4-3, which meant Lama had conceded 15 goals in his side's last four games of the season.

Teams

West Ham: Lama, Unsworth, Pearce, Ferdinand, Berkovic (Mean 25), Lomas, Lampard, Sinclair, Abou, Lazaridis, Omoyimni.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Keith, Hodges, Berthe.

Booked: Sinclair.

Goals: Lampard 15, Abou 31, Sinclair 65, Abou 74.

Leicester: Keller, Savage, Guppy, Kaamark, Elliott, Walsh (Cottee 55), Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis (Parker 45), Marshall (Wilson 76), Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Fenton.

Booked: Elliott, Guppy, Walsh.

Goals: Cottee 59, Heskey 66, Cottee 83.

Att: 25,781

Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield).