As one era begins, another may have moved a little closer to its conclusion.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game as Leicester manager produced a thrilling victory as his team enjoyed the kind of luck that deserted West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui when he needed it most. West Ham fans chanted “You’ll be sacked in the morning” in the final minutes.
Nine years ago, Jamie Vardy scored in 11 consecutive games to break the Premier League record held by Van Nistelrooy. This match was just 98 seconds old when Leicester’s extraordinary talisman put his team ahead, and Bilal El Khannouss doubled his lead early in the second half.
Between those moments, only West Ham will know how he didn’t score. Just before the second, they had a goal controversially disallowed for a foul by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who kept his team in the game so many times. To add insult to injury, substitute Patson Daka scored the third goal with time running out and West Ham substitute Niclas Fullkrug’s stoppage-time header was too little, too late.
As away fans expressed their anger, Lopetegui, under pressure, stood on the touchline, wondering how many more times he would do it in charge of West Ham. There has been little to show for the heavy spending that followed Lopetegui’s arrival in the summer and he may now be on borrowed time.
Having frustrated fans all season with his inconsistent performances, Lucas Paqueta was left out of the starting XI for Lopetegui, who has been regularly asked about his future in recent weeks. Paquetá was one of five players who were sacked after the Hammers were thrashed at home by Arsenal.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign at Leicester got off to the perfect start as they beat West Ham 3-1.
The result may have brought Julen Lopetegui closer to West Ham’s exit door
Jamie Vardy got the ball rolling as Leicester took the lead in the first two minutes.
At least Van Nistelrooy won’t have to deal with such issues for a while. The Dutchman made it clear that he will take no nonsense from this restless Foxes team and here he kept his word, leaving Wout Faes out of the lineup for the first time since October 2022.
Van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper, whose reign was doomed from the start due to player discontent over tactics and management style. Owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha did not even mention the former Nottingham Forest boss in his column on the show. It’s time to look forward.
However, while Leicester looked a little more fluid in attack under Van Nistelrooy, it will take more than a change in the dugout to fix the defensive issues that have hampered them all season. The hosts conceded no less than 20 shots before the break.
West Ham were trailing 5-2 at half-time against Arsenal last Saturday and should probably have been leading by that margin at half-time, although Van Nistelrooy couldn’t have dreamed of a better start.
Khannouss found Vardy Haring in the middle and his shot was perfect, although it was initially ruled out for offside. While the players waited for the VAR verdict, West Ham fans mocked Vardy with a chant about his family. Sure enough, Vardy returned the compliment when the goal was scored as he ran towards the traveling fans, waving his arms in the manner of a rooster.
Shortly after, the 37-year-old set up the ball for Victor Kristiansen in an effort that was delayed, but the first half was largely West Ham’s game against Mads Hermansen.
The Dane was superlative before the break. He turned Jarrod Bowen’s attempt around the post before parrying a Danny Ings header. Not long after, Bowen passed again, only to be thwarted again by Hermansen.
Hammers fans thought their team had equalized when Tomas Soucek’s header from a cross from Mohammed Kudus (back in the team after a five-match ban) sent the net rippling. Lopetegui also thought it was in, although Leicester fans jeered when they realized the ball had hit the side netting.
Leicester were all over the place defending their left side, while Bowen and Vladimir Coufal attacked them. Bowen directed a perfect cross to the far post, but there was no one there to score.
West Ham finally found the net, but the goal was disallowed for a foul by Tomas Soucek on Mads Hermansen.
West Ham players were angry with the disallowed goal and harassed 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. With Vardy waiting, McAteer was hesitant and Lukasz Fabianski saved with his shin.
It was a brief change in the pattern of the first 45 minutes. Hermansen made his best save, an instinctive left hand to stop Bowen on a pass from Edson Alvarez. From the corner, Carlos Soler volleyed wide and in first-half stoppage time, Hermansen’s luck was in line when he failed to finish a high ball but Lopetegui’s men were unable to take advantage.
Lopetegui had removed the ineffective Ings and sent on Crysencio Summerville, with Bowen now in the middle. The West Ham captain was just as dangerous there and created another good chance for Soucek, who wasted it. It wasn’t long before Hermansen was back in action as he knocked down Kudus’ attempt, which deflected and went under the bar.
And when West Ham finally had the ball in the net thanks to a fresh shot from Hermansen, the goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper by Soucek.
Vardy was removed after an hour and was received with a big hug from Van Nistelrooy. The pair would soon be celebrating even more enthusiastically as Leicester doubled their lead.
Patson Daka put the result beyond doubt when he scored the late third goal for the hosts.
Niclas Fullkrug scored a goal in injury time, but it was too little too late for West Ham.
Buonanotte sent McAteer running and El Khannouss escaped into space on the edge of the area to guide home the low cross. El Khannouss then produced a delightful cross that met Wilfred Ndidi’s header and brought about an impressive save from Fabianski.
At the other end, Leicester somehow preserved their two-goal lead. Summerville got ahead of Justin to drive Bowen’s cutback past Hermansen, but Conor Coady was there to take him off the line.
By now the Hammers were venting their fury against Lopetegui and the VAR’s decision to disallow Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s third was no consolation. Sure enough, fellow substitute Patson Daka scored the third shortly after and Fullkrug’s headed goal could not alter Lopetegui’s miserable night.