Manuel Pellegrini’s job is hanging by the finest of threads after a below-strength Leicester side inflicted West Ham’s fourth successive home defeat thanks to a brilliant winning goal from Demarai Gray
Not since Blackpool’s Ian Holloway in November 2010 had a
Premier League manager made as many changes to his starting lineup this early in the season as Brendan Rodgers opted for here but even his second-string proved far too strong for a dispirited home team. Even after the returning Lukasz Fabianski saved a penalty and Pablo Fornals had cancelled out Kelechi Iheanacho’s opener, West Ham never looked threatening enough to go on to claim victory and left the pitch to a chorus of boos from the few supporters who stayed until the bitter end. Bournemouth’s visit to the
London Stadium on New Year’s Day has now taken on even more significance for their manager.