21.8.99
West Ham (1) 2 Leicester (1) 1 FT
Wanchope 29 Heskey 2
Di Canio 53

No if's and but's this week.   No own goals in the last minute no referees adding bogus time on, Leicester City lost and continued their Upton Park voodoo stretching back to 1966 when they last won here.   This time however we could sight a couple of pieces of poor defending and two spurned chances by our best two players but all in all we couldn't complain, we were beaten by a side with more good players than we have at our disposal.

We started brightly enough playing our unfamiliar away strip of white shirts, white socks and blue shorts with an unchanged line up, at the end of the afternoon it was pretty clear that we needed something to freshen us up, something more that is than an additive in the washing machine when the kit is washed for our next encounter.

After only 2 mins. we announced our arrival as Heskey chased a ball and after beating the oncoming Hislop , slotted it home from the tightest of angles.

Moments later 'Psycho' Savage tackled Pearce somewhere in the throat area and apologised profusely.   Heskey was absolutely murdering 'golden boy' Ferdinand both on the ground and in the air.   The Hammers were reduced to minor break away attempts as Izzett and Lennon lauded it over their opposite numbers in midfield.

When our defence was penetrated Flowers was always on hand to mop things up.  But West Ham kept plugging away and their game plan of suffocating our outlet players of Guppy and Impey seemed to be having an effect on our confidence and control.   They also had the unpredictable Paolo brothers up their sleeves and they were beginning to get restless.

After 30 mins. a tame shot from Lampard was blocked, but the entire City defence froze and Wanchope strolled in to side foot the ball into the back of the net. That was a poor response to the bright start we had made but we hoped for better things in the second half.

Round two of the encounter started quietly but City began to further lose their grip as West Ham piled on the pressure, winning a string of corners.

On 52 mins. a poor shot from Wanchope fell to Di Caneo who turned sharply and laced it into the top corner to put us in arrears.

Now it was going to be a test of bottle and stamina and energy and skill and we certainly did respond led by the flame haired Lennon who prodded away looking for a chink in the West Ham armoury.   Moncur now began to fight for the midfield area.

Frank Sinclair was booked for a petty foul, and Savage was replaced by Marshall as City began to become more desperate in their attempts.

Then it was the Hammers' defenders turn to give the ball away which they did, letting Lennon in, but he scuffed his shot wide with only Hislop to beat.City picked up the pace. Cottee fed Heskey who hit the side netting.   Elliott began to push up and Flowers looked capable at the back as City got into a positive rhythm.   Izzett had a shot blocked .

Then a Marshall header found Heskey who fed Impey,  his brilliant cross to the far post fell to Heskey but he failed to get over the ball and from six yards he flashed it over the bar.

Frank Sinclair tried to score an own goal but it missed, which caused a ripple of laughter at least.

Then it was all over ,  we had lost again,  and we had not managed to burst that bubble.

West Ham: Hislop, Potts, Ferdinand, Pearce, Lomas, Foe, Lampard, Moncur, Sinclair, Wanchope, Di Canio.

Subs not used: Forrest, Cole, Carrick, Abou, Keller.

Booked: Pearce.

Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart (Gilchrist, 72), Impey, Savage (Marshall, 67), Lennon, Izzet, Guppy, Cottee, Heskey.

Subs not used: Arphexad, Wilson, Zagorakis.

Booked: Sinclair.

Attendance: 23,631.

Referee: A Wiley