Hammers Claim The Points In PL2 Battle
George Earthy and Divin Mubama were both on the scoresheet for the Hammers, who collected three Premier League 2 Division 1 points and avenged their 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at LCFC Training Ground earlier this season.
Four Leicester switches from the loss to Everton included a change in goal as Brad Young took his place between the sticks, while Henry Cartwright and Kian Pennant, both introduced from the bench on Monday, were in from the off this time around.
It took the hosts just over 10 minutes to break the deadlock, when Mubama played in Earthy to find the bottom corner with a clinical finish. They almost doubled the advantage from Dan Chesters' cross, which initially fell for Mubama, who tried to flick it towards goal, before Ollie Scales blazed wide.
The lead was extended when Bobby Amartey brought Mubama to the ground inside the area. The West Ham forward dusted himself down and converted the resulting spot-kick, sending Young the wrong way.
Two goals inside the opening 20 minutes put the east London side in a commanding position and their confidence was evident as Mubama's header forced City's shot-stopper into a smart save, denying him an early brace.
Leicester's response to going behind saw Brandon Cover's cross met by Brunt, but saved by Krisztian Hegyi. The home side remained in the ascendency, though, with Bobby Amartey required to make a last-ditch block to prevent Kamarai Swyer getting a shot away, before Kaelan Casey headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
Coach Ben Petty made a double half-time change, bringing Harvey Godsmark-Ford and Joe Wormleighton into the action, which led to a defensive reshuffle to try and stem West Ham's offensive flow.
The hosts maintained their momentum, however, with Keenan Appiah-Forson firing a shot over the bar from Chesters' free-kick, before Chesters' own goal-bound shot was blocked by Foxes captain Lewis Brunt in the six-yard box.
Swyer then played the ball across the face of goal and substitute Callum Marshall was inches away from sliding it home at the back post but could not get a touch to it.
The introductions of Deniche Hill, in place of Mirsad Ali, and Amani Richards, for Chris Popov, looked to add fresh impetus to the Leicester attack, but the away side failed to create a clear-cut opening in the second period.
It was West Ham who looked the more likely to score again and when substitute Regan Clayton got forward, his effort across goal was a whisker away from the post. Young was called into action in stoppage-time too, making a diving save to claw Swyer's header away from goal, but victory for the Irons was already assured.
Major moment – Early goals
Two West Ham goals set the tone for the contest, which was settled thanks to those strikes within the opening 20 minutes. In a game of few chances, Leicester ultimately never recovered from those setbacks.
Who impressed? – Young talent
On a difficult night for City's youngsters, it was the inclusion of Under-18s regulars Mirsad Ali and Bobby Amartey in the starting XI, and the introduction of Amani Richards, which showed signs of promise for the future.
Where do we stand? – 14th in PL2
Leicester's Under-21s are currently bottom of the Premier League 2 Division 1 table, on 15 points, 10 adrift of 13th-placed Tottenham Hotspur with two matches remaining. It is already confirmed that City will contest next season in Division 2.
Coming up – Man Utd (A)
There are two PL2 fixtures remaining for City in 2022/23, both away from home. The first sees the young Foxes travel to Manchester to face Manchester United at Carrington Training Ground on Friday 5 May (2pm BST kick-off).
The details...
City: Young; Booth, B. Amartey, Brunt (C), Ali (Hill 70'); Cartwright, Cover; K. Pennant, Popov (Richards 75'), Maswanhise (Godsmark-Ford 46'); Trialist (Wormleighton 46').
Sub not used: Doherty.
Images: West Ham United FC.