It has been a midweek of Premier League certainties being secured at both top and bottom. Place Leicester in the certainty category. Defeat at West Ham extended their doomed, zombified lurch towards relegation to 11 league defeats in 12, 12 of 16 in all since Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November.
If Cooper was the wrong man at the wrong club then so, most probably, is the Dutchman. Perhaps nobody had a chance with the squad Leicester assembled to attempt survival. Their performance at the London Stadium was submissive. “That’s the situation we’re in,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The confidence in the run of form is low and then you end up in a mindset of trying not to lose.”
Graham Potter, once linked with Leicester, is restoring order to West Ham. A revived Jarrod Bowen made things happen for both first-half goals, the first from Tomas Soucek, the second an own goal from Jannik Vestergaard the Hammers captain’s zest had enforced.
West Ham were unchanged from a famous weekend win at Arsenal that had handed legitimacy to Potter’s regime. “We played well against Arsenal and got the result but it counted for nothing if we didn’t show up tonight,” said Bowen.
Much of Potter’s coaching reputation lies in improving players, though gradually. His has been a new-manager curve rather than bounce but the signs grow more positive. “There is a lot of potential, for sure,” he said. “Talent is one thing. The foundations have to be good.”
A night that began with a tribute to the late Ronnie Boyce, 1964 FA Cup final hero, took time to catch alight. Leicester’s approach, that worked at Tottenham a month ago but nowhere else, was to defend in numbers and hope Jamie Vardy could win territory. The 2016 title survivor, 38, completed the full 90 with a grim expression of frustrated ennui.
If Soucek’s 22nd-minute goal was created by anything it was Leicester’s complete and utter failure to clear their lines after Bowen began an attack. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, left unprotected, made a point-blank save from Mohammed Kudus. Soucek, played onside by Vestergaard, slotted in. “We showed, good spirit, good team effort,” said the birthday boy.
If that might be expected to stimulate survival instincts within Leicester there were scant signs of a dogfight. The quiet night air at the London Stadium was filled with away fans singing of past glories when returning to the Premier League has been to their desperate disappointment.
The Hammers continued to dominate first-half possession. Over to Leicester for another helping hand: Bowen seized on a low James Ward-Prowse corner and his shot bounced off the hapless Vestergaard. “No defender wants an own goal,” said Bowen, claiming it.
The first half ended with boos trailing Van Nistelrooy down the tunnel. Could he inspire his team to play for their lives, their futures, their bank balances? A lack of genuine speed, Vardy’s greyhound days long gone, allowed West Ham almost as much comfort in the second 45 as the first. “The damage was done,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The first half we created absolutely nothing.”
Ironic cheers greeted a Leicester corner and when Van Nistelrooy made his first changes, sending on Harry Winks and Stephy Mavididi. Leicester, briefly, pushed onwards. Potter’s subsequent trio of changes to bolster defence and midfield disappointed Hammers fans hoping to see Evan Ferguson.
Potter wanted to lock down any glimmer of Leicester revival. Another facet of his reputation is that of steadying hand, though he need not have worried. “It wasn’t a champagne type of night,” he said. “Overall it was a professional performance. Not fantastic, but we are delighted with two wins, two clean sheets and six points.”
Ferguson eventually arrived in the 73rd minute. Bowen broke away, the Irishman getting a chance, but deliberating too long. It may not be long until Leicester and probably Van Nistelrooy are called time on. “I keep working. I keep going,” said the beaten manager.
