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Live Commentary: Leicester City 2-1 West Ham United - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live commentary as Leicester City reinvigorate their survival bid by beating West Ham 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.
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Second-half substitute Andy King grabbed an 87th-minute winner as Leicester City beat West Ham United 2-1 to breathe new life into their push for survival.

Esteban Cambiasso volleyed the hosts into a 1-0 lead at the King Power, before David Nugent missed a penalty moments later to establish a two-goal cushion.

It proved a costly miss, as Cheikhou Kouyate equalised to earn parity at the break, but King climbed off the bench to snatch all three points for the Foxes.

Below, relive the drama with our live text commentary.


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It's been a looooooong 14 days, but finally the Premier League is back, which is fantastic because a) international football isn't very good and b) Steve Bruce is back at work, meaning we don't have to worry about him seeing him topless on a beach until the summer.

The only way this weekend could get any better is if it was Easter tomorrow.....and it is. Aces. Yep, the universe is well and truly spoiling us at the moment, and I'll be spoiling you with live text commentary from West Ham United's visit to struggling Leicester City this afternoon. Let's go!

Rising from the dead is impressive and all, but Nigel Pearson has arguably a far more daunting task on his hands as he looks to resurect the Foxes' fading Premier League status. This is because, well, bottom-of-the-table Leicester could be as many as 10 points from safety if they lose and other results go against them. Defeat might just spell the end of their Premier League adventure; not mathematically, of course, but it'll be a loooooong way back.

Miracles can happen though. Pearson need only look at what Gus Poyet achieved with Sunderland last season to know that a 10-point deficit does not necessarily mean they should begin preparing for life in the Championship. Let's be pragmatic though: if they do find themselves 10 points off the pace then we should start writing their eulogy because they don't have a Fabio Borini or a Connor Wickham in the squad to rescue them. It's arguably the biggest game of their season ladies and gents.

We'll look at West Ham a little later, and we'll also have a quick look at some team news, but first we must check out what the boys down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this. Ah go on.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Huth, Schlupp, Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Nugent, Vardy, Ulloa

West Ham XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Nolan, Noble, Kouyate, Downing, Sakho

Leicester subs: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Wasilewski, Kramaric

West Ham subs: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Cole, Nene

Okay let's be polite and start with the visitors and I can tell you that Big Sam makes just the one change from that 1-0 win over Sunderland last time out, with Winston Reid replacing Matt Jarvis.

Cheikhou Kouyate comes out of defence to accomodate Reid's return and moves into midfield alongside Stewart Downing, Alex Song, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan, while Diafra Sakho, who netted the winner against the Black Cats, spearheads the attack.

On to Leicester now and it looks like Pearson also makes one change from his side's 4-3 defeat to Spurs a fortnight ago, with the injured Matthew Upson making way for Riyad Mahrez.

Their attacking trident of Leonardo Ulloa, Jamie Vardy and David Nugent continue up front, while Matty James, Jeff Schlupp and Esteban Cambiasso operate in midfield.

Who can Leicester look to for a bit of inspiration this afternoon then? *Tumbleweed* There's not many, hence the hilarious tumbleweed joke, but if we have to say someone then it's probably Kramaric, who has scored twice since his January move but could have had a lot more. At times, the 23-year-old has looked like the heartbeat of Leicester's forward line, which is why it's a little surprising to see him on the bench.

What about the Hammers? They're not as short on go-to-guys as Leicester, and I suppose it has to be Mr Sakho. The West Ham striker netted an 88th-minute winner to down Sunderland two weeks ago for what was his 12th goal since arriving in England last summer and he's certainly one that Leicester will have to look out for this afternoon.

Did You Know? The Foxes haven't managed a win over their London counterparts since way back in 2000? Yep, West Ham are unbeaten in their last seven head-to-head meetings and have won their last three. It's a little ominous for the hosts, isn't it?

Right, let's have a quick look at West Ham before kickoff, shall we? Okay, and their season is beginning to peter out a little, isn't it? Just eight games ago they were four points adrift of the Champions League places, but six points from a possible 24 has seen them drift back to NINTH!

They did beat Sunderland 1-0 last time out, but everybody beats them so we can't read too much into that in regards to a resurgence, can we? No offence to viewing Sunderland fans.

Prediction! Leicester are the classic minnows; they perform when they're not expected to, and they don't do it in games where they could actually get something. It's for that reason that I'm backing a West Ham win. This, unfortunately, will be yet another nail in Leicester's Premier League coffin I think. 10 minutes to kickoff!

This kid should've brought his boots. If he can do one kick-up he's surely a better option than Ulloa?


Right, the players are out on the field now so we're just minutes away. Will Leicester reinvigorate their survival bid or will West Ham make it back-to-back wins for the first time this year? Time will tell my friend.

Who'd win in a fight: Big Sam Allardyce or Sgt Nigel Pearson? I'd rather see that over Pacquiao -v- Mayweather personally, but that's just me.

Kickoff! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at the King Power Stadium, my friends. West Ham get us underway, but Leicester fans are making quite a lot of noise already so the visitors have a game on their hands. Stay tuned.

Save! Good start by West Ham as Diafra Sakho heads Mark Noble's free kick into Kasper Schmeichel's hands. Leicester go straight down the other end and Ulloa, who we briefly mocked a little earlier, kicked the ball out of the stadium! Not really, but it was row-z territory.

Good defending from Alex Song, who gets back in time to cut out Riyad Mahrez who was played in brilliantly by David Nugent. I've watched Leicester a few times this season and in all of them Nugent was virtually invisible, so nice to see him a little more involved so far.

Brilliant from right-back Ritchie De Laet, who gallops 70 or 80 yards up field to swing in a beautiful cross, and he then makes the same journey back moments later to cut out a West Ham attack. Fair play to him.

We've seen our first glimpse of how good Mahrez can be, as the Algerian schemer dances around Alex Song as if he wasn't there before running into problems in the form of Collins and Reid. Leicester fans excellent so far and it's showing in their team's momentum.

GOAL!!!! Leicester 1-0 West Ham (Esteban Cambiasso)

This is a fine finish. It's sloppy build-up it has to be said, but the ball falls perfectly for the Argentine legend and he expertly volleys beyond Adrian from outside the box. Top drawer.

Penalty to Leicester!!!!!!!!!!

Penalty saved! Oh no what a miss by David Nugent. It's not a great penalty and Adrian gets a good firm wrist on the spot-kick, which was awarded when Carl Jenkinson took Ulloa down in the box. It could, and obviously should, be 2-0. Will they rue it?

Save!!! We've got a cracker on our hands here my friends, as West Ham come close to restoring parity through Sakho, whose near-post drive is beaten away by Schmeichel.

Close! This is end to end and a real joy to watch, as Mahrez's cross-cum-shot curls narrowly wide of Adrian's post. What a game this is.

Chance!!!! Very nearly 1-1, my friends. It's brilliant interplay from Nolan and Aaron Creswell as the latter fizzes a ball across the face of goal, and Kouyate looks certain to smash it home but the big midfielder slips at the vital moment. Pulsating stuff at the King Power.

Chance!!!!! Another West Ham chance goes begging, and this one certainly should've gone in as Nolan heads a superb Stewart Downing cross wide of the post. Such a fantastic cross and it deserved a goal but Nolan, usually reliable in front of goal, couldn't make the most of it.

It's all West Ham ladies and gents, and it seems like an equaliser may just be around the corner. Leicester haven't had a sniff in about 10 minutes.

GOAL!!!!!!!!! Leicester 1-1 West Ham (Cheikhou Kouyate)

We said an equaliser was just around the corner, didn't we? It's a truly wonderful assist from Alex Song, who floats a beautiful ball into the box. Jeff Schlupp misjudges the flight of the ball and Kouyate's brilliant first touch allows him the chance to side-foot past Schmeichel. Fine goal and a fine assist.

Pearson deserves a little of the blame for that equaliser for his failure to combat Alex Song. Has he not heard of him or something? That's what he can do when he's given space.

Shot! The tempo has died down a little since West Ham's equaliser, but Matty James tries to take the roof off the King Power again with a long-ranger but it curls well over the bar.

Is it just me or does Mark Clattenburg think he's still in his 20s? I reckon he fancies himself to replace Zayn Malik from One Direction. Maybe I'm being a little cynical. Three minutes left in a brilliant first half.

Leicester finishing the half on top as Jamie Vardy twists and turns Carl Jenkinson before winning a corner. Let's see what comes of it....nothing. Nothing at all. Shame.

HALF TIME: Leicester 1-1 West Ham

Restart: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway at the King Power, my friends. Let's go.

Slow start to the half as both sides struggle to find the fluency that made the first half such a joy to watch.

Booking: Winston Reid goes into the book for fouling Ritchie De Laet and Leicester have a free kick in a dangerous area now. Let's see what comes of it...

Close! Majestic from Cambiasso, who feigns like he's going to shoot but instead clips a ball over to Huth, whose header trickles narrowly wide. He might've done better there actually.

Jenkinson, who was booked for conceding the penalty, has been brilliant since. He's shackled Jamie Vardy really well throughout. Fair play to him.

Chance!!!! Speaking of Vardy, he swings a beautiful cross into the box and Albrighton looks like he's going to tap home at the near post, but the delivery has just a little bit too much zip on it.

Chance!!!! Another good chance goes begging for Leicester as Jeff Schlupp fires a left-footed shot well wide from a really, really good position.

West Ham sub: Mark Noble takes the captain's armband as Nolan makes way for Morgan Amalfitano in West Ham's first sub of the afternoon.

Close! It's all Leicester in this second half and Vardy misses two really good chances in the space of a minute; first, he heads Ulloa's flick-on into the side netting, before dragging a left-footed shot wide of the mark from an excellent position a moment later.

Shot! This is literally West Ham's first foray into enemy territory in the second half, as Downing drills narrowly wide of the post, but Schmeichel was never troubled.

Off the post!!!!! Kouyate cannons a volley off the post and Leicester, having dominated for the entire half, are now hanging on! Song, who has been brilliant, then curls well wide after a ridiculously slick solo run.

Save!!!! Really good save from Schmeichel to tip away Kouyate's curling effort and West Ham are really applying the pressure now.

Andy King comes on for Leicester, while Carlton Cole comes on for West Ham as both sides use their last substitution.

West Ham should've done better here, as Aaron Cresswell brings the ball forward, and he's got Sakho and Downing to pick out but in the end he finds neither. Nine minutes of normal time left folks.

Off the line!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely thrilling football here in recent minutes folks, as Leicester come agonisingly close to going ahead as Kramaric looks to have found the net, but Cresswell, out of nowhere, is on hand to keep it out. Amazing scenes.

Yellow card: Busy last few minutes for Aaron Cresswell, who is booked for a foul on Marc Albrighton. He took one for the team there.

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leicester 2-1 West Ham (Andy King)

How important could that goal prove for Leicester? It's second-half sub King, who turns home Vardy's scuffed effort and it finds the net via Adrian. Is it enough? Time will tell.

Four minutes added on:

Can West Ham grab another equaliser then? They've got time, but do they have the luck? Let's see.

The Leicester fans have been truly brilliant throughout. They've been extremely noisy from the minute go and it looks as if they'll be rewarded. West Ham not doing much at the moment.

Full time: Leicester City 2-1 West Ham United

That's it! Leicester breathe new life into their survival bid thanks to Andy King's 87th-minute winner to down West Ham United. Wow.

Leicester stay bottom, but they're just four points clear of safety now and who would you back against them, with their fans? Me neither.

Anywho, that's all from us folks. Thanks for joining our live text commentary and have a lovely weekend.

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West Ham United's English striker Andy Carroll celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Leicester City at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in east London, on December 20, 2014
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