As one era begins, another era may have come a little closer to its end.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game as Leicester boss produced a thrilling victory as his side enjoyed the kind of luck that failed West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui when he needed it most. West Ham fans chanted ‘You will be fired tomorrow morning’ in the closing stages.
Nine years ago, Jamie Vardy scored in 11 consecutive games, breaking Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League record. This match was only 98 seconds old when Leicester’s extraordinary talisman put his team ahead, with Bilal El Khannouss doubling their lead early in the second half.
Between those moments, only West Ham will know how they failed to score. Just before the second, a goal was controversially disallowed due to a foul by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who kept his team in it so often. To make matters worse, substitute Patson Daka made it three as time ticked away and West Ham substitute Niclas Fullkrug’s stoppage-time header was too little too late.
As the visiting fans expressed their anger, the under-pressure Lopetegui stood on the touchline wondering how many more times he would do that if he was in charge of West Ham. Little has been revealed of the heavy spending that followed Lopetegui’s arrival in the summer, and he may now be on borrowed time.
After frustrating fans with his inconsistent performances all season, Lucas Paqueta was left out of the starting XI by Lopetegui, who has been frequently asked about his future in recent weeks. Paqueta was one of five players dropped after the Hammers were defeated at home by Arsenal.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester reign got off to the perfect start as they defeated West Ham 3-1
The result may have pushed Julen Lopetegui closer to the exit door at West Ham
Jamie Vardy got the ball rolling as Leicester took the lead inside the opening two minutes
In any case, Van Nistelrooy will not have to deal with such questions for the time being. The Dutchman made it clear he will accept no-nonsense from this restless Foxes side and here he was as good as he said, leaving Wout Faes out of the line-up for the first time since October 2022.
Van Nistelrooy replaces Steve Cooper, whose reign was doomed from the start due to players’ dissatisfaction with tactics and management style. The former Nottingham Forest boss was not even mentioned by owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in his column on the programme. Time to look ahead.
But while Leicester have looked a little smoother under Van Nistelrooy, it will take more than a change in the dugout to solve the defensive issues that have hampered them all season. Before halftime, the home team conceded no fewer than twenty shots.
West Ham trailed 5-2 at half-time against Arsenal last Saturday and should probably have been ahead by that margin at the break, even if Van Nistelrooy couldn’t have dreamed of a better start.
El Khannouss found Vardy running through the middle and his finish was perfect, although it was initially ruled out for offside. As the players waited for VAR’s verdict, the West Ham fans mocked Vardy with a chant about his family. Sure enough, Vardy returned the compliment when the goal came as he ran towards the traveling supporters, his arms flapping like a rooster.
The 37-year-old set up Victor Kristiansen for a try shortly afterwards which was then pushed, but the first half was largely West Ham against Mads Hermansen.
The Dane was superior before half time. He turned Jarrod Bowen’s effort around the post before firing away Danny Ings’ header. Not long after, Bowen was through again, but was thwarted again by Hermansen.
Hammers fans thought their team had equalized when Tomas Soucek’s header from a cross by Mohammed Kudus – back in the side after a five-match suspension – rippled into the net. Lopetegui also thought it was in, but the Leicester fans cheered when he realized the ball had hit the side netting.
Leicester were all over the place defending the left side with Bowen and Vladimir Coufal rushing at them. Bowen sent a perfect cross to the far post, but no one was there for the tap.
West Ham eventually found the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Tomas Soucek on Mads Hermansen
The West Ham players were furious that the goal was disallowed and put pressure on the referee
Bilal El Khannous doubled Leicester’s lead just a minute after West Ham’s goal was disallowed
The visitors almost had to pay when Facundo Buonanotte released Kasey McAteer. As Vardy waited, McAteer was indecisive and Lukasz Fabianski saved with his shin.
It was a brief change in pattern in the first 45 minutes. Hermansen produced his best stop, an instinctive left hand to prevent Bowen from sending in Edson Alvarez’s pass. From the corner, Carlos Soler hit just wide and in first-half injury time Hermansen’s luck turned when he failed to claim a high ball, but Lopetegui’s men were unable to capitalize.
Lopetegui had left the ineffective Ings behind and sent on Crysencio Summerville, with Bowen now through the middle. The West Ham captain was just as dangerous there and he created another good chance for Soucek, who squandered it. It wasn’t long before Hermansen was back in action as he tipped over Kudus’ attempt, which took a deflection and went under the crossbar.
And when West Ham finally had the ball in the net thanks to a breath of fresh air from Hermansen, the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Soucek’s goalkeeper.
Vardy was taken off the field on the hour mark and was greeted with a big hug from Van Nistelrooy. The pair would soon celebrate with even more enthusiasm as Leicester doubled their lead.
Patson Daka put the result beyond doubt when he fired home a late third goal for the hosts
Niclas Fullkrug pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for West Ham
Buonanotte sent McAteer running through and El Khannouss drifted into space on the edge of the box to guide home the low cross. El Khannouss then produced a delightful cross that was met by Wilfred Ndidi’s head and drew a stunning stop from Fabianski.
On the other hand, Leicester somehow maintained their two-goal lead. Summerville sneaked in front of Justin to push Bowen’s cutback further than Hermansen, but there was Conor Coady to poke him off the line.
The Hammers were now taking out their anger on Lopetegui and the VAR decision not to allow Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s third was no consolation. Sure enough, fellow substitute Patson Daka made it three shortly afterwards and Fullkrug’s headed goal could not change Lopetegui’s miserable evening.