EPL Result: West Ham United 2 - 0 Leicester City

West Ham United have extended their undefeated streak to five games after beating Leicester City 2-0 in their Premier League match at Upton Park this evening.

Goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing were enough to see off the away side, who are now without a win in 12 league games.

The hosts started the brighter as Downing and Cheikhou Kouyate combined before the latter sent in a cross into that fell to Carroll but was scrambled away.

Kevin Nolan then played Diafra Sakho through on goal but the bounce was awkward and the ball was volleyed wide.

Carroll gave West Ham the lead when he latched on to Paul Konchesky's poor backpass before bearing down on goal and lifting the ball over Ben Hamer and into the net.

It was the striker's third league goal of the season, and it was just reward for West Ham's impressive showing in the first half.

At the other end, Jeffrey Schlupp tried to send a low cross into the Hammers box, but Nolan was there to make a vital interception.

After the break, Carroll attempted an ambitious overhead kick which flew well wide of the post.

The home side eventually got a second goal through Downing, who curled a 25 yard strike past Hamer and into the top corner of the net following a counter attack.

Leicester, despite the goal, kept battling to get back into the game and David Nugent cut inside from the right before beating two Hammers defenders, but his shot was miscued and it failed to trouble Adrian.

The Spaniard had to be alert, however, to keep out Leonardo Ulloa's header just before the full time whistle.

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EPL Preview: West Ham United vs. Leicester City

West Ham United will be hopeful of extending their unbeaten run at Upton Park to seven games when they welcome Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

The Hammers fell to defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton during the opening month of the campaign, but 16 points from a possible 18 have helped Sam Allardyce's team sit in fourth place in the table.

Despite only seeing his side earn a point at Sunderland last week, Allardyce is likely to keep changes to a minimum, but midfielder Mark Noble is definitely out as he continues to nurse an Achilles problem.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is aware that he must find a way of ending the club's winless run in the league after falling five points from safety.

The Foxes haven't recorded a top-flight victory since beating Manchester United on September 21 and defeat in East London could result in the club being cut adrift at the bottom of the standings.

Striker Leonardo Ulloa could return to the starting lineup after Jamie Vardy was preferred in attack against Manchester City.

West Ham United:

Recent form: DLWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Sakho, Carroll

Leicester City:

Recent form: LDLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Hamer; Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky; Cambiasso, King, Drinkwater, Mahrez, Schlupp; Ulloa

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EPL Result: West Ham 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Defender Eric Dier's composed finish in injury time condemned West Ham United to a Premier League opening-day defeat as Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 at Upton Park.

The home side set out to give their opponents little space in the opening stages of the game, and nearly caught out goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the first few minutes when Carlton Cole pressed down on goal.

On the half-hour mark, there was drama as Kyle Naughton was judged to have deliberately struck the ball with his hands in the Spurs box.

The 25-year-old was sent off, and Mark Noble stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, but his effort from 12 yards flew wide.

Nevertheless, West Ham were able to find their way back into the game towards the latter stages, as Ricardo Vaz Te fired just wide following a dangerous cross.

In the 53rd, Lloris had to be at his sharpest, pulling off a double save from the Hammers front line.

The home side found themselves a man down just a few minutes later when James Collins clashed with Emmanuel Adebayor and earned himself his second yellow of the game.

With both sides down to ten men, Christian Eriksen fired a dangerous shot from the resulting set piece, which just swerved over the bar.

In the 70th minute, Andros Townsend struck two quick chances in succession, both of which were thwarted by Adrian.

With Spurs on the ascendency, the Hammers found themselves with their backs to the wall for the remainder of the half, although Noble troubled Lloris after a surge from midfield.

Just as it seemed that the game would end all square, Dier, thrown upfield in an ambitious attempt to cause havoc in the Hammers box, raced onto a through-ball, rounded the keeper and slotted into the unguarded net to break the home crowd's hearts.

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RESULT: Controversy Aplenty As Liverpool Edge Out West Ham

Steven Gerrard's two penalties were enough for Liverpool to come out on top of a controversial match against West Ham United this afternoon and regain top spot in the Premier League.

The visitors went close twice in the first 20 minutes through Luis Suarez, who first whistled a free kick just over the top before his cross-cum-shot looped over West Ham keeper Adrian and came back off the crossbar.

The hosts were seeing plenty of the ball and restricting Liverpool to speculative efforts, with Daniel Sturridge blazing two efforts high and wide.

The first half ended in dramatic fashion as Liverpool took the lead in the 44th minute before West Ham drew level in injury time.

First, Gerrard rolled home a penalty after James Tomkins had blatantly prevented Suarez cutting inside with his hand. Then, Guy Demel prodded home after Simon Mignolet had dropped Mark Noble's corner.

Liverpool's players were incensed that the goal had been given as Andy Carroll clearly struck Mignolet in the face with his arm when the Belgian attempted to claim the corner. Referee Anthony Taylor consulted with his assistant, who waved for a foul, but then overruled him and awarded the goal.

After a stodgy start to the second half, West Ham almost took the led just after the hour mark when former Red Carroll got up well at the back post to meet Mohamed Diame's cross, but could only rattle the crossbar with his header.

Liverpool then won their second penalty in the 69th minute as Taylor again appeared to make the wrong decision.

Jon Flanagan got into the area and went over under the challenge of Adrian, who looked to have made contact with the ball. Gerrard was again successful from 12 yards, with Adrian this time going the right way but unable to keep it out.

Suarez came close to getting on the scoresheet late on as his inventive chip clipped the crossbar before he was denied by Adrian from a one-on-one opportunity.

Three points see Liverpool restore their two-point lead at the summit, with West Ham still 11th.

Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk

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