WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of the Hammers' trip to
the King Power Stadium
22.04.2012
LEICESTER CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
MONDAY 23 APRIL 2012
KICK-OFF: 7:45PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
. West Ham United travel to Leicester City for their final away game of the
season looking to extend their new club record of 12 away wins in a season.
Southampton's defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday evening means Sam
Allardyce's side are still in with a shout of automatic promotion, but
realistically must win in the east Midlands to stand any chance of securing
second spot.
. Leicester City host the Hammers having seen their faint hopes of clinching
a play-off spot disappear following a goalless draw with Burnley on Tuesday
evening.
. West Ham sit in third place in the npower Championship and have not lost
away from home since the end of January.
. The Foxes are comfortably in mid-table in tenth place and have not been
beaten at the King Power Stadium since the middle of January.
. The Hammers have not recorded a victory at Leicester since January 2000
when they won courtesy of two goals from Paulo Wanchope and one from Paulo
Di Canio giving them a 3-1 victory.
. The fixture earlier in the season between the two sides was an exciting
affair as the Hammers ran out 3-2 winners. Two goals from Sam Baldock and
one from Julien Faubert saw off the Foxes' challenge.
Team News
West Ham United
. Sam Allardyce was expected wait to see the outcome of Southampton's
Saturday night game before finalising his squad. Further team news will be
confirmed closer to kick-off.
. It remains to be seen whether full-backs George McCartney and Joey O'Brien
will be recover from injury in time for Monday evening. Should they not make
the squad, Matt Taylor, Danny Collins or Guy Demel are likely to be
replacements at left and right back.
. Carlton Cole's knee injury that kept him out of 1-1 draw at Bristol City
is still being assessed ahead of his possible involvement.
Leicester City
. Leicester City team news will be confirmed closer to kick-off
Last Time Out
Tuesday 17 April 2012
npower Championship
Bristol City 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Demel (Faubert 74), Collins (Carew
63), Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Lansbury, Maynard (Collison 74), Vaz Te
Subs not used: Henderson, Diop
Goal: Tomkins (25)
Tuesday 17 April 2012
npower Championship
Leicester City 0-0 Burnley
Leicester City: Schemichel, Peltier, Konchesky, Bamba, Morgan, Dyer
(Gallagher 72), Drinkwater, Wellens, Beckford (Schlupp 72), Marshall, Nugent
Subs not used: St Ledger, King, Howard
Last Six Meetings
(Championship unless stated)
29 October 2011 West Ham United 3-2 Leicester City
18 March 2005 West Ham United 2-2 Leicester City
7 August 2004 Leicester City 0-0 West Ham United
12 January 2002 West Ham United 1-0 Leicester City (Premier League)
22 December 2001 Leicester City 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
23 December 2000 Leicester City 2-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Leicester City (all competitions) W 49 D 29 L 42
Ten Year Records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Leicester City
2010/11 Championship 10th
2009/10 Championship 5th
2008/09 League One 1st
2007/08 Championship 22nd
2006/07 Championship 19th
2005/06 Championship 16th
2004/05 Championship 15th
2003/04 Premier League 18th
2002/03 Division One, 2nd (promoted to Premier League)
2001/02 Premier League 20th (relegated to Division One)
Referee
. Monday evening's referee will be Mr Eddie Ilderton.
. Ilderton was born 16 March 1970 on Tyneside and has been a professional
referee since 1991.
. Ilderton has never taken charge of a West Ham United game but has refereed
one Leicester City game this season. He was the man in black for the Foxes
3-0 home defeat at the hands of Millwall.
. Mr Ilderton has taken charge of 15 Championship games this season, issuing
31 yellow cards, two red cards and awarding six penalties.
. Ilderton will be assisted by Nick Hobbis and Ian Rathbone and the fourth
official will be David Coote.
Us and Them
. The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Leicester City during their careers - Syd Bishop, David Connolly, Tony
Cottee, Brian Deane, Les Ferdinand, George Hebden, Andrew Impey, Dai Jones,
David Kelly, Paul Konchesky, Colin Mackleworth, William Oakes, John Pantsil
and Norman Proctor.
. Barking-born Paul Konchesky played 70 times for West Ham United between
August 2005 and March 2007, scoring twice. The left-back netted one of those
goals in the 2006 FA Cup final defeat by Liverpool in May 2006.
. Ghana international right-back John Pantsil made 24 appearances for West
Ham United between August 2006 and May 2008.
. The largest crowd to witness a West Ham United versus Leicester City
fixture was the 39,000 who turned out to watch the Hammers defeat the Foxes
3-2 in Division Two on 10 April 1936.
. West Ham United's largest away victory at Leicester was 6-0 way back in a
Division Two match on 15 February 1923. The Hammers goals came from a
hat-trick for William Moore and a goal each for Jack Tresadern, Dick
Richards and Jimmy Ruffell.
. Leicester City's largest home win over the Hammers was 5-0 in a Division
One fixture on 15 September 1928. Goals came from Barry Leonard, Arthur
Lochhead, Ernie Hine and two for Arthur Chandler.
. Fifteen players have made their West Ham United debuts against Leicester
City - William Waugh (January 1922), Wally St Pier (October 1929), Frederick
Gamble (April 1931), Jack Weare, Charlie Walker (both September 1936), Ken
Wright (September 1946), Eric Parsons (January 1947), Bob Wyllie, Eddie
Lewis (both November 1956), Alan Sealey (April 1961), Roger Hugo (March
1964), Ian Bishop, Trevor Morley (both December 1989), Sergei Rebrov and
Teddy Sheringham (both August 2004).
. Sam Allardyce has an unbeaten record against Leicester City as a manager.
In five matches at Bolton Wanderers, Big Sam guided the Trotters to two
victories and three draws against the Foxes.
. Kevin Nolan netted twice in Bolton Wanderers' 5-0 Premier League victory
at Leicester City in August 2001. Nolan also scored in the reverse fixture,
a 2-2 draw at the Reebok Stadium in December 2001.
Up Next
. West Ham United's final game of the season is at home to Hull City on
Saturday 28 April with kick-off set for 12:30pm. There are still tickets
remaining for the Hammers' final Championship match and information on how
you can secure your seat - and gain priority for the Play-Off semi-final -
can be found by clicking here. Leicester City's final match is away at Leeds
United on Saturday with kick off scheduled for the same time.
General Information
. Monday evening's game with Leicester City has been made All-Ticket meaning
there will no tickets available on the door. West Ham United advises fans
not to travel to Leicester unless in possession of a match ticket. The
weather for Monday is set for a chilly evening with light rain showers. The
temperature will be 5C.
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Fanimo firing on all cylinders
WHUFC.com
Talented winger Matthias Fanimo is already planning for a big 2012/13 season
20.04.2012
The season might be coming to an end, but Matthias Fanimo is already making
big plans for the next campaign. The England Under-18 winger will embark on
his first season as a full-time professional in 2012/13 and he wants to mark
it by forcing his way into Sam Allardyce's first-team squad. Fanimo is also
targeting a place in England's squad for the UEFA European Under-19
Championship finals in Lithuania in July 2013. "Being in the Academy has
been a great experience," said Fanimo. "I think we've come a long way and
the main thing is that we're still strong as a unit. "I think, from a young
age, we knew we had a good year-group. We've had seasons where we've gone
unbeaten and seasons when we've won a lot of games. "I think it has gone
well this season. I've been in and around the reserves and have had a great
run with the youth team, so it's been a good year. "My highlight would have
to be the FA Youth Cup game against Wolves, which we won 3-2 and in which I
produced one of my better performances. "We had a good run in the Youth Cup
and we had a great chance to go all the way - going out on penalties was a
bit unlucky. Overall, we performed well against Chelsea. "I'm now just
looking forward to next season. I think it will be good for me because I'll
be closer to the first team and hopefully I'll get my chance and I'll take
it."
Fanimo is close friends with both fellow England U18 winger Blair Turgott
and U19 forward Rob Hall. The latter has gone on to make his first-team
debut this season and also enjoyed a fine loan spell at Oxford United - both
achievements Fanimo is keen to emulate. "I just have to keep working hard
and hopefully the opportunities will come. I want to push on because it is
possible. Some people have a tendency to be jealous when they see other
people push on, but I see it as motivation. "Myself and Rob are good mates.
He's done really well this season and I'm happy for him. I believe I can do
the same next season. Hopefully my hard work will pay off. "We train most
weeks against the first team. It's a good experience to see if you can adapt
to how they train - which is a higher quality and tempo than training with
the youth team or reserves. I think I adapted to it pretty well so I'm
looking forward to being around them more. "Physically, there is still a lot
of work to be done seeing as I'm not the biggest of people, but being small
can also be a good thing. I think it works both ways. "I'll be working hard
over the summer to come back fitter and stronger. That will give me a head
start on others and hopefully show the manager that I have improved over the
summer. "It would be really great to go on the first-team pre-season tour.
We'll see how things work out. "With England, I'm looking to get noticed. I
missed a friendly recently but I reckon if I start off next season well I
can get back in there. I would definitely like to get to the EUROs."
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Boffin departs
BBC.co.uk
Ruud Boffin has left West Ham United after having his contract cancelled by
mutual consent
22.04.2012
Ruud Boffin has left West Ham United after having his contract with the Club
cancelled by mutual consent. The 24-year-old joined the Hammers in September
2010 to serve as cover for No1 Robert Green. A regular in the reserves,
Boffin made his first-team debut in a 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at a
snowbound Blackburn Rovers on 18 December 2010. The Belgian made subsequent
appearances in the 2-1 home Carling Cup loss to Aldershot Town and the 1-0
FA Cup with Budweiser third-round defeat at Sheffield Wednesday this season.
West Ham United would like to thank Ruud for his contribution and wish him
all the best for the future.
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Leicester v West Ham
KO 19:45
22 April 2012
Last updated at 18:13
BBC.co.uk
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: King Power Stadium Date: Monday, 23 April Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on
the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson has the luxury of selecting from a fit
squad with Sean St Ledger looking for a place in the starting line-up. Andy
King and Paul Gallagher may come into the side with Steve Howard and Jeffrey
Schlupp hoping for recalls.
West Ham have a number of injury doubts including striker Carlton Cole
(knee) and George McCartney (concussion). Winger Julien Faubert (hamstring)
could return to the starting XI for the must-win game.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
. West Ham are vying for a 50th win from their 118th league meeting
with Leicester, who have gained 39 wins from the last 117, and drawn 29.
. The Hammers are defending a five-match unbeaten league run against
Leicester (W2, D3), and chasing their first double over the Foxes since
1999-2000 in the Premier League.
. The London club registered one of their biggest away league wins,
when they beat Leicester 6-0 in 1923. They need one goal to total 200 in
competitive matches against the Foxes, while Leicester need one to total 100
in home league games against the Hammers.
Leicester City
. Leicester will be spending a fourth straight season in the
Championship, and are looking for their third successive top-half finish,
after promotion from League One in 2009.
. Nigel Pearson's side are undefeated in eight home league games,
winning five and drawing three since losing to Barnsley on 14 January. They
have kept clean sheets in the last three.
. The Foxes have won six of the eight home matches against clubs
higher than themselves in the Championship table.
West Ham United
. West Ham need to win to have a chance of automatic promotion going
into the final game of the season.
. Sam Allardyce's men are unbeaten in four (W2, D2, with 14 goals
scored), and have not been beaten in seven away (W4, D3). They have found
the net in all their league games on the road in 2012.
. Three points would provide the Hammers with their 600th win in
second level league football.
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Leicester v West Ham preview
Last updated: 22nd April 2012
SSN
Team news ahead of Monday evening's Championship clash between Leicester and
West Ham at the King Power Stadium. Leicester have no new problems ahead of
their final home match of the season. With City's play-off hopes now
extinguished following the goalless draw with Burnley last Tuesday, manager
Nigel Pearson might opt to tinker with his team. However, any changes are
unlikely to be wholesale ones. Sean St Ledger would be an option to come
back into the centre of the defence should Pearson wish to rest either Sol
Bamba or Wes Morgan. Fit-again Andy King and Paul Gallagher provide midfield
alternatives for the City boss while Steve Howard and Jeffery Schlupp will
be vying for recalls in attack. Ahead of the game, Pearson said: "Our home
form has been good and it is important we continue that and put on a
performance for the fans in what will be our last home match."
West Ham have injury doubts over Carlton Cole, George McCartney, Joey
O'Brienand Gary O'Neil. Striker Cole should be fit after missing Tuesday
night's 1-1 draw at Bristol City with a slight knee injury. Full-backs
McCartney (concussion) and O'Brien (thigh) were also absent at Ashton Gate
and will be checked over along with midfielder O'Neil, who has been
struggling with a groin problem. Winger Julien Faubert returned as a
substitute against City after missing the previous three matches due to a
hamstring injury so he could be recalled to the starting line-up.
Centre-back Abdoulaye Faye and striker Sam Baldock are pushing to return to
the squad after missing out in midweek.
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Harte named in PFA team
Defender is Royals' only winner in team of the season
Last Updated: April 22, 2012 10:43pm
SSN
Champions Reading have only one player in the Championship Team of the Year
- experienced defender Ian Harte. Harte scored four goals from his 31
appearances as the Royals enjoyed a fantastic second half of the campaign to
clinch top spot and a return to the Premier League. Southampton, who are in
pole position to secure the second automatic promotion place, have
goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, midfielder Adam Lallana along with free-scoring
forward Rickie Lambert in the team. James Tomkins and Mark Noble were West
Ham's two representatives with the rest of the team made up of individuals
from different clubs. Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne, Curtis Davies
of Birmingham, Cardiff's Peter Whittingham, Blackpool winger Matt Phillips
and Jay Rodriguez of Burnley completed the side.
Championship: Kelvin Davis (Southampton), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace),
James Tomkins (West Ham), Curtis Davies (Birmingham), Ian Harte (Reading),
Adam Lallana (Southampton), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Mark Noble (West
Ham), Matt Phillips (Blackpool), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez
(Burnley).
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It's been Sam season
The Sun
Published: 22nd April 2012
SAM ALLARDYCE insists it will be an outstanding season for West Ham - even
if their dream of automatic promotion ends tonight at Leicester. The Hammers
know anything less than victory at the King Power Stadium will rule them out
of a top-two finish and send Southampton up to the Premier League. And
finishing in the play-offs would see them face the likes of in-form
Blackpool to get into the top flight. Big Sam said: "The only game we can
think about is Leicester and try to win it to keep our glimmer of hope
alive. Then we can build up to finishing on a high against Hull. "No matter
where we finish it will be an outstanding season from the players and we
will take our destiny at the final whistle against Hull. "We'll see where we
go there from there. It will either be one hell of a celebration or we'll
start getting focused on the play-offs."
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Forget the play-offs, we want automatic promotion, says Tomkins
By IVAN SPECK
Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:00, 22 April 2012 | UPDATED: 23:15, 22 April 2012
The shredded nerves of the Championship play-offs are their likely
destination, but West Ham's players go into Monday night's game at Leicester
adamant that automatic promotion can still be achieved. Sam Allardyce's team
have to win at the King Power Stadium and at home to Hull on Saturday while
hoping that Southampton do not beat relegated Coventry. Defender James
Tomkins insists the play-offs can be avoided, saying: 'It's still
mathematically possible that we could go up automatically. We go into games
confident. We're disappointed to be in this position but we're still
positive. Of course, we can go into the play-offs and win them.' Two wins
for West Ham and a draw for Southampton would bring goal difference into
play come Saturday. Currently both sides have conceded the same number but
the Saints have scored four more.
Reading celebrated becoming champions on Saturday, thanks to Southampton's
2-1 defeat at Boro. On-loan striker Jason Roberts said: 'I'm honoured to be
a part of this. I will be hiding my winner's medal in the loft.' Just below
them, Blackpool and Birmingham (barring the most unlikely of 23-goal swings)
are certain of a play-off place, while Cardiff need a point to join them. A
trip to mid-table Crystal Palace would ordinarily hold no fears, except that
it was Cardiff who denied Palace a trip to Wembley when they won their
Carling Cup semi-final penalty shootout in January. Should revenge translate
into a Palace victory, Middlesbrough would need to win at Watford.
While Charlton's only remaining target after clinching the League One title
is to gather three more points to reach the 100-point mark, Sheffield
United, without their jailed 35-goal striker Ched Evans, appear vulnerable
to cross-city rivals Wednesday in the fight over the second automatic spot.
United lost 1-0 to MK Dons and face play-off chasing Stevenage at Bramall
Lane on Saturday. If they slip up, either in that match or at Exeter,
Wednesday will overhaul them with two victories. United boss Danny Wilson
said: 'You are dealt little blows at times in the season, every club is. We
have had a couple we've dealt with and we'll deal with this one.'
Three successive victories for Chesterfield, including Saturday's 2-1 win
which sent opponents Rochdale down, have given them hope that their
Johnstone's Paint Trophy triumph might not be soured by relegation after
all. They need to extend that winning run to five to have a chance of
staying up. Wycombe and Exeter face similar challenges, although one win for
Walsall and Orient will render such equations meaningless.
Should West Ham and Allardyce fail to make it to the Premier League, it will
not go unnoticed that Paolo Di Canio's Swindon will be one division below
them after their promotion - confirmed despite a 3-1 loss at Gillingham.
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Adkins chooses backgammon over West Ham
Saints manager knows Hammers must win to stop his side going up - but won't
watch tonight
JACK PITT-BROOKE MONDAY 23 APRIL 2012
Independent.co.uk
Adam Lallana will watch but Nigel Adkins has decided not to as Southampton's
season goes on the line at Leicester City tonight.
If West Ham United fail to win at the King Power Stadium tonight,
Southampton will return to the Premier League after a seven-year absence.
They could have confirmed their promotion on Saturday evening at
Middlesbrough, but they did not, going ahead but eventually losing 2-1.
Should West Ham win tonight - and they are very good away from home - the
second automatic promotion place will be decided on Saturday, the final day
of the regular Championship season, when Southampton host already relegated
Coventry City and West Ham welcome Hull City.
"It will be impossible not to watch it, or at least keep an eye on what's
happening," winger Lallana said of tonight's game. "The prize is so great so
we're bound to be wanting to know what's going on. Leicester are a good team
and hopefully they'll want to go out on a high in front of their own
supporters. But West Ham are a good team as well so you never know what's
going to happen."
The West Ham defender James Tomkins believes that they can take the contest
to the final day, but would not worry about the play-offs either. "We are
still confident," he said. "We're disappointed [to be in this position] but
we're still positive. Of course we can go into the play-offs and win them.
It's not the end of the world. We will concentrate on the rest of the season
first, though, because it's still mathematically possible that we could go
up automatically. We just have to concentrate on that." Meanwhile, West Ham
keeper Ruud Boffin has parted company with the club after having his
contract cancelled by mutual consent.
Lallana will not be joined in front of the action from Leicester, though, by
his manager Adkins, who said that he would spend tonight rather differently.
"I won't watch it," he said. "I expect West Ham to win the game. But all our
focus will be on what we can do and that's prepare properly for the game at
home against Coventry.
"I might have a game of backgammon. The best thing to do is get yourself
occupied doing something else. I'm sure there will be plenty of people
texting and phoning about the result. The phone probably won't be in my
vicinity. You can't control it. I've done it previously where you are sat
there kicking every ball and then all of a sudden they score in the last
minute so you just don't put yourself in that position."
This was not expectation-management, though, as Adkins is still confident of
Southampton's promotion. "We've been able to lift the players really well
this season, they are all good professionals," he said. "We've got one game
to go, at home. We fancy our chances at home. One game to go, we win that
game, we get promoted to the Premier League."
Southampton's Hampshire rivals Portsmouth will certainly be leaving the
Championship, but in the opposite direction. Pompey lost 2-1 at home to
Derby County on Saturday, and so will be joining Coventry and Doncaster
Rovers in League One next season.
Portsmouth might well have been safe were it not for a 10-point deduction
which followed their going into administration. Liam Lawrence, who left the
club for Cardiff City on loan because of the financial crisis at Fratton
Park, said that Portsmouth's former owners, who left them in such trouble,
were a "disgrace".
"For the powers above to deduct points for the idiots who have ruined the
club, run away scot-free and left it in a mess is unfortunate," Lawrence
said. "I feel so sorry for the supporters for what they have been put
through in the last three years. It's disgraceful."
Lawrence is happier with the situation at Cardiff, who, after drawing 1-1
with Leeds United on Saturday, should secure a play-off place with a draw at
Crystal Palace next Saturday. "Cardiff is totally different," Lawrence
revealed. "The club is run a lot different. It is financially secure and has
a great fanbase like Portsmouth but we're at the other end of the spectrum."
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James Tomkins tells West Ham team-mates: we can still win automatic
promotion
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff and agencies11:59PM BST 22 Apr 2012Comment
James Tomkins insists that West Ham must enter tonight's Championship clash
with Leicester City believing that they can still clinch automatic
promotion. The third-placed Hammers have to take advantage of Southampton's
defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday to ensure the race goes to the final
weekend of the season.
If Sam Allardyce's men fail to win at the King Power Stadium then Saints'
place in the Premier League will be confirmed, leaving the east London club
to negotiate the play-offs. Even if West Ham win tonight they will need to
beat Hull at Upton Park next Saturday and hope relegated Coventry do them a
favour against Southampton.
Defender Tomkins, 23, said: "We're still confident. We're disappointed to be
in this position but we're still positive. Of course we can go into the
play-offs and win them. It's not the end of the world. "We will concentrate
on the rest of the season first, though, because it's still mathematically
possible that we could go up automatically. We just have to focus on that."
Allardyce is waiting on the fitness of striker Carlton Cole plus defenders
George McCartney and Joey O'Brien before finalising his line-up.
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Leicester v West Ham: Visitors' bid to catch Southampton to be ruined
Foxes will provide a premature end to the automatic promotion race
Ladbrokes.co.uk
There are several reasons to suspect that Leicester are going to extinguish
West Ham's slim chances of second place with a victory at the King Power
Stadium in Monday's televised Championship tie.
Match odds
West Ham have far more at stake in the east midlands on Monday night, with
only three points enough to take their challenge for a top-two finish to the
final day, however Leicester look the more appetising prospect at 17/10.
The Foxes have a remarkably strong record at home to the division's top
teams, triumphing on four of the five occasions that they have hosted
top-six opponents, overcoming the likes of Southampton, Blackpool and
Birmingham.
In addition, they are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run in front
of their fans of the campaign, winning five and drawing three from eight
since a shock defeat to Barnsley in January.
West Ham are slight favourites at 6/4 and the Championship's best
travellers, but they were held last Tuesday by Bristol City and have won
just three of their last 11 fixtures at any venue.
Other markets
Leicester have kept clean sheets in each of their last three home games but
that streak looks likely to end against a Irons side that have fired just
one blank away to a club below them in the table, that being Millwall way
back in September.
Both teams to score is consequently well fancied at 4/6, and if the reverse
fixture at the Boleyn Ground - which finished 3-2 in Sam Allardyce's men's
favour - is a guideline, an entertaining contest should ensue.
West Ham's last four away encounters have averaged three goals and this one
is 4/5 to produce over 2.5 goals. Two of Leicester's five home wins against
top-eight clubs have wound up 2-1 and this is 10/1 to follow suit.
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