West Ham United 3-2 Leicester FT

WEST HAM UNITED v LEICESTER CITY
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM

FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV

Final score - West Ham United 3-2 Leicester City

95 mins - That's it! West Ham have won again and stay second in the table. As things stand, they are three points clear of third and six clear of seventh-placed Leeds United. Stay tuned to West Ham TV for exclusive highlights and post-match reaction. Until Tuesday evening and the visit of Bristol City...

94 mins - Into the final minute and Reid is fouled as he battles for an aerial ball. Green belts the ball upfield and it bounces out for a throw. It's taken to Schmeichel, whose touch is heavy and almost lets in Nolan. He charges the ball down but it goes wide. Leicester have one last long ball but McCartney is there to clear.

93 mins - O'Brien heads Peltier's long throw out but Konchesky collects. The ball comes back over after a while and Tomkins powers a header clear before being fouled. Green clears and Piquionne is offside...

92 mins - Sears does well again against Konchesky and the left-back slices out for a throw. Leicester do win the ball back and launch it long. O'Brien clears for a throw.

91 mins - We will have at least four more minutes. We'll start them with a throw deep in the Leicester half after Sears had done well against Konchesky. Faubert collects and wins a corner. Good stuff.

90 mins - Noble is voted Man of the Match. He has been outstanding today. Meanwhile, a clearance smacks a Leicester player in the face and loops through to Green.

89 mins - The ball drops to Howard and he hooks a shot goalwards, but it's easy for Green.

89 mins - Tomkins makes a fine challenge inside the Hammers box and Collison does well to patiently play the ball out for Piquionne. He beats Bamba and finds Sears, but Leicester manage to get the ball back and break.

87 mins - Two-goal Sam Baldock is replaced by Freddie Sears for the final few minutes. The No19 did well at Brighton on Monday. Let's hope he can do his bit again.

87 mins - Noble buys West Ham some time with a neat Cruyff turn that wins a free-kick from Wellens.

85 mins - Nugent shoots after getting the better of Nolan but it goes just a yard wide of the left-hand post. The majority of the 30,410 inside the Boleyn Ground breathe a massive collective sigh of relief.

84 mins - Elsewhere Derby, Millwall and Southampton are all three goals clear in their games. Watford and Hull are also winning.

83 mins - West Ham bring the ball clear through Noble and Faubert tries to get in behind Bamba. The centre-back does enough and Schmeichel slides out to smash the ball upfield all the way through to Green.

82 mins - Leicester are all over West Ham at the moment. Green is called into action this time, making a fantastic save to keep out Peltier's downward header from St. Ledger's cross.

81 mins - Crikey! Konchesky's cross is won by Howard but hits Tomkins on the head and bounces back off the crossbar! The ball comes back to the No5 and he heads behind for a corner. West Ham clear.

80 mins - The full-back swings the ball across left-footed and referee Linington blows for an infringement. West Ham can clear their lines.

79 mins - The Leicester fans are getting a bit excited behind the goal to my left as their side search for an equaliser. The noise level rises even further as they win a corner on their right. Konchesky will take it...

75 mins - GOAL! Or maybe he hasn't... The ball drops to King and he lashes an unstoppable left-foot volley past Green and into the top left-hand corner. That was a screamer.

74 mins - Dyer is replaced by Michael Johnson. Dyer was actually injured before the third West Ham goal, but for some reason he didn't go off. It might have indirectly cost the Foxes dear...

71 mins - GOAL! Play restarts and Green launches the ball long, Piquionne flicks it on and Baldock volleys past Schmeichel from about 12 yards. Surely that should be game over.

70 mins - Reid needs the physio on after taking a knock in the face in an aerial challenge with Howard.

67 mins - Leicester are really throwing caution to the wind here and they have another shooting opportunity. Howard has a go from 22 yards but it's straight at Green. He catches in front of his face.

66 mins - Konchesky belts a long-range shot over the bar and it gives Big Sam the opportunity to make a change, with Faye going off and Tomkins coming on.

64 mins - Piquionne initially does well before his pass for Baldock is cut out. Leicester break and Dyer is in space on the right edge of the area. He shoots low, but Green is there to make a tumbling catch.

63 mins - It's all going on. King goes down in the box but the referee is having none of it. He waves the penalty appeals away. At the break in play, Faye is booked for a late tackle earlier in the move.

62 mins - Argh! Collison finds the overlapping McCartney and he pulls the ball back for Baldock. The shot is on target and looks to be going in until Schmeichel makes a fine save low to his left.

61 mins - That goal has given Leicester a real lift and Nolan concedes a corner. Konchesky crosses and Bamba wins the header again. Green scrambles it away and the follow-up shot is screwed wide.

59 mins - GOAL! The Foxes are back in it as Howard's shot is blocked and drops to Wellens. He crosses high to the far post and King rises and heads powerfully into the roof of the net.

58 mins - Howard is now up front with Nugent as Leicester have gone 4-4-2. Dyer is out wide on the left.

56 mins - Beckford is replaced by Steve Howard.

54 mins - West Ham are cranking it up. O'Brien and Piquionne combine before Faubert crosses and Bamba clears for a throw.

52 mins - Collison involved twice in 30 seconds. First he collects from Noble and drives into the box, but his return pass is cut out. Next he pokes the ball through to Baldock, who flicks the ball up but cannot get enough power on his shot. Schmeichel collects.

51 mins - This is still very open. Faubert opens his body and tries to slide the pass through for Baldock, but Konchesky cuts it out.

50 mins - Abe has not featured much, but he does now, leaning back and sending his first-time shot miles over the crossbar.

47 mins - Piquionne should make it 3-0, or at least pass to Baldock to make it 3-0. McCartney does well against Nugent before Collison's backheel finds Noble. He sends Piquionne away and the striker beats his man before cutting inside. He fakes a shot twice before his effort is blocked. The ball falls to Faubert, whose follow-up shot is also charged down. Chance gone.

46 mins - The Hammers get the second half up and running. Within seconds, the physios are on for both sides as Piquionne and Peltier collide near the touchline.

The two teams are back out on the pitch. Leicester make their substitution with Dyer coming on for the injured Vassell.

Half-time score - West Ham United 2-0 Leicester City

49 mins - That's half-time. A decent 45 minutes for the Hammers. Let's just hope Big John's injury isn't too serious.

48 mins - Vassell is heading off with looks like a calf injury. Lloyd Dyer will replace him.

46 mins - We're going to have at least three added minutes. Vassell is down on the turf but both sides are carrying on. Piquionne nearly takes advantage as he lets fly from 30 yards, but the shot hits Collison!

44 mins - Leicester nearly pull a goal back in fortunate circumstances. Wellens' shot hits Nugent and bounces wide left to Vassell. He crosses low and Beckford gets a toe to it, but Green makes a fine save. McCartney puts the ball behind for a corner. Again, Bamba wins the header, but it flies harmlessly wide.

42 mins - The visitors are having their best spell of the game here and Piquionne fouls Peltier. Wellens crosses and Bamba wins the header, but it flies well over the top.

40 mins - Leicester clear their lines and work the ball to Vassell, who is taken down by O'Brien. The Irishman is booked.

39 mins - That should be game over. West Ham break from Leicester's corner and have men over. Piquionne has acres of space and draws Konchesky before laying inside for Faubert, who makes a right hash of his finish.

38 mins - How has that not gone in! Peltier nutmegs McCartney and his cross eludes everyone bar Vassell at the far post. His shot looks destined for the net until it hits O'Brien and loops just wide.

36 mins - Leaders Southampton are now 2-0 up against Middlesbrough, while Watford have gone 3-1 up on Peterborough. Derby are 3-0 up!

35 mins - Noble takes and the ball drops to Faubert, whose first-time shot is blocked. Nolan tries to keep it alive with a header, but the Foxes scramble the ball upfield.

34 mins - Leicester have a corner from a header behind by Reid. Wellens crosses and Bamba wins the header, but it's straight to Green. He sends Faubert away on the counter and Collison and Noble are involved before Piquionne's shot deflects behind for a corner to the Hammers.

32 mins - Leicester have a free-kick and West Ham half-clear three times through Nolan and Faye, but they just cannot get the ball away. It drops to Bamba and he swings his leg at it 30 yards out. The ball rolls just wide of the left-hand post with Green at full-stretch.

31 mins - Carew is replaced by Piquionne. He's limping slightly is the big Norwegian, but he's done his bit in the opening half-hour. He applauds the fans on his way off.

30 mins - The ref has actually given a free-kick. Noble takes and Reid flashes a header over the top.

29 mins - Konchesky is booked for a foul on Faubert as the Frenchman crosses. That's a bit harsh, too. West Ham have a corner, meanwhile, as Bamba had stabbed the ball behind ahead of Carew.

27 mins - They are enjoying it even more as Nugent gets goalside of his marker and should score, but he drags his shot so far wide that it nearly turns into a cross for the sliding Beckford. The ball eludes the striker's toe and goes behind for a goal kick.

26 mins - Ooh! Great interplay between Noble, Collison and Baldock ends with Carew being harshly penalised for a foul on St. Ledger. Baldock hits the shot anyway and it cannons back off the crossbar! Good entertainment here at the Boleyn and the home fans are enjoying themselves.

24 mins - We can all pause for breath as Wellens has the physio on to tend to a leg injury.

22 mins - GOAL! FAUBERT! He's got his second for the club now. Noble is involved again, picking out O'Brien with a fantastic diagonal ball over the head of Konchesky. He pulls the ball back to Faubert, who controls and drives a low shot across Schmeichel and into the bottom left-hand corner. Two goals in a little more than 90 seconds.

20 mins - GOAL! Carew turns provider for SAM BALDOCK! Nolan wins the ball in midfield and it breaks to Noble. He carries it forward 20 yards before threading a pass to Carew. He gets to the byline and his cross takes a nick off a defender and loops over Schmeichel. Baldock is there at the far post and he out-jumps Peltier and heads into the net from six yards. 

19 mins - Carew concedes his fourth free-kick and is booked by referee James Linington.

18 mins - Millwall and Derby are both 2-0 up, Bristol City are winning but Watford have conceded an equaliser to Peterborough. Southampton have gone 1-0 up against Middlesbrough.

16 mins - West Ham have their first corner and Noble picks out Faye. He flicks on and the ball is stabbed half-clear by a defender. Collison could hit it first time, but he chooses instead to take a touch before winning another corner. The second delivery is again won by Faye, but Bamba heads clear from inside his own six-yard box. The ball is cleared to O'Brien, whose cross is intended for Faye again, but he fouls Schmeichel.

14 mins - Faubert has only scored once for West Ham - against next Saturday's opponents Hull City in February 2010 - but he is looking for No2. Unfortunately, it does not arrive here as his 25-yard drive flies into the Leicester fans behind the goal.

13 mins - West Ham are on top here. They are moving the ball nicely through the midfield and look on the verge of creating something. Nolan is prompting a lot of the attacks, but the latest one ends when Faubert turns away from Konchesky, but his pass for Baldock is cut out.

11 mins - Early goals elsewhere as Millwall, Derby and Watford have all gone 1-0 up.

9 mins - The ball breaks to Baldock and he's in a straight race with Bamba. It looks like the No7 is going to get away from the centre-back, but Bamba gets a foot in and takes the ball away. No real clear-cut chances yet, aside from Nugent's early shot.

8 mins - Leicester have brought plenty of fans with them down the M1, but so far their team look a little bit short of confidence and ideas.

5 mins - Noble has started well here, buzzing about in the midfield. He picks up possession again and McCartney finds Collison, who sends the ball down the left with the outside of his boot. Baldock chases but he is penalised for a push on Peltier.

4 mins - Noble takes and curls the ball over the wall, but it dips wide of the left-hand post.

3 mins - That's better. Noble picks out Carew and he turns and tries to play in the running Baldock. Bamba intercepts, but Carew nips in and is brought down about 22 yards from goal. This is a shooting chance to the right of the Leicester goal. Noble...

1 min - That's a chance within 30 seconds from Nugent, who collects a pass from Konchesky and cuts inside, but he drags his shot weakly wide of the near post. As suspected, Leicester are going 4-3-3, with Nugent left and Vassell right of centre-forward Beckford.

3pm - Leicester's players go into a huddle. They will kick-off shooting towards the Bobby Moore Stand... And we're underway!

2.57pm - Here come the two teams led by captains Nolan and Wellens. This is going to be a real test for the Hammers this afternoon. Leicester will respond to the departure of Eriksson in one of two ways - either they will play poorly again, or the shackles will come off and they'll really go for it.

2.55pm - There are ten npower Championship fixtures kicking-off at 3pm. I'll do my best to keep you updated with how they are going, as well as the travails of West Ham's loanees. Incidentally, there is a good interview in today's The Sun with Cristian Montano which is worth a look.

2.53pm - The sun is shining here in east London as kick-off approaches. The groundstaff are putting the finishing touches to the playing surface as both teams are now back in their dressing rooms. Today, of course, we welcome two ex-Hammers back to the Boleyn Ground in 2006 FA Cup final goalscorer Paul Konchesky and John Pantsil. Konchesky will have to be watched closely down the left flank.

2.30pm - The two squads are out on a pristine-looking Boleyn Ground pitch to go through their pre-match exercises. Martyn Margetson is working with Green and Boffin on the far side in front of the East Stand, while fitness coach Eamon Swift and assistant manager Neil McDonald are down in front of the Alpari Stand with the starting XI. The substitutes are enjoying a game of keepy-uppy with development squad coach Ian Hendon.

2.15pm - The new 50/50 Matchday Lotto girls are clearly big fans of the matchday programme!