Daily WHUFC News - 18th April 2016

Leicester City 2-2 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Leonardo Ulloa netted a dramatic 95th-minute penalty to help ten-man
title-chasing Leicester City snatch a 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with
West Ham United. The Hammers thought they had secured all three points after
a spot-kick from Andy Carroll and a wonder strike from Aaron Cresswell
helped them stage an impressive comeback from a goal down after Jamie Vardy
had fired Leicester into the lead. The England forward then picked up his
second yellow card of the game for simulation inside the area following a
challenge with Angelo Ogbonna which looked to have changed the course of the
game. But Leicester salvaged a draw with just second left on the clock after
Jeffrey Schlupp went down under a challenge by Carroll and Ulloa kept his
nerve to fire the spot-kick past Adrian. The Hammers had to settle for a
fourth league draw in a row and will be hoping to get back to winning ways
when they play Watford on Wednesday night at the Boleyn Ground. It could
have been a different story had the Hammers gone in front after just two
minutes, when they were cruelly denied by the woodwork. Dimitri Payet's
free-kick picked out Cheikhou Kouyate who saw his header saved by Kasper
Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, the ball then hit both posts before being
grabbed by the Denmark stopper. They say luck plays a part in any title
success but Leicester must have sensed it was going to be their day
following that amazing incident.

The home fans were certainly in good voice and could sense something big was
just around the corner following their side's amazing surge to the top of
the Premier League. Leicester created their first major chance on ten
minutes when Marc Albrighton's free-kick picked out Robert Huth, who rose
highest inside the box and headed inches past the post. The deadlock was
broken on 18 minutes as Leicester broke clear on the counter-attack
following another Payet free-kick. N'Golo Kante burst free into the West Ham
half and laid the ball into the path of Vardy who made no mistake firing a
left foot shot past Adrian into the corner of the net. Bilic knew he needed
to change something and brought on Andy Carroll to replace Pedro Obiang at
the interval, reverting to a 4-4-2 formation and matching up the home side.
The move almost paid off straight away as Payet's corner on 49 minutes fell
perfectly for Carroll, only for his close-range header to flash just wide of
the post. The big talking point of the game then came on 58 minutes when
Vardy was shown his second yellow card of the game after referee Jonathan
Moss adjudged the England forward had dived in the box following a challenge
from Ogbonna. The home fans were left fuming as Vardy made his way off the
pitch.

The Hammers were determined to make the extra man count and could have drawn
level on 62 minutes after Payet's cross fell to Winston Reid but he saw his
flicked volley clip the post on its way wide. The visitors finally managed
to get level on 84 minutes after Reid was brought down inside the area by
Wes Morgan. With normal penalty-taker Mark Noble being taken off earlier in
the second half, the responsibility fell to Carroll to take the spot kick
and he kept his composure to strike the ball into the bottom right-hand
corner of the net. The Hammers then took the lead on 86 minutes when
Antonio's cross eventually fell to Cresswell and he made no mistake by
controlling and striking an unstoppable left-foot shot past Schmeichel into
the far top corner. But there was another big call from the referee as
Leicester made one last desperate attempt to level. Carroll's challenge on
Schlupp saw Mr Moss again point for a penalty and substitute Ulloa sent
Adrian the wrong way from 12 yards.

Leicester City: (4-4-2) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez
(Amartey 77), Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 53); Vardy, Okazaki
(Ulloa 59)
Subs not used: Schwarzer, King, Gray, Wasilewski
Booked: Vardy, Morgan
Sent-off: Vardy

West Ham United: (4-3-3) Adrian; Antonio, Ogbonna, Reid, Cresswell; Obiang
(Carroll 46), Kouyate, Noble (Lanzini 63); Moses (Valencia 72), Emenike,
Payet
Subs not used: Randolph, Byram, Tomkins, Collins
Booked: Reid, Noble, Payet

Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 32,104 (3,339 Away)

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Jurcevic disappointed with late penalty
WHUFC.com

West Ham assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic was left disappointed with a
point and feels victory was taken away from his side as they had to settle
for a 2-2 draw with Leicester. Jurcevic was angry that Leicester were
awarded a penalty in injury time after Andy Carroll was alleged to have
brought down Jeffrey Schlupp inside the box. The Hammers coach has watched
several incidents of the replay and believes a penalty should not have been
awarded. But on a positive front he was thrilled to see the players show
their fighting qualities once again to come from a goal down and almost take
all three points against the Premier League leaders.

Jurcevic said: "We made some changes after we went 1-0 down and then we
managed to get ahead 2-1. But in the last seconds we are very disappointed
with the late goal. "On one side we are happy to get a 2-2 draw with the
Premier League leaders, but on the other side we could have had all three
points as it was not a penalty for Leicester. "I have seen the replays again
about five times after the game and because of this I am very disappointed.
We have lost two points. "But on a positive front we have shown big
character to come from one goal down and we managed to come back and score
two goals. It was a fantastic shot from Cresswell. "It was a great game for
people to watch up and down the country as it keeps everything open in the
fight for first place."

The points leaves the Hammers three points behind Manchester United in fifth
place and Jurcevic says there is still everything to play for in the final
five games of the season. Jurcevic added: "We stay in the fight for fifth
place and our dreams of European football are still alive. We have another
game on Wednesday and we have a good chance to win this game at home. "It is
realistic for us to play in a European position but we have to focus on the
Watford game. Our advantage is that we have a good spirit in the team and we
will try to do everything to stay in the top five."

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Cresswell - It feels like a defeat
WHUFc.com

Aaron Cresswell admitted Sunday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at
Leicester City felt 'like a defeat' after the Hammers let slip a 94th-minute
lead.

West Ham United looked on course for a notable victory over the ten-man
Foxes after goalscorer Jamie Vardy's red card allowed Andy Carroll – with a
penalty – and Cresswell himself – with a wonder-goal – to put the visitors
ahead late on.

However, Carroll went from hero to villain when his challenge on Jeff
Schlupp was adjudged a foul and referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot,
allowing substitute Leonardo Ulloa to send Adrian the wrong way from 12
yards.

"It's very disappointing, especially being 2-1 up with a couple of minutes
to go and they get a penalty," said the No3. "I haven't seen it back, to be
fair, so I don't know if it was a penalty, but it feels like a defeat and
it's very frustrating that we haven't walked away with the three points.

"I thought we started the game excellently, then Leicester grew into the
game and obviously Vardy got the goal and they went in 1-0 up at half-time.

"His sending-off changed the game in our favour, you could say, and we
thought we'd go on and get the three points, but we've ended up with a point
today."

Cresswell's disappointment came despite a fantastic second goal of the
season from the left-back, who controlled Michail Antonio's deflected cross
before smashing an unstoppable shot past Kasper Schmeichel with just four
minutes of the 90 remaining.

"I haven't scored one for a while, so it was fantastic for me," said the
defender, who added to his fine goal at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. "I think
someone has flicked it on and it's landed on my chest and then thankfully
for me it's gone in the back of the net."

Earlier, there was plenty of controversy as Vardy was shown a second yellow
card for simulation and, even earlier, Cheikhou Kouyate's second-minute
header had hit both posts following a Dimitri Payet free-kick.

"To be fair, I didn't see much of the second yellow card and I didn't have
an angle where I could see if he dived or not, but the first one was
obviously a yellow," Cresswell observed. "That swung the game in our favour
and we should have gone on and got the three points.

"I think the officials need help. Some decisions go your way and some don't
but if you've got the TV you can look at, you can make the right decision.

"They brought the goalline technology in and maybe Cheik's header might have
been given as a goal in that day. It's one of them, a minute into the game,
and if it had gone in it would have swung it massively in our favour and we
might have gone on to win the game.

"We didn't hold on for the three points, which was very disappointing."

Sunday's draw was a fourth in succession in the Barclays Premier League, but
Cresswell insists West Ham will not give up their challenge for European
qualification, with Emirates FA Cup semi-finalists Watford next up at the
Boleyn Ground on Wednesday evening.

"I think, because we had the defeat against Man United in the FA Cup, it
shows our heads haven't gone down and our season's not finished," he
concluded. "We're going to keep pushing on and try to finish as high up that
table as we can."

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Scully secures point for U18s
WHUFc.com

West Ham United grabbed a third Barclays U18 Premier League Group One
Play-Off draw in four games after Anthony Scully rescued point at home to
Reading on Saturday.

The Royals went ahead in the first half through striker Sam Smith, but
Republic of Ireland U17 international Scully earned a 1-1 draw for the
Hammers by scoring at the back post after outstanding play by winger Joe
Powell.

The hosts made four changes to their starting XI from their 3-0 defeat away
to high-flying Manchester City. Sam Howes was replaced by Bermuda-born
debutant Trott in goal, while Vashon Neufville, Danny Kemp and Connor
Coventry stepped in for Declan Rice, Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Reece Hannam.

In a fairly uneventful opening quarter of an hour, the closest either side
got to an opening goal was when Idris Kanu met a Neufville cross, but his
floated header was caught by Royals keeper Luke Southwood.

However, the opening goal arrived 20 minutes, when Trott losing control of
the ball in a crowd of players after catching a high cross. The ball
eventually found striker Smith, who tapped home into the vacant net.

Within five minutes of going ahead, Smith could have added two more to his
tally, but the first effort went narrowly over the crossbar and the second
was well saved by Trott.

West Ham did come back at Reading before the break, however, and had a
chance of their own when Powell's corner was headed out to captain Noha
Sylvestre, but the young Swiss star failed to keep his volley down.

Shortly before half-time, Scully spotted the run of Kanu in behind the
Reading defence, but Royals goalkeeper Southwood rushed off his line quickly
to clear the danger.

After the break, both sides worked hard to try and gain early control of the
second half. The first real action came on 50 minutes when Smith appealed
for a penalty after going down in the box under pressure from Matt Carter,
but the referee waved away their claims.

The Hammers' equaliser came on the hour mark, when Powell's skills and pace
beat two defenders to the touchline, before he crossed low for Scully to
fire into the empty net.

West Ham's goal gave them confidence and in similar fashion to Reading after
they went ahead, the Hammers went chasing an immediate second – although
Scully's volley traveled high and wide of the target.

With around 15 minutes left, the hosts made their first change after Scully
picked up a niggling injury, with Rosaire Longelo coming on the replace the
goalscorer.

Steve Potts' youngsters pushed for a winner right at the end, but it was not
to be as a Powell free-kick evaded everyone in the box and bounced narrowly
wide.

West Ham now have three more Group One fixtures remaining, starting with
Liverpool at home next weekend, followed by trips to Blackburn Rovers and
Everton.

U18s: Trott, Carter, Akinola, Eggleton, Neufville, Sylvestre (c), Coventry,
Scully (Longelo), Kemp, Kanu, Powell
Subs not used: T.Brown (GK), Johnson, Hannam

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Leicester City 2-2 West Ham United
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at the King Power Stadium

Leonardo Ulloa's injury-time penalty rescued a point for Leicester in a
controversial encounter with West Ham as the Foxes went eight points clear
at the top of the Premier League. Jamie Vardy's crisp finish from a
lightning break gave Leicester the lead on 18 minutes - but he was then sent
off after getting a second yellow card for diving when he tangled with
Angelo Ogbonna early in the second half. Referee Jon Moss made himself even
more unpopular when he awarded West Ham a penalty with six minutes left.
There had been pushing and pulling in both penalty areas but he decided to
punish Wes Morgan for pulling back Winston Reid at a corner. Substitute Andy
Carroll slotted home the penalty and Aaron Cresswell looked to have opened
the door to Leicester's title rivals Spurs with a stunning left-footed
finish two minutes later. As the game went into injury time, Moss produced
another controversial decision when he pointed to the spot once more after
Carroll made the merest contact with Jeff Schlupp. West Ham clearly felt
Moss had evened things up after earlier decisions in their favour, but Ulloa
was not concerned as he took the chance to secure what might yet be a vital
point - although Leicester will be without Vardy for next weekend's home
game with Swansea.

How precious is Leicester's point?

Leicester's fans celebrated at the end before turning their anger on referee
Moss - although it was his very questionable decision that allowed them to
earn that point at the end. Psychologically, this point could be vital
because a loss might just have produced a few doubts and given Spurs just a
little more wiggle room going into their game at Stoke on Monday. It means
Leicester's last Premier League defeat is still that last-minute loss at
Arsenal on Valentine's Day and their spirits will be lifted by the manner in
which they earned a point when it seemed certain they would end up
empty-handed.

Referee Moss highlights inconsistencies

Referee Moss was surrounded by players of both sides and escorted from the
field by stewards to jeering from the home fans at the final whistle.
Moss's eventful second half began after 56 minutes when he penalised Vardy
for simulation as he tumbled theatrically under a challenge from Ogbonna.
Having already given Vardy a yellow card, he felt obliged to give a second.
Vardy made the most of the contact and ran the risk of punishment. And he
has been accused of doing this before this season. Opinion was split but
plenty felt Moss was right. For West Ham's penalty, there was undoubtedly
pulling and pushing between Morgan and Winston Reid - so again Moss had
justification. The difficulty, the inconsistency, is that similar behaviour
had been going on in both penalty areas all afternoon without punishment -
so why did Moss decide this was the time to penalise it?
Too often, these decisions seem arbitrary, as was demonstrated when Ogbonna
dragged Huth to the floor even more unceremoniously a few minutes later and
no foul was given. Finally, in injury time and with an atmosphere of chaos
engulfing the game, Moss pointed to the spot for the slightest touch from
Carroll on Schlupp. It was incredibly harsh and the Hammers clearly felt
Moss had punished them to make up for earlier decisions given against
Leicester.

It is a tough job - as the abuse directed the referee's way at the end
proved.

Chance for Spurs?

Not as much as there might have been had Ulloa not scored at the end, but
they can apply pressure and move to within five points of Leicester if they
win at Stoke. Leicester at least have the point in the bag but Mauricio
Pochettino and his players will just feel the door is ajar, even if they
know time and games are running out.

Manager reaction

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri: "It was a very tough match. We were lucky at
the beginning when they touched both posts. After that we scored a great
goal and we had an opportunity to finish the match at the beginning of the
second half. "After then sending off it changed our match.
"I never spoke about the decision of the referee. Two yellow cards, that's
it. "Our performance 11 v 11 and 10 v 11 was fantastic."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "It was a good game of football. We showed
determination, character and quality. We turned the game around. We were
dangerous, and after sending off we totally dominated the game. "After our
second goal I thought we had done enough to win the game, maybe we could
have coped with added time better in terms of keeping the ball but they took
the risk. "It was extremely hard for referee, but I mean that was no penalty
at all."

Man of the match - N'Golo Kante (Leicester City)

N'Golo Kante
Kept Leicester City going in good moments and bad. Helped create Vardy's
goal and worked tirelessly all over the pitch.

The facts you need to know

Leicester have won (11) and scored (9) more penalties than any other Premier
League team this season.
Leicester scored with both of their shots on target.
West Ham were awarded their first Premier League penalty on the road since
October 2010.
Vardy is only the second Leicester player to score and be sent off in the
same league game (David Lowe v Wimbledon in 1994 is the other).
Vardy has scored the opening goal in 11 Premier League games this season -
more than any other player.
Vardy has had a hand in more Premier League goals this season than any other
player (22 goals, 6 assists).
What's next?

Leicester - minus the suspended Vardy - are at home to Swansea next Sunday.
The Hammers host Watford on Wednesday.

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Late Leicester penalty cast shadow on West Ham game - Slaven Bilic
BBC.co.uk
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at the King Power Stadium

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said the injury-time penalty that secured
Premier League leaders Leicester a point "put a shadow" over a controversial
encounter at the King Power Stadium. Referee Jon Moss had already sent off
Leicester goalscorer Jamie Vardy for diving and awarded the Hammers a
contentious penalty when he pointed to the spot after minimal contact
between Andy Carroll and Jeff Schlupp in the closing seconds.

After a 2-2 draw that leaves the Foxes eight points clear before
second-placed Tottenham's game at Stoke on Monday, Bilic said: "We feel
frustrated and very disappointed because the game didn't deserve what
happened at the end. It puts a shadow over one hell of a football game.
"I'm not eagle-eyed, an ex-referee or Howard Webb. It was hard for the
referee. You have 32,000 people here screaming for a penalty for every
contact in the box and for every long ball into the box. For a home side
it's a penalty or handball and in the other it's a cheat or a dive."
He added: "The game went a bit crazy and they were were losing so it was
very hard for him. It is easy to say refs shouldn't be influenced but this
is real life - of course it's not a penalty. If you see their penalty you
see a dive. "It was a good game. Goals, penalties, red card, tackles,
crosses. We are gutted - we did enough to win the game until the last five
seconds."

Of Leicester captain Wes Morgan being penalised for pushing Winston Reid in
the area, Bilic said: "That's the way Leicester's centre halves [Morgan and
Robert Huth] play and they get away with this all the time. "Leicester are
dangerous from our set pieces. We told our guys before the game but every
manager will have said the same thing and they still broke and scored their
first goal, so great credit to them."

Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri refused to discuss the referee's performance but
praised his players for the manner in which they recovered from conceding
goals to Carroll and Aaron Cresswell in the last 10 minutes to get a point.
He said: "It was a tough match. The sending-off changed the match but I am
so proud. I always ask my players to give me their soul and their heart
until the end and our supporters were also fantastic.
"I never speak about the referee. The referee is part of the game and that's
OK for me. I want to speak about my players and we when we conceded the
second goal we wanted to draw. It was unbelievable, fantastic, amazing."

Ranieri was relaxed mod about losing two points, despite the fact that
leading scorer Vardy will be missing for next weekend's home game against
Swansea. "We are not worried," said Ranieri. "We were worried at the start
of the season about reaching 40 points. If a side is better than us then
well done because we are doing the maximum. "Psychologically the last goal
is fantastic. It is more important than the point psychologically. It shows
we are there." And on Vardy's absence he said: "Ulloa will come in and he is
not just a fantastic man, he is a good striker, a good player."

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Andy Carroll: England boss Roy Hodgson plays down striker's Euro 2016
chances
BBc.co.uk

England manager Roy Hodgson has played down West Ham striker Andy Carroll's
chance of being selected for Euro 2016. There have been calls for Carroll,
27, to make an international return after his recent hat-trick against
Arsenal. But Hodgson said: "Every time someone scores a goal and he's
English it is 'why is he not playing for England?' "I'm certainly not going
to pick him on the basis that he scored a hat-trick so therefore has to be
in the England team."
Ex-Newcastle and Liverpool forward Carroll has scored two goals in nine
England appearances, but has not featured for the national side since
October 2012. Tottenham's Harry Kane, the Premier League's top-scorer with
22 goals this season, and Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who has netted 21
times, have established themselves in the England set-up and both played in
last month's friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands. Arsenal
forwards Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott and Liverpool striker Daniel
Sturridge were also in those squads, while captain Wayne Rooney has now
returned to the Manchester United side following injury.

Carroll has scored seven league goals this season and Hodgson will name his
23-man squad for this summer's tournament in France on 12 May.
"We know Andy, we know his qualities," added the 68-year-old. "In an ideal
world, if you had a lot of places at your disposal, you'd always include a
guy like him because he is exceptional in the air - but whether or not I'd
be able to include him with all these others, I don't know."
The England boss hinted that even skipper Rooney might not be assured of a
place after his two-month lay-off with a knee problem. "There's no
disguising the fact that people like (Arsenal midfielder) Jack Wilshere,
(Manchester City forward) Raheem Sterling, (Liverpool midfielder) Jordan
Henderson, (Arsenal midfielder) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wayne Rooney - a
year ago they were five players who were getting into every squad," said
Hodgson. "Things have happened to them and we have to reassess. "If we can
be sure they are at the level of fitness and capability to produce the
performances they produced a year ago they will be serious contenders. If we
are not convinced, we have to give it some thought."

England's European Championship group fixtures
11 June: Russia, Marseille
16 June: Wales, Lens
20 June: Slovakia, Saint-Etienne

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West Ham's Andy Carroll believes Leicester should not have had last minute
penalty
Last Updated: 17/04/16 5:17pm
SSN

West Ham striker Andy Carroll feels the last minute penalty given against
him during Sunday's match with Leicester was the wrong decision. Leonardo
Ulloa scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of injury-time to
earn 10-man Leicester a dramatic 2-2 draw with the Hammers.
Carroll was adjudged to have fouled Jeffrey Schlupp in the box, convincing
referee Jon Moss to point to the spot. Eleven minutes earlier, Carroll
converted a penalty after Wes Morgan was penalised for bringing Winston Reid
to the ground. The England international felt that the decision to give a
penalty for Morgan's foul on Reid was correct, but his challenge on Schlupp
did not merit the same outcome. "It was always going to happen [a penalty],"
he told Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves after the game. "It's hard for the ref,
but all game it's been happening, and for me it was a penalty. But then you
see the one that was given against me, he's gone down before I've even got
him. "He's [Schlupp] took a touch, the ref's looking to even it [the game]
out."
The draw is a blow for West Ham and their Champions League hopes as they sit
sixth in the Premier League table. The Hammers have now drawn their last
four Premier League matches, and Carroll says his team-mates will look to
quickly improve their form with just five league games left of the season to
play. He added: "If we keep getting draws then we won't finish very high but
we're working on it. "It was disappointing [today]. We've got to take each
game as it comes and hopefully get a few more points before the end of the
season."

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Slaven Bilic sympathises with referee after West Ham draw at Leicester
By Pete Hall
Last Updated: 17/04/16 6:36pm
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic sympathised with referee Jon Moss after Leicester
earned a dramatic point in a in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium..
Trailing 1-0 following Jamie Vardy's first-half opener, the Hammers turned
the match on its head with Andy Carroll's penalty and Aaron Cresswell's
stunning strike giving the visitors a 2-1 lead heading into stoppage time
against the 10-man league leaders. However, Jeffrey Schlupp was
controversially adjudged to have been fouled by Carroll right at the death,
allowing Leonardo Ulloa the opportunity to snatch a dramatic equaliser from
the penalty spot, and the Argentine made no mistake. While evidently
frustrated to have seen the penalty given, Bilic actually offered some
sympathy to the predicament Moss was put in. "We are gutted," Bilic told Sky
Sports. "We feel that in the end we did enough to win the game. "It was hard
for the referee. Every ground, not only here, are asking for handball and a
foul. I feel for him a little, but it was not a penalty. "The player
[Schlupp] is touched and he goes down, it is not a penalty, but with the
pressure and situation with them being top of the table and 30,000 people
screaming for a penalty, it is hard for him. "Leicester do have reason to
question whether we should have been given a penalty, as they have been
doing that all season, they play that kind of football. Most of the time
they get away with that."

Despite the late setback, the result does see the Hammers keep pace in the
race for the top four, and the nature of the performance in coming back from
a goal down did please Bilic.

"We showed character and quality, even in the first half," Bilic added.
"They scored a goal on the counter attack, but we didn't lose shape and
composure, and we were rewarded with the penalty. "We coped well in the
second half with their counter attacks and we came back. After the equaliser
we didn't stop. We were searching for a winner with full-backs up.
"Cresswell scored the goal from the position of a left winger. It is a big
frustration for us. We deserved to win the game."

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Leicester rollercoaster shows no sign of slowing amid refereeing controversy
and Ulloa's late leveller
18:45, 17 APR 2016
OPINION BY JOHNCROSS
West Ham looked set to hand the Foxes defeat but Leonardo Ulloa's 95th
minute penalty gave Claudio Ranieri's men a share of the spoils and an
eight-point lead
The Mirror

The last time Leonardo Ulloa scored a last gasp goal at the King Power
Stadium it measured on the Richter scale. Ulloa's 95th minute penalty sent
shockwaves through the title race again as Leicester got lucky with the last
kick of the game on a day of high drama. Two controversial penalties, a red
card for Jamie Vardy and finally Leicester's five game winning run came to
an end. But even after such a breathless rollercoaster ride, Claudio
Ranieri's men extended their lead to eight points with just four games left.
Vardy, who had been sent off for a second yellow card for diving, raced onto
the pitch to hug Ulloa who salvaged a point from the brink of defeat after
the most controversial of a string of big refereeing decisions. It took some
doing but referee Jon Moss ended up being public enemy number one with both
teams and Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel even had to stop Robert Huth
confronting the officials after the final whistle. Schmeichel then took it
upon himself to go to every corner of the ground to try and whip up the fans
and change the mood from anger to positivity. The boos quickly turned to
cheers again. Moss, meanwhile, might have been forgiven for trying to grab a
lift in Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter - which takes
off from the centre circle after every home game - as his only safe route
out of the city.

A big test of Leicester's bottle was always going to come and this was it.
But it also exposed the flip side of Leicester's fairytale because, amid all
the unlikely heroic stories, they do use the dark arts of pushing, pulling
and every trick in the book. They also must have known it was going to be
their day when Cheikhou Kouyate's second minute header was pushed onto a
post by Schmeichel, rolled along the line, hit the other post and bounced up
into the grateful Leicester keeper's arms. Schmeichel started the move for
Leicester's 16th minute opener. He threw it out to Riyad Mahrez, he turned
and fed N'Golo Kante and his perfect pass set up Vardy to drive a fierce
shot through West Ham keeper Adrian for his 22nd goal of the season.

With Kante running midfield, it looked like Leicester were on easy street
and heading for another win. But West Ham boss Slaven Bilic changed it half
time, almost admitting his mistake by putting on Andy Carroll and going for
a 4-4-2. Lump it up to the big man. And it worked. Moss had apparently
warned the players for cut out grappling and holding in the penalty box. The
issue became even bigger after Carroll's introduction. Robert Huth even
appeared to have Winston Reid in a headlock at one corner. But things got
count of control after 56 minutes. Vardy, having already been booked for a
first half foul on Kouyate, then got sent off for a second yellow. Vardy
went down after tangling with Angelo Ogbonna.

Vardy was incensed. The Leicester striker was going at great pace, the
accusation was that Vardy stuck out a leg, looked for the decision and yet
it did seem incredibly harsh. The decision split TV pundits down the middle.
But every Leicester player felt cheated - and got onto Moss's case.
Vardy angrily finger pointed and shouted at Moss as he took a long time to
leave the pitch. It may now be that the FA give him an extra sanction, as if
being banned for next Sunday's game with Swansea was not bad enough. It gave
West Ham renewed hope. Moss finally clamped down as Wes Morgan grappled with
Reid, the referee pointed to the spot and Carroll stepped up to equalise in
the 84th minute. Two minutes later, Leicester did not clear their lines and
the ball came out to Aaron Cresswell and the West Ham left back smashed a
stunning 20 yard shot into the top corner.

Leicester were heading for defeat.

But then, with the Leicester fans giving Moss endless abuse and stick, the
referee gave the most bizarre decision of the lot. Into the fourth minute of
injury time, Jeffrey Schlupp took a tumble under Carroll's rather lame
challenge. Incredibly, Moss pointed to the spot. A minute later, up stepped
Ulloa and scored to the relief of the stadium. Ulloa got the last gasp
winner against Norwich in March and it caused an earthquake. The earth moved
again. And this time it changed the mood and leaves Leicester cursing the
referee but realising they got away with it.

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Leicester 2-2 West Ham: Leonardo Ulloa saves Foxes after Jamie Vardy red
card – 5 things we learned
15:27, 17 APR 2016 UPDATED 17:28, 17 APR 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
Vardy netted the opener but received a second yellow card for simulation,
allowing West Ham to take control after the break
The Mirror

Leonardo Ulloa came to the rescue just when it seemed West Ham were putting
a spanner in the works of Leicester 's title bid on Sunday. The
league-leading Foxes looked on their way to another win when Jamie Vardy
stroked them into the lead in the first half, but things unravelled after
the break. First, Vardy was sent off, receiving a second yellow card for
simulation. Then West Ham mounted a stirring comeback, Andy Carroll and
Aaron Cresswell scoring to make it 2-1. But Ulloa converted an injury-time
penalty to salvage a point for the Foxes.

Here are five things we learned:

1. Jamie Vardy is unlucky - but chickens have come home to roost
Don't be fooled by the fairytale. Leicester employ the dark arts, grappling
at corners, niggly, every trick in the box. But Jamie Vardy was incredibly
unlucky to be sent off for a second yellow, referee Jon Moss deeming that
the Leicester striker played for the penalty and tried to trick him by going
down under Angelo Ogbonna's challenge. Referees are under strict
instructions to clamp down on players looking for decisions. But should
every time a player goes over be a penalty or a dive? Of course not. Vardy
has played a clever game for much of the season. But this time he was hard
done by. Maybe chickens have come home to roost because refs are on the look
out. It really changed the game and Leicester had to batten down the
hatches. Then the dark arts came into play again. Wes Morgan grappled
Winston Reid to concede a penalty. A less obvious decision than some of the
earlier. But a big call by ref Jon Moss.

2. Don't mention the C word
Leicester were in cruise control, leading 1-0 up. Then suddenly a big
penalty call and Aaron Cresswell's stunning left foot drive made it 2-1 to
West Ham. It was shaping up to be a real test of Claudio Ranieri's title
credentials, but they showed their grit with that late leveller. This is the
hardest Leicester have been pushed in this run-in and suddenly Tottenham
have hope. We never thought we'd see Tottenham fans cheering on West Ham.

3. Andy Carroll is an acquired taste
Roy Hodgson made the Sunday morning headlines for saying he wouldn't pick
Andy Carroll for the Euros. Quite right, too. He's played what seems like 20
minutes in three years. And Hodgson was backed up by Slaven Bilic who left
Carroll on the bench and put Emmanuel Emenike in the starting line-up,
against Leicester captain Wes Morgan. But while Carroll may not yet have
done enough to win an England recall amid fierce competition, there is a
time and a place for him. That was proved by Emenike being bullied by Morgan
who kicked the life out of him and barely gave him a look-in. Carroll is a
threat but you've got to pick your moment. And Bilic probably got it wrong
this time by not starting him and made amends by bringing him on at half
time. His aerial threat immediately changed the game. And he scored the
penalty.

4. The King Power Stadium has become a tourist attraction

There were hordes of tourists sat just in front of the press box. No wonder
tickets for Leicester's final home game have allegedly been on sale for
£15,000. This time, they had selfie sticks, camera phones and cameras taking
pictures and soaking up the occasion. In fact, some spent most of the game
on their phones, posting pictures, taking snaps and making calls to say they
were there to witness history. It's hard to believe some of them had come
for the football. Just the history. That's what Leicester has become.
History in the making. Amazing stuff.

5. Dimitri Payet had a bad day
Player of the Year? Well, you wouldn't know it at Leicester. I'm surprised
by his nomination but maybe it's down to his recent impressive form, he's
hit the heights at the right time just as the voting papers go in. But Payet
got smashed in ten seconds by Danny Simpson, then largely went missing -
until he caught the eye just before half time for a terrible foul on Jamie
Vardy. Payet was lucky to only get a yellow rather than a red. Payet has had
a wonderful season, he's been West Ham's main man. But vote for a player
involved in a trophy. Or you'll regret it. As those who voted for David
Ginola in 1999 and Scott Parker in 2011.

Player ratings
Leicester

Schmeichel 7 - Amazing early let off after pushing Kouyate header onto the
post.
Simpson 7 - Smashed Payet within ten seconds, sent out fierce warning.
Morgan 7 - Bullied Emenike into submission. Tough display.
Huth 7 - Should have scored, headed great early chance wide of the post.
Fuchs 7 - Stayed at home, defended, did a super job.
Mahrez 6 - Quiet again, subbed before the end, needs second win.
Drinkwater 7 - Brilliant, hard working display, led every counter.
Kante 9 (MotM) - Sensational performance, full of energy, incredible.
Albrighton 6 - Quiet game, couldn't get involved and got subbed early.
Vardy 7 - What a game. Scored and sent off, 2nd yellow for diving.
Okazaki 7 - Worked so incredibly hard, sacrificed for Ulloa.
Subs: Schlupp 7, Ulloa 6, Amartey
West Ham

Adrian 6 - Ended up being the quieter of the keepers. Did OK.
Antonio 6 - Much better energy having looked tired in midweek.
Ogbonna 6 - Great physical tussles with Vardy and Okazaki.
Reid 7 - Hit the post with close range effort. Solid.
Cresswell 6 - Good crossing, provides a threat from left back.
Noble 5 - Poor by his standards, some careless passing.
Kouyate 7 - Hard working as ever, industrious and did well.
Obiang 5 - Hooked at half time to bring on Carroll. Unhappy game.
Moses 5 - Quiet and disappointing that he didn't seize rare chance.
Payet 6 - Even his free kicks were off. Disappointing display.
Emenike 5 - Got the nod over Carroll, probably a mistake.
Subs: Carroll 7, Lanzini 6, Valencia 6

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Hammers VIPs moved for "their own safety"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan jnr has revealed that he and the Hammers VIP party were moved
from their seats at full time because of the abuse being aimed at them. The
co chairman's eldest son complained that abuse was being aimed at the party
and alleges that security was doing nothing about it. He tweeted: "I really
don't think throwing things, screaming abuse with security allowing it to
happen is acceptable. And after being baited by a Leicester fan he revealed:
"To sum up abuse we were moved by security at full time.

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DG sends "we're all safe" message through CandH
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has asked ClaretandHugh to let fans know that he, his family and
the Sullivans are all "absolutely fine" despite being forced to run the
gauntlet of hostile Leicester City fans this afternoon. The Hammers co
owners with their families were turned on after Andy Carroll home hammered
home a penalty to put the Irons on level terms before Aaron Cresswell's
thunderbolt put them in front. DG – speaking exclusively to CandH said: "It
became very unpleasant and hostile. They were throwing abuse at us and
chucking their cardboard clapper boards at us but you never know in a mob of
people whether there is one very dangerous individual do you? "The trouble
went on until the referee decided to give them a penalty which was the
softest I have possibly ever seen. Nobody on the planet will convince me
what was a spot kick, "After that the fans calmed down and we were all ok
again but it was quite unpleasant whilst it was going on and I'm not sure
what the fans thought we could do about it. "We were simply waiting a game
of football the same as them."
DG was relatively pleased with the team's response after the disappointment
of last Wednesday evening's FA Cup replay against Manchester United.
He said: "A point against the team I think will be the champions is a good
one but we should have won it and I'm bitterly disappointed because that was
never a penalty."

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Ref Moss makes himself man of the match
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in Fans Forum, Hugh's Blogs,
News, Whispers
C and H

Leicester City 2 Irons 2

I'm not sure when refs decided they should become rock stars but it was too
soon.

For this afternoon Mr Jonathon Moss made himself the man of this crazy match
a with some bizarre decisions which looked at one time as if it would result
in finally giving West Ham what they have been missing all season – some in
their favour deserved or otherwise.

Then he wrecked everything by handing out the softest penalty in the world
to possible champions-elect City with just seconds of injury time left.

What we saw was no more than a coming together of Andy Carroll and Jeffrey
Schlupp but Moss immediately pointed to the spot and Leonardo Ulloa thrashed
home the spot kick with the final whistle sounding immediately afterwards.

It honestly looked to have been given as a result of Moss handing the Irons
a spot kick on 84 mins when Reid was brought down in a goalmouth tugging
affair with Wes Morgan off the ball.

AC made no mistake and the other AC, Aaron Creswell thumped home a glorious
effort two minutes later after great work down the right from Michail
Antonio.

The Foxes took the lead through Jamie Vardy who fired home a left foot shot,
later picked up a yellow card and was finally red carded for a second when
clearly diving in the box early in the second half.

Slaven Bilic was gutted by the result as was every Iron. We were never at
our best but City huffed and puffed, often to little effect and the
Cresswell goal alone was worthy of winning the game.

It left us in sixth place and still with a big shout of a European finishing
position but in truth the ref should never have handed the Foxes that final
penalty and was accompanied from the pitch by plenty of security.

If this season has shown one thing very seriously indeed it's that refs
alone can no longer be trusted with decision making alone.

The ref gathered a lot of moss this afternoon but I'll tell you what – he's
no Rolling Stone.

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