West Ham vs Leicester City 2-0: Leicester's survival woes worsen

Leicester City's Premier League survival prospects took another hit as they fell 2-0 to West Ham on Thursday.

Tomas Soucek and a Jannik Vestergaard own-goal sealed a second successive victory for the Hammers, leaving Ruud van Nistelrooy's side five points adrift of safety with 11 games remaining.

The Foxes had an opportunity to close the gap to two points with a win and started positively, with Wilfred Ndidi forcing a save in the second minute. However, their early momentum faded after West Ham’s opener.

Soucek, celebrating his 30th birthday, put the hosts ahead by converting a loose ball after Mohammed Kudus’ shot was blocked. Leicester came close to an equaliser when Jamie Vardy struck the woodwork from a corner, but moments later, they fell further behind. Jarrod Bowen’s shot from a tight angle deflected in off Vestergaard, leaving Van Nistelrooy’s side with an uphill task before half-time.

The visitors struggled to create chances after the break, extending their goalless run in the league to four matches.

Van Nistelrooy insists fight is not over

Leicester’s struggles in front of goal have been a major concern, and their poor form continues:

• They have lost 11 of their past 12 league matches.
• No Premier League team has scored more own-goals this season than Leicester (three, level with West Ham and Wolves).
• Van Nistelrooy has secured just seven points in 14 games—three fewer than predecessor Steve Cooper managed in 12.

Despite their difficulties, the Leicester manager remains defiant.
"We are going to get up again. Mathematically, we are still in this fight, and we keep going as long as we can," Van Nistelrooy said.

With time running out, Leicester must overturn their form quickly, but their next four games include away trips to Chelsea and Manchester City and home fixtures against Manchester United and Newcastle.

Defender Wout Faes insists the squad still believes in survival.
"Of course, there has to be belief. We just have to take it game by game and start winning very soon," he said.

However, former Leicester midfielder Neil Lennon and ex-Chelsea forward Joe Cole were less optimistic.
"It is really hard to make a case for them based on what we have seen," Lennon said on TNT Sports.
"I think they are gone," Cole added.

West Ham’s win lifted them to 15th, level on points with Tottenham and Manchester United, while Leicester’s relegation battle grows increasingly desperate.