West Ham United 1 - 1 Leicester City: Cheikhou Kouyate gives David Moyes first point as boss
DAVID MOYES could not quite mastermind a win on his home debut but he won a battle that could be just as important.
Posted Saturday, November 25, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk
David Moyes earned his first point as West Ham manager
Angry Hammers fans had planned anti-board protests at this game after Moyes lost his first game in charge 2-0 at Watford.
Instead, they responded to calls for unity and support from Moyes, skipper Mark Noble and majority owner David Sullivan and got right behind their team.
It took Cheikhou Kouyate's equaliser to get them going after Marc Albrighton's opener but it felt like a potential turning point after a week of social media division and phone-in fury.
West Ham conceded after only 11 minutes at Watford. This time it took just eight minutes and there was not a tackle in sight.
Demarai Gray had time and space to collect a Christian Fuchs throw-in and play in Jamie Vardy down the left.
And the England striker waited patiently until he could pick out runners in the box with an unimpeded cross which went right through Angelo Ogbonna's legs.
Albrighton could not believe his luck and smashed it home past Joe Hart for his first goal of the season.
That brought cheeky cries of "Going down" and "You're getting sacked in the morning" from the away fans, who were clearly loving every minute of it.
It was the fourth time in six matches that West Ham had conceded to the first shot on target they had faced and it silenced an already quiet home crowd.
At least the Hammers showed some fight though.
Often branded lazy, Marko Arnautovic tracked back to rob Vardy with a fine saving tackle and Ogbonna went close with a header.
Cheikhou Kouyate, who missed a sitter against Watford and wasted a good chance here too, then somehow dragged them level just before half time.
He didn't make the cleanest connection with a Lanzini corner but it was enough to beat Kasper Schmeichel as it went in off Danny Simpson.
Marc Albrighton gave Leicester the lead after 11 minutes
London stadium was suddenly rockingand the Hammers fans kept it going into the second half, with their much-maligned home sounding louder than it has in months.
It lifted the players too, with Arthur Masuaku, who was in for Mark Noble, racing away down the left to force Schmeichel into a save.
Substitute Andre Ayew then failed to win a penalty with a blatant dive, before going close with an overhead kick.
But despite dominating utterly West Ham could not find a winner.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Obiang, Kouyate; Arnautovic (Ayew 69), Lanzini, Masuaku (Sakho 90); Carroll. Subs: Adrian, Noble, Fernandes, Quina, Rice.
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Ndidi, Iborra; Gray (Slimani 90), Mahrez (Chilwell 70), Albrighton; Vardy. Subs: Hamer, Chilwell, Iheanacho, King, Dragovic, Okazaki.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Photos
More»Glam TV host Diletta Leotta begs Loris Karius to QUIT Newcastle
Thursday March 28 2024Fans stunned by Astrid Wett’s outfit
Thursday March 28 2024[PICTURE SPECIAL] England 2-2 Belgium
Wednesday March 27 2024
Your Say