Daily WHUFC News - 21st December 2014

Hammers sweep Leicester aside
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing were on target as West Ham put Leicester City to the sword
20.12.2014

Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-0 Leicester City

West Ham United swept aside Barclays Premier League bottom club Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, as goals in either half from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing fired the Hammers to a third successive win at the Boleyn Ground.

Having passed up a glorious chance moments earlier, Carroll seized on a wayward Paul Konchesky backpass to hand the hosts a 24th-minute advantage. The in-form Downing then bagged his fourth of an already excellent campaign to put further daylight between the sides after 56 minutes.

It proved plenty to earn Sam Allardyce's men a fourth win in five and consign the struggling Foxes to a ninth league defeat in the their last ten. West Ham can now look forward to a Boxing Day trip to Stamford Bridge sitting pretty in fourth spot.

Big Sam had earlier named the very same starting XI and substitutes as at Sunderland a week ago and, just as he had demanded, the hosts made the faster start here, with two half chances in the first three minutes. Carroll's knockdown from a Cheikhou Kouyate centre was hacked clear in the six-yard box, before James Tomkins saw his right-footed strike deflected over the top.

With six minutes gone the prolific Diafra Sakho had his first sight of goal too, receiving from Kevin Nolan on the edge of the box before skewing wide of the far post.

The Foxes, meanwhile, were growing into the contest and briefly threatened when Jamie Vardy snuck in behind and squared, but Jeffrey Schlupp could get nothing on it.

The game burst into life midway through the half, with Carroll firstly passing up a gilt-edged chance. A long ball forward fell kindly for Downing on the left and though his cut-back for the No9 looked perfect, the England forward ballooned it over the top from no more than eight yards.

Nigel Pearson's men went straight up the other end and but for an exceptional Winston Reid block, Esteban Cambiassos's drive from the edge of the box would surely have troubled Adrian. In any case, Carl Jenkinson smashed it beyond halfway and Barking boy Paul Konchesky, facing his own goal, appeared to have all in hand. His backpass, however, was woefully underhit and once Carroll had skipped in front of Marcin Wasilewski, he finished with aplomb, dinking over Ben Hamer to bag his third of the campaign.

Leicester, for their part, were intermittently posing questions of the Hammers backline and Adrian had to be on his mettle to tip a fizzing Riyad Mahrez strike over his crossbar.

Goalscorer Carroll remained in the thick of it after the restart as he took to the air to aim an overhead goalward, but having not caught it cleanly, it trickled wide of the target. There was then a heart-stopping moment when the centre-forward lost his footing and careered into the photographers' pit. Thankfully, no harm done, as he was swiftly back to his feet.

With just eleven second-half minutes gone, West Ham doubled their lead courtesy of a glorious Downing drive. Bagging his second in as many weeks, the No11 collected Sakho's flick-on, before again cutting in onto that trusty left foot to bend a wicked curler into the far corner of Hamer's goal.

Pearson rolled the dice on the hour, with David Nugent, Leonardo Ulloa and Anthony Knockaert all summoned from the bench. It gave his side a measure of fresh impetus, but when Nugent skipped inside both Alex Song and substitute James Collins, he then blasted high and wide of Adrian's right-hand upright.

With time running out, West Ham had Adrian to thank for preventing a nervy last few minutes, as his stunning one-handed stop kept out a Nugent volley from point-blank range. There was still time for the Spaniard to deny Ulloa too, this time diving to his left to repel a firm header and ensure the Hammers have another clean sheet as well as three more points to celebrate this Christmas.

West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins (Collins 69), Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Nolan (c) (Amalfitano 87), Downing, Sakho (Valencia 79), Carroll
Subs: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Zarate, Cole

Goals: Carroll 24, Downing 56

Leicester City: Hamer, Simpson, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Konchesky (Knockaert 61), Cambiasso (Ulloa 61), Drinkwater, King, Schlupp, Mahrez, Vardy (Nugent 61)
Subs: Smith, De Laet, Hammond, James

Booked: King, Vardy, Ulloa

Referee: Martin Atkinson

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Big Sam shares Christmas cheer
WHUFC.com
With West Ham United sitting fourth, Sam Allardyce already has everything he wants this Christmas!
20.12.2014

Lynn Allardyce will not have to do any last-minute Christmas shopping this year, because her husband Sam already has everything he wants!
West Ham United will wake up on Christmas morning fourth in the Barclays Premier League after winning for the ninth time in 17 games - a 2-0 home win over Leicester City. Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing were on target as the Hammers crossed the 30-point barrier a full two months and ten matches earlier than they did last season. With his team flying high, Big Sam was asked what else he wants for Christmas. The manager responded that he is looking forward to spending Christmas Day at home with his wife. "Nothing! Those days are gone now and it's all about a very nice card and her company - that's more important to me than anything else!" he revealed. Concentrating on the football, West Ham produced a professional performance against a Leicester side which had not won in eleven previous league matches - clearly pleasing the gaffer. "We've put in some outstanding performances with victories to go with it. We're one defeat in eleven now and that was a very difficult game in many ways. "Our fans arrived here probably thinking it would be a great three points at the start of the Christmas period and West Ham would stay in the top four and we can then look forward to Chelsea and Arsenal and see how we get on against them. "The anticipation of us winning was there so it was a game where we had little to lose and nothing to gain. Leicester are bottom of the league so we did a professional job and that all-important clean sheet meant we got three points with two very well-taken goals. "We missed a few chances but we've got a 2-0 victory, a clean sheet, 31 points just before Christmas, and we have had a sustained period in the top six. That's very pleasing for me, because the lads have not taken their foot off the gas or become complacent. "They seem to have a determination and desire to stay there for as long as they possibly can, with a lot of quality as they showed on Saturday."

After an untidy opening, Carroll lashed Downing's cross high over the crossbar from eight yards on 23 minutes, only to be given an unexpected chance to make amends seconds later, racing onto Paul Konchesky's errant backpass before racing clear and clipping past Ben Hamer. West Ham doubled their lead eleven minutes after the break through Downing's sublime control of Diafra Sakho's flick-on and inch-perfect curler into the far corner - his fourth goal of an impressive season so far. Big Sam hailed his two England internationals for their match-winning contributions. "I think what it showed was just how quick Andy is when he is in his stride, because their two centre-halves are no slouches but he kept his distance away from the centre-half, even in possession of the ball. "He calmly waited to see what the goalkeeper would do and that's the sign of a good goalscorer. Many people who go one-on-one panic and don't quite make the right decision, but the little dink over the goalkeeper was a fantastic bit of quality. "Then of course the second goal was all about our main man at the minute, Stewart Downing, with a beautiful first touch and bent finish into the side-netting giving us a deserved, well-earned victory."

Late on, Leicester threw on strikers David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa, and both tested Adrian's reflexes and concentration levels with gilt-edged chances. The goalkeeper was equal to both, saving Nugent's volley with his right arm and flying to his left to repel Ulloa's header. "There are two brilliant things about those two saves - the saves themselves and the concentration. He has had nothing to do for most of the game, but in the space of five minutes he has had to pull off two very, very good saves and he has done that for us. "If Leicester had scored then, who knows? We've seen games changed by goals, Leicester were throwing caution to the wind and it might have put a bit of panic in our team, so they were very important saves at the time, so well done to him."

While he is delighted with his own team's progress, Big Sam closed with words of support for his friend and former coach at Newcastle United, the Leicester manager Nigel Pearson. Being bottom at Christmas often means relegation is on the horizon, but the West Ham boss believes the Foxes could yet pull themselves clear of danger. "If you look at Leicester's results, they rarely lose by two goals, even though they haven't won any games since beating Manchester United [in September]. "That's disappointing for Nigel, because he is a friend of mine and I want him to do better, and also because his team shows a lot of commitment. They are not too far away and only one thing is missing in their team and that's a goalscorer. "That is eluding them at the minute and is why they are where they are, and to beat this team we had to play well. We had to be in the right frame of mind and not think we just had to turn out and win. We had to work very hard for it and we did."

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Carroll's in the goals
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll scored his third goal of the season to help down Leicester City on Saturday
20.12.2014

Andy Carroll continued his rich vein of form by netting West Ham United's opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Leicester City. The No9 now has three goals from his last two Boleyn Ground outings as the Hammers maintained their hold on a top four position with victory over the Foxes. Carroll's 24th minute strike came just minutes after he blazed a fine opportunity over the top and he was glad to right that wrong so swiftly. Stewart Downing added a second after the interval to give the hosts the perfect early Christmas present. "It was a brilliant game for us," Carroll said. "We did really well - kept at it for the whole game and could probably have had more goals. "For the goal I kind of knew that he [Paul Konchesky] was looking the play the ball back to the keeper. I just had to be a little bit sneaky and get in there before the defender. "As soon as I saw him pass it I was off on my bike. The keeper came rushing out and there was only one place to put it, over the top of him. "With strikers, the chances come and go. If you don't put one away you just have to keep your head and hope for the next chance and put that one away. "That's what I did today and I was confident I was going to put the second one away."

Carroll was delighted to see Downing notch his fourth goal of a productive first half of the campaign, especially as it meant his team would be in the top four on Christmas Day. "Stewart's was a great finish," he added. "He got onto the end of it really well from Diafra's header, brought it down neatly and curled it into the top corner, which is brilliant. "It's a great position to be in with 31 points on the board now and that's brilliant with the two tough games against Chelsea and Arsenal coming up now."

There was a moment of concern for the Hammers in the second period when Carroll took a tumble into the photographers' pit in front of the Alpari Stand. It looked to be a heavy impact into the advertising boards, but Carroll was happy to confirm he was okay. "I'm fine," he smiled. "It was a tough fall, but I can get up from them no bother."

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West Ham are breaking barriers in Premier League - Sam Allardyce
BBc.co.uk

Manager Sam Allardyce said West Ham are "breaking barriers" in the Premier League as they head into the Christmas period in a Champions League spot. The Hammers are fourth in the table after a 2-0 home win against Leicester. "It's not often a team is breaking the barriers everybody else doesn't expect them to break," said Allardyce. "Being fourth is a great Christmas present for everybody at West Ham and having 31 points already is a pretty major achievement for us."

Goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing secured a routine win against the Foxes and ensured the Hammers would claim their highest Premier League position at Christmas. They have not been in a higher position in the top-flight of English football on 25 December since 1985-86, when they were third in the old Division One. West Ham have already won nine Premier League matches in 2014-15. They only won 11 in the whole of 2013-14. West Ham's best Premier League campaign came in 1998-99 when they finished fifth and their last European football experience came in 2006-07 when they lost in the first round of the Uefa Cup. If they finished fourth at the end of the season they would enter the play-off round for the Champions League, a competition they have never played in before. However, with games to come at Chelsea on Boxing Day and then at home to Arsenal on 28 December, Allardyce is not getting carried away. He added: "You should enjoy the moment and continue enjoying it for as long as it lasts. Hopefully it will last for a good while yet. "We've sustained our position between sixth and fourth in recent weeks, but the end of January will tell us what we can possibly achieve. "The players who have applied themselves magnificently well are reaping the rewards."

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West Ham 2 Leicester 0
20 December 2014
Last updated at 18:45
By Michael Emons
BBC Sport

West Ham remain fourth in the Premier League after beating a Leicester side who are without a win in 12 games. Andy Carroll put the home side ahead, pouncing on a poor backpass from ex-Hammer Paul Konchesky before dinking the ball over the on-rushing Ben Hamer. Stewart Downing doubled the hosts' advantage with a curling 20-yard shot. West Ham goalkeeper Adrian denied David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa late on as the Foxes suffered their seventh successive away Premier League defeat. After winning promotion and making a promising start to their top-flight campaign, Nigel Pearson's Leicester have failed to win since a spectacular 5-3 victory against Manchester United on 21 September. The visitors never looked like earning a point after an error from Konchesky, who spent two years at Upton Park from July 2005 to July 2007, gifted Carroll a goal with an awful backpass from the halfway line.

West Ham, whose highest ever Premier League finish was fifth in the 1998-99 season, were 2-0 up 10 minutes after the break when England winger Downing produced the best moment of an otherwise scrappy match, with a wonderfully-taken curled finish for his fourth goal of the season. Pearson, who earlier in the week was handed a one-game touchline ban, was able to take his place in the dugout as he is appealing against that decision and midway through the second half he made a triple substitution, bringing on strikers Ulloa and Nugent as well as midfielder Anthony Knockaert.

Nugent gave Leicester more of an attacking threat, shooting over from the edge of the area, before he had a close-range volley pushed away by Adrian, who later parried Ulloa's header. But that was as good as it got for the Foxes as West Ham, who visit league leaders Chelsea on Boxing Day, closed out a deserved victory. Leicester will be bottom of the Premier League table at Christmas and in the 22 seasons of the competition only Sunderland, last season, and West Brom, in 2004-05, have avoided relegation after being in similar positions. Leicester have only won once in the league in their last 28 trips to Upton Park. That victory came in the Premier League in August 2000 when Darren Eadie scored the only goal.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "Being fourth in the Premier League is a great Christmas present for everybody at West Ham. Having 31 points before Christmas is a pretty major achievement for us. There is no doubt we deserved to win with the quality finishes from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. Stewart is one of the best attacking players in the Premier League with the way he is playing, and he is getting goals on the back of that. It is a very big win for us before we have Chelsea next. "None of Nigel Pearson's players let him down. They gave everything and when we went 2-0 up they caused us some problems. He is a very good manager and he has proved that. I hope the club are patient with him and give him some funds to spend in January."

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson said: "The first goal we conceded was a big blow for us, the second was a quality finish from Stewart Downing and we continue to not be able to take our chances. Their goalkeeper made three saves and our players are very disappointed, but our destiny is still in our own hands. "I can look my players in their eyes and see they are very much up for the challenge. We have seen enough positive performances to suggest we will turn it around but we have to do it soon. "It is not a case of shirking the responsibility or sticking my head in the sand. I'm very aware of our situation, but we are capable of changing it."

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West Ham Utd 2-0 Leicester City
KUMb.com
Filed: Saturday, 20th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will spend Christmas in the Champions League spots after seeing off struggling Leicester City at the Boleyn this afternoon.

Big Sam's happy Hammers enter the Christmas period a point behind third-placed Manchester United, after goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing secured all three points at a packed Boleyn Ground.

The Foxes, who have mustered just ten points so far this season rarely looked likely to add to their meagre tally on a day when patience proved to be key for the Hammers.

Having set out their stall early on to defend in numbers (and with manager Nigel Pearson holding onto the ball by the touchline in the very first minute), this was clearly going to be a different kind of test for West Ham than that experienced at Sunderland last weekend.

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages and West Ham's cause wasn't helped when Andy Carroll smashed a golden opportunity to open their account well over the bar with 23 minutes on the clock. Fortunately for the in-form striker, he was able to atone for his error just 60 seconds later when West Ham countered with devastating effect.

The goal initiated from a great block by Winston Reid, who threw himself in front of Argentine legend Esteban Cambiasso's shot.

Under pressure, former Hammer Paul Konchesky - who with a full head of hair looks younger now than when he played for West Ham almost a decade ago - tried to find his goalkeeper but the pass was too short, allowing Carroll to nip in and left the ball over Ben Hamer into an empty net.

Aaron cresswell ✔ @Aaron_Cresswell
Another 3 important points.. Happy days.. #COYI

Leicester responded with a fierce drive from Algerian Riyad Mahrez that required the intervention of Adrian's fingertips before the Foxes picked up a couple of bookings - the latter, by Jamie Vardy, for the second attack on Alex Song's ankles within the space of 60 seconds that left the midfielder (genuinely) writhing in agony.

Fortunately West Ham's playmaker was able to continue and returned for the second half. It began in a similar fashion to the first, with the Hammers largely controlling the game without finding that all-important second goal; entertainment, if it can be called that, briefly reserved for the moment Andy Carroll - with his usual patent disregard for personal safety - launched himself, head first, into the advertising boards.

Like Song, the big striker was eventually able to continue and therefore able to participate in the goal celebrations that followed Stewart Downing's fourth goal of the season only five minutes later. Diafra Sakho may not have scored today, but he earned himself an assist with a downward header that the England international guided expertly into Hamer's far corner.

A host of substitutions followed; three at once for the visitors, with generous applause offered to ex-Hammer Konchesky by the Boleyn - hopefully for his past endeavours in claret and blue, rather than the questionable back-pass that led to the day's opening goal.

The game as a contest petered out with West Ham happy holding a two-goal advantage, although the previously untested Adrian was forced into two stunning stops to preserve his first clean sheet in four games.

Adrián San Miguel ✔ @AdriSanMiguel
Today was my first anniversary since I made my Premier League debut with West Ham United!Really happy and so proud of this 😀👏🇪🇸 #COYI

Substitute Nugent must have thought he'd halved the deficit when he connected superbly with a cross into the centre from eight yards out, but Adrian threw himself in front of the ball to deny the once-capped England international.

The Spaniard had hardly caught his breath before he was required to intervene once again. An even better save than the first, Ulloa's header was heading into the back of the net before Adrian flung himself acrobatically to his left - and towards the post - to push the ball away from goal.

The win takes West Ham to 31 points for the season (from 17 games); that's just two less than they achieved in the entire 2010/11 relegation season under Avram Grant.

The team's new-found strength and resilience will be fully tested immediately after Christmas, when Premier League leaders Chelsea and sixth-placed Arsenal await. However for now at least, Hammers fans can take great comfort from being in the Champions League spots at Christmas - our best ever Premier League position at this stage of the season.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

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Tomkins suffers minor hamstring injury
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 20th December 2014
By: Staff Writer

James Tomkins was taken off as a precautionary measure having tweaked his hamstring in this afternoon's Premier League fixture with Leicester. The central defender was replaced by James Collins midway through the second half of this afternoon's clash, which West Ham won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. Manager Sam Allardyce confirmed after the game that Tomkins was substituted after feeling a twinge in his upper thigh. We'll have more for you from Big Sam's post-match press conference shortly.

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West Ham ease to 2-0 victory over Leicester at Upton Park
Last Updated: 20/12/14 8:57pm
SSN

West Ham's strong home form continued as they eased to a 2-0 victory over a Leicester City at Upton Park. Goals in either half from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing sealed the points for Sam Allardyce's men and confirmed Nigel Pearson's side would occupy bottom spot in the Premier League on Christmas Day. Carroll capitalised on Paul Konchesky's backpass midway through the first half to hand the hosts the lead just moments after he missed a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock. The hosts rarely threatened to get on the scoresheet and were dealt a blow 10 minutes after interval as Downing collected Diafra Sakho's knock-down from a long ball to curl exquisitely past Ben Hamer in the Leicester goal. Substitutes David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa saw late attempts expertly saved by Hammers keeper Adrian in the closing stages, but a comeback did not materialise as West Ham ensured they would be in the top four over the Christmas.

The Hammers have made their best Premier League start and now have an eye on Europe while Leicester must dig deep to have any hope of survival. The hosts set about imposing their physical and, at times, aerial game on the visitors from the offset. Kouyate found some space down the right wing and, after evading Konchesky down the left, floated a ball deep to the far post where Andy Carroll looked to exert his strength, but nothing came of the opening. Leicester boss Pearson then watched Jamie Vardy's dangerous cross into the six-yard box evade everyone and his side fail to capitalise on Adrian's throw straight to Esteban Cambiasso. Sakho should have given West Ham the lead but was unable to direct his first-time volley on target. But it was to be his strike partner who spurned a far easier chance when Carroll, after receiveing the ball from Downing, blasted over from six yards out. The striker quickly made amends as within two minutes the deadlock was broken. Former Hammer Konchesky aimlessly passed back to Hamer without looking and Carroll pounced to deftly finish over the on-rushing keeper.

Carroll was unable to connect with an acrobatic effort early in the second half and there was a moment of alarm when he appeared to jar his ankle and knee in an innocuous incident before he crashed into the advertisement hoarding and a photographer or two. But Carroll brushed himself down and was involved in the game's deciding goal. As West Ham reverted back to the classic route-one play, the striker made a nusciance of himself in the Leicester ranks and allowed Sakho to flick the ball into the path of Downing, who curled home an excellent astrike to all but seal the points. Nugent and Ulloa were denied by Adrian at point-blank range late on as Leicester rallied. Had either header gone in it would have set up a grandstand finsh, but as it was the Hammers eased to victory.

West Ham: Adrian (7), Jenkinson (6), Tomkins (6), Reid (6), Cresswell (7), Nolan (5), Song (), Kouyate (6), Downing (7), Sakho (6), Carroll (8).

Used subs: Collins (5), Amalfitano (4), Valencia (5).

Leicester City: Hamer (5), Simpson (4), Wasilewski (5), Morgan (5), Konchesky (3), Mahrez (6), King (6), Cambiasso (4), Drinkwater (5), Schlupp (6), Vardy (6).

Used subs: Ulloa (5), Knockaert (4), Nugent (5).

Man of the Match: Andy Carroll.

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Sam Allardyce pleased with West Ham's professionalism in 2-0 win over Leicester at Upton Park
Last Updated: 20/12/14 8:20pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce praised his West Ham side's "thoroughly professional" performance in their 2-0 victory over Leicester at Upton Park.
Andy Carroll's opportunistic opener handed the hosts a well-deserved half-time lead in Saturday's Premier League clash before Stewart Downing's exquisite curled effort sealed the points and ensured the Hammers would occupy fourth spot over Christmas. As West Ham continued their fine league form, Allardyce was pleased to see his side deal with the expectation of being favourites against a Leicester side who will be bottom at Christmas, and set his sights on the forthcoming games with Chelsea and Arsenal. "I was very pleased with how we applied ourselves today. This was a huge game for us because the expectation was so high, having done so well this season," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "When you play the team at the bottom of the table, you know the fans are going to come down and everybody expects you to just turn up and win. It's a big challenge for the players to make sure they play to their level and they've done that today. They've done a thoroughly professional job with some quality goals. "We are in a fantastic position now in the league where we are nearly halfway through the season and we're in the top four and we've sustained that for the last few weeks. Of course, our next challenge is Chelsea away and Arsenal at home, so that will be a huge test. "We could play our best football and have our best tactics available against Chelsea and Arsenal and still not win because of the quality they've got. What we have given ourselves, though, is a big cushion for when we come to play the big teams; with no pressure on us in terms of we've got to go out and get points against them. "His (Downing's) major contribution of providing goals and opportunities for other people is absolutely magnificent at this moment in time" "Saying that, we then become the underdogs rather than the favourites and sometimes that eases the pressure off our players. Hopefully they go out and play better than they did today but that doesn't mean to say that they'll beat those teams."

Magnificent

Both strikes on show at Upton Park were spectacular in their own right and when asked which one he preferred, Allardyce opted for Downing's fourth league goal of the season, and also praised the winger's ability as a provider for his teammates. "Stewart's goal for me was the better of the two," Allardyce said. "His first touch and then he's passed and bent it into the net. We've been talking about the fact he's started to control his finishes a bit better for a while now. "That's two-in-two now and four for the season. Not only that, his major contribution of providing goals and opportunities for other people is absolutely magnificent at this moment in time."

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WEST HAM 2, LEICESTER CITY 0. A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
By David Hautzig 20 Dec 2014 at 19:04
West Ham till I Die

It wouldn't be unreasonable to ask the following question. "What could we possibly learn from playing a team that hasn't won in eleven games and is holding up the rest of the Premier League"?

A lot.

This was a unique position for West Ham. To go into a home game against a team in the relegation zone and have it not be a six pointer. To be not only the favorite to win, but to be universally expected to win in much the same way a Chelsea or Manchester City would be expected to win a similar game. That's not to say the Foxes went into today's match as cannon fodder. On the contrary. Despite being at the foot of the table on only ten points, they hadn't been exactly hammered by anyone.

Pun obviously 100% intended.

West Ham went into the game today with close to a fully fit squad, with only the loss of Mark Noble to be concerned about. Matthew Upson continued to hurt West Ham by not being available for Leicester, denying Sakho or Carroll the pleasure of putting that useless piece of dross over their knees and spanking him. So we saw an unchanged West Ham squad from last week's draw at Sunderland, both on the pitch and on the bench, which started a mini debate on Twitter. The majority saw the logic in what Sam was doing, given that Carroll had played well since returning from injury. A few, however, argued that it was the Sakho-Valencia tandem that had gotten us here and that it should be the default choice. My opinion changes by the second, so I stayed out of it for the most part.

The past few games, regardless of how they finished, have not seen West Ham begin on the front foot. Today was a bit different, at least for the first five minutes or so. We started by pushing the ball forward with an apparent confidence that Leicester would be hard pressed to cause us many problems. Kouyate, who had his best game in a long time, started the proceedings in the 2nd minute with a cross to Carroll that was cleared for a corner. James Tomkins took a crack at it off that corner and won another one. Then Nolan, with a little help from a deflection, sent in Sakho but his volley was wide and Leicester got to take a deep breath along with a goal kick.

In the 8th minute the visitors started to assert themselves a bit when Jeff Schlupp beat Jenkinson to the byline and sent a cross in that Tomkins had to head out for a corner. Schlupp just missed being the receiver instead of the provider moments later when he couldn't get on the end of Vardy's cross. Tomkins cleared the ball out of danger and sent Sakho out on the break, but it was the first of a few times when Sakho showed that despite his remarkable start to the season he still has elements of his game that need work. Like running with the ball through the midfield, which he tried to do and lost control of. Dribbling in tight areas as well. With his level of athleticism and skill, however, I'm not bothered. For the record, I love the guy.

The game settled down into a series of bad passes, wasted possession, and a succession of crosses that floated harmlessly around both goals. Earlier in the week, Sam warned about being complacent. "There are swings and roundabouts in this game and it can all be so unpredictable. There's no good spouting off what you might or might not do because it might leap back and kick you right in the goolies". While I am unfamiliar with the word "goolies", I got his point. We all did, I bet. We looked a bit too comfortable. Heck, even Song missed some passes! It took an Aaron Cresswell run in the 21st minute to wake us up when he chased down a ball just outside the Leicester box and won a free kick. It looked like he said to himself "I've had enough of this nonsense, I want to beat these guys". A scramble inside the box ended with a Sakho lay off for Song, but his shot was blocked.

There are supporters, more than just a few in fact, that are not fans of Andy Carroll nor will they ever be. Fair enough. They were handed a moment that could have been a smoking gun in their view in the 23rd minute when Downing fed a low cross to a wide open Carroll in front of the net. Side foot, top of the foot, heck even a squib off his shin should have put it in. Instead it went miles over the bar. A proverbial sitter. Seconds later, Leicester started a counter. A moment of miscommunication between Adrian and I think Reid almost led to disaster when Adrian found himself outside the safety of his eighteen yard box. His clearance came right back in the form of Esteban Cambiasso. His attempt on goal was blocked by Reid, and cleared by Jenkinson. That should have been the end of a fairly wild couple of minutes.

Nope.

Paul Konchesky got to the ball just inside his own half and thought a back pass to Hamer was the best idea. It was a spectacular idea for Carroll, who intercepted it and placed a lovely little chip over the keeper to give West Ham the lead and himself a bit of redemption for his miss a few minutes earlier.

West Ham 1, Leicester City 0.

The goal seemed to loosen us up a bit, which was no surprise. A lead at home does that. In Reid's case, it was a bit too loose in the 30th minute when he got the ball on the top of our 18 yard box with space in front of him. The devilish voice on one shoulder told him to run and show he can be a good attacking player, while the angelic voice on the other shoulder told him to do his job and either give it to a midfielder or clear it. He took the wrong advice and launched a long ball right at Hamer. Wherever you end up, Winston, remember which voice to listen to next time.

Leicester invited Adrian into the game in the 35th minute after a James Tomkins giveaway saw the ball end up with Jamie Vardy, who passed to Riyad Mahrez. The visiting midfielder sent his shot towards the top corner, but Adrian was able to push it clear for a corner.

There was a funny tweet in which someone asked how long it would take for Leicester to take out some clubs and proceed to beat Alex Song to death. His influence on the game is so impressive at times the suggestion seemed logical from a Leicester City point of view. Vardy may have been checking Twitter during the game because in a span of a few minutes he tried to chop down our new Talisman not once, but twice. He saw yellow for the second one, and I wouldn't have been surprised to see him take a second before halftime.

Much has been made of both Cresswell's and Jenkinson's ability to attack on the flanks and cross the ball. But Jenkinson in particular does something so well that rarely gets spoken about. When the opposition tries to play a ball down his side for a full back or striker to run onto, he is soooooo good at shielding the ball while it rolls out for a goal kick. He did it for the umpteenth time this season in the 43rd minute….and I felt like pointing it out.

Cresswell ended the half with a tasty hot knife through butter move between two Leicester backs to win a free kick, which led to a corner, which led to Sakho heading the ball to nobody, which led to 15 minutes of downtime.

I got a text from my best Jon during the interval saying many of you guys and gals were on here venting about the style of play. That it was too direct, too much reverting back to the style many supporters protested against. Would Sam make a change earlier than he did at Sunderland? Not at the half, he didn't.

In the 49th minute, I wondered if Andy Carroll had some long lost relatives in Brazil and was hoping to lobby FIFA to change his affiliation. For the third time in four games, the big man attempted a bicycle kick. This time from a Winston Reid header. It went nowhere, but the lack of fear he showed again was impressive. Then it became terrifying when Carroll tried to chase down a ball heading out, twisted his ankle, fell neck first against the advertising boards and then down into the photographers pit. I was certain he was done, maybe for more than just the game. Yet out he came, running like it was no more than a hangnail.

It's only December, and West Ham already have numerous worthy candidates for Goal Of The Season. Zarate against Palace, Valencia against Hull, Sakho's chip against Liverpool. Stuart Downing added himself to the list in the 56th minute. Right in front of Carroll, Sakho decided to ask his partner if he could have a turn on an aerial ball. His knock down went to Downing. He controlled the ball with his left foot like the whole game was in slow motion and curled a 20 yard shot into the far corner. Any player on any team anywhere in the whole world would have been proud to score a goal like that.

West Ham 2, Leicester City 0.

Leicester tried to answer when Danny Drinkwater (had to look and confirm that was a real name and I wasn't hearing things) tried a very long range shot that flew harmlessly over the bar. If they had any hope of getting back into the game those kinds of efforts wouldn't help their cause.

Leicester made all three substitutions in the 61st and 62nd minute. Two made sense, the other didn't. Konchesky and Vardy came off. Konch had not been at his best, and Vardy was on a yellow. Fine. When Cambiasso came off, I was surprised. Because if they had one guy who could possibly perform a bit of magic to bring them back into it, it was him. I've been a fan for a long time.

Despite being bottom of the league, Leicester City still tried to make a game of it. Drinkwater was gifted some space in our box but couldn't get a shot on target, and David Nugent made a nice run around James Collins after he took over for Tomkins, but his shot went over the bar. In between, West Ham did their imitation of Barcelona with a three minute segment of ball control, much of which was handled by Song and Kouyate. If anybody has a count on the number of passes definitely post it.

Enner Valencia replaced Sakho in the 80th minute. I would have liked to see that done earlier, because his speed is so remarkable he looks like cartoon character. Within seconds of coming on, he made a run down the left side that I thought was over before it began because his first touch was so far ahead of himself. But he ran onto his own ball with such ease I felt guilty ever doubting him. The idea that Sam has that kind of option on the bench, when he doesn't start him, is awe inspiring.

When a goalkeeper isn't asked to do much for most of a game, he can often be vulnerable to a late quality strike. That type of strike came in the 86th minute when a cross found Nugent and he slammed it towards goal. Despite falling the wrong way, Adrian was able to use just his right palm to guide it over the bar for a corner. A world class save for sure. In added time, Adrian was asked to be a hero again when Ulloa steered a header to the near post but it was fisted away to preserve the clean sheet.

Final score. West Ham 2, Leicester City 0.

Much is made of the table at Christmas. Usually the only thought West Ham have is to not be bottom on December 25th. Being horribly superstitious I have paid close attention to that in the past. But this year will mark the first time West Ham have ever been in a top four spot the day children run to their trees like sharks to a chum line. The final stats were a bit head scratching, though, and I'm guessing they will be the cause of some chat on here. Maybe only because I'm bringing it up. So don't shoot the messenger, ok? 47% possession, only two shots on target. Against the team at the bottom of the table. Are those numbers relevant? I for one think Sam is more than willing to change things up again, and not necessarily in a predictable manner, when he sees fit. Bottom line is, we won in a professional manner and barely looked challenged at any time.

We are fourth. We are a good team. And this is a special season.

See you on Friday, Jose.

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West Ham bad-boy Ravel Morrison set to be offered ''last chance'' by QPR boss Harry Redknapp
Dec 19, 2014 22:30 By Jacob Murtagh
The talented but troubled 21-year-old midfielder did well on loan at Loftus Road last season and the Hoops' manager is open to re-signing him
The Mirror

Harry Redknapp is ready to offer a lifeline to West Ham bad-boy Ravel Morrison. The ex-Manchester United youngster was bombed out by Championship side Cardiff City and is surplus to requirements under Sam Allardyce at Upton Park. Morrison scored six goals in 17 games on loan at Loftus Road last season, and Redknapp is willing to give the 21-year-old a final chance to prove his doubters wrong. The QPR boss said: "I think Ravel's got amazing talent, but he's going to waste his career unless he gets his finger out quickly. "I think I might be last chance. He has got to sort himself out. Fergie ended up getting rid of him, Sam got rid of him and they are top, top managers.
"I'm open to taking those chances with people – I have done it over the years and maybe I will do it again. It's a gamble, but if you are in the loan business you are in the gambling business."

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West Ham 2-0 Leicester: Carroll and Downing ensure Hammers celebrate Christmas in the top four
Dec 20, 2014 17:13 By Neil McLeman
Sam Allardyce's side made short work of the Foxes, recording another win to guarantee plenty of festive cheer at Upton Park
The Mirror

Goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing ensured West Ham spend Christmas in the Champions League places and Leicester remain rock bottom of the table. This season just keeps getting better for Sam Allardyce's high-flying side who have now suffered only one defeat in 11 matches. But Leicester extended their winless streak to 12 matches - they last won against Manchester United on September 21 - to stay five points from safety. The Foxes must now strive to join a select group of teams in Premier League history - West Brom (2005) and Sunderland (last season) - who have avoided the drop after being bottom on December 25. On this evidence, it ain't going to happen. Manager Nigel Pearson patrolled his technical area at Upton Park despite receiving a £10,000 fine and one-match touchline ban from the FA yesterday for that "run-in" with one of his own fans. The suspension does not kick in until the end of an appeal period so the Leicester boss has had a close up view of his side's failings. The first goal summed up their season. Last year's Championship winners had held their own in the opening period and had started to grow in confidence. But after 24 minutes, from an innocuous Carl Jenkinson clearance, former Hammer Paul Konchesky tried to find Ben Hamer with a backpass from the halfway line.

The ball was underhit and Carroll stormed into the box and finished with a delicate chip over the Foxes keeper. The England striker had missed with an easier chance from a Downing cut-back just a minute earlier. West Ham's biggest concern in this match came six minutes after the break when the irrepressible Carroll slipped while chasing over to close down right-back Danny Simpson and clattered into the advertising hoardings. But after a hush went round the Boleyn Ground, the centre-forward re-emerged to great applause. The decibel level was lifted again after 56 minutes when Downing had time and space to curl in the second from outside the box after Diafra Sakho had beaten Marcin Wasilewski to a high ball. The Upton Park crowd finished the game cheering every pass and singing: "Barcelona, we're coming for you". Pearson made three changes after 61 minutes and even then Hammers keeper Adrian made great saves from subs David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa.

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Irons at 75pc capacity but plenty good enough
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 20, 2014 in Whispers
West Ham 2 Leicester City 0
Claret & Hugh

Ok bring on Chelsea and Arsenal and let's show the rest of English football that we are as good a team as we know we are. A very well taken Andy Carroll goal midway through the first half and a quite magnificent second from Stewart Downing sealed the points when we were really never at more than 75 per cent of capacity. Carroll should have scored a couple of minutes before the opener but skied his effort from close in after being set up by Downing. Leicester had their moments and Adrian had to be in his very best form to keep out shots from Mahrez in the first half before pulling off a couple of wondrous saves near the end from Nugent and Ulloa. However, by then the game was dead and buried after a seriously poor back bass from Paul Koncehskyhad fallen to Carroll in the 24th minute which saw the big fella stride on to bury a great effort.

Carroll fist upStewart Downing curled home a magnificent effort from 22 yards after Sakho had provided the knockdown early in the second half as the Foxes subsequently collapsed to their 12th game without a win. With Alex Song patrolling midfield, Sakho and Carroll in dominant form and Downing playing his usual highly influential role, things were never likely to slip. James Tomkins had a couple of hairy moments when losing possession in dangerous areas and came off after 69 minutes with an injury to be replaced by James Collins.
So on we go and although Chelsea is as tough as it gets next weekend we are tremendous heart and all things are now possible.

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Allardyce "don't stop scoring "warning" to strikers
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 20, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Sam Allardyce believes Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are set to develop a good partnership as he studies his " fabulous" options.
Following the 2-0 win over Leicester City, the manager said: "He's (Carroll) match fit now. At last' He's there and him and Sakho will develop a good partnership. If it's not Sakho and Carroll it could be Valencia and Carroll. My options at this moment are fabulous.
"If the strikers stop scoring they're not going to be in. Those guys are scoring goals on a regular basis for us, I think we're the fourth-highest leading scorers in the Premier League which suits the position we're in." At the other end of the pitch Allardyce watched Adrian perform brilliantly but merely said: ""it's what he's there for. When not being tested or too busy the concentration level of a goalkeeper is critical for when needed. "I was listening to Gary Neville on Monday Night Football and he did a piece on De Gea. Because he's from Spain, there's a lot of similarities in how they keep goal. He's made a couple of saves today and a few that were at the right point to help us win the game." Allardyce added that James Tomkins has suffered a slight hamstring injury and added: "It was precautionary to bring him off in case he made a sprint and it went to a serious hamstring."

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DG relives a "sickening" Leicester moment
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 20, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Gold tonight paid a massive tribute to Andy Carroll declaring: "He deserves every bit of success he gets – he's been to hell and back twice and now looks the absolute real deal." But the Irons co chairman admitted that he felt nauseous when the striker went full throttle in trying to close down a Konchesky clearance and flew straight into the photographers' pit in front of the Alpari Stand.
Gold – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh said: "I was sure he had done himself some serious damage and felt totally sick when I saw him fly into that pit. I think we all felt that he'd be lifted out damaged. "But when he popped up totally unharmed the relief was almost tangible. I personally breathed a huge sigh of relief." Gold said that trying to put oneself in AC's position over the last year or so would be impossible as the hell he's been through is almost "indescribable." To have had months and months out with his problem, to work his way through it, make a successful return only to go through much the same with his ankle is totally horrible. "So watching him score that goal and his general performance was quite brilliant. He had the pace to get onto the back pass, aqccelarate away and score a fabulous goal. One on ones are desperately hard. I've seen many of them missed. "But Andy made it look the simplest thing in the world. I knew then that Andy Carroll was back fully fit and I'm thrilled for him. He deserves everything he gets now – nobody deserves it more."

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