Leicester City 2-1 West Ham: Win not enough to save Foxes from relegation as Everton stay up in final day survival scrap
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ByEurosport
Updated 28/05/2023 at 18:04 GMT
Leicester City knew they had to win to stand a chance of avoiding Premier League relegation and that was exactly what they did with a 2-1 victory over West Ham. However, it wasn’t enough to save them. Everton’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth meant it was the Toffees who celebrated achieving safety, with Leicester and Leeds United joining Southampton in the Championship next season.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 28: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Leicester City reacts during the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United at The King Power Stadium on May 28, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Leicester City have been relegated from the Premier League despite a 2-1 win at home to West Ham, with Everton staying up by the skin of their teeth.
The 2016 Premier League champions needed to win and hope other results would work out in their favour.
The Foxes created a hatful of chances in the first half with Kelechi Iheanacho clipping the top of the crossbar and James Maddison shooting wide.
Their possession paid off when Harvey Barnes traded passes with Iheanacho and poked a low shot in the bottom corner to break the deadlock for his 13th goal of the season.
The Hammers were the more dangerous side in the second period with Said Benrahma hitting the post with a low effort and Jonny Evans producing an impressive display to keep them at bay.
But around the hour mark, news emerged that Everton had scored against Bournemouth courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucoure, lifting the Toffees out of the drop zone.
Dean Smith's side then went 2-0 up courtesy of Wout Faes' glancing header from a Youri Tielemans free-kick.
David Moyes made four changes in the second half and they reduced the deficit late on when Pablo Fornals' low shot went in off the post.
The Foxes held on for the win, but Everton's victory over Bournemouth means Smith's side finish the season in 18th position and they go down by two points.
TALKING POINT - Heartbreak for Leicester
For nearly an hour it looked like the Foxes were staying up. They did what they needed to do against the Hammers after finding their composure to score two goals.
But Doucoure's goal for the Toffees against Bournemouth was the deciding factor in their fate. Fans will look back to those draws with Leeds United and Everton and the penalty miss by James Maddison against the latter.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Jonny Evans (Leicester): The former Manchester United defender was at his best and showed his ability in the air and leadership skills in a pressure situation. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time throughout.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEICESTER CITY: Iversen 6, Thomas 6, Faes 7, Evans 9, Castagne 7, Dewsbury-Hall 7, Soumare 6, Tielemans 7, Maddison 6, Barnes 8, Iheanacho 7. Subs: Vardy n/a, Mendy n/a, Pereira n/a.
WEST HAM: Fabianski 5, Coufal 7, Cresswell 5, Kehrer 5, Aguerd 6, Rice 5, Downes 5, Paqueta 6, Fornals 5, Antonio 6, Benrahma 8. Subs: Bowen 6, Ings 5, Palmieri n/a, Cornet n/a, Lanzini n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
29' - HUGE CHANCE! Iheanacho controls the ball well, trades passes with Maddison and from inside the box his shot clips the top of the bar!
34' - GOAL FOR LEICESTER! Barnes trades passes with Iheanacho and pokes his shot from inside the box into the bottom corner!
62' - GOAL FOR LEICESTER! Its a free-kick near the corner flag. Tielemans' delivery is headed in by Faes.
79' - GOAL FOR WEST HAM! A ball over the top for Fornals who fires a shot from inside the box in off the post. 2-1.
KEY STAT
- Leicester's win today was their first in six games.
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