Match Report by @WestHamAmerican

A ten-men West Ham squad settled for only a point on Saturday at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City. Goals by Fabian Balbuena and Wilfred Ndidi meant both teams split the result, and Hammer’s captain, Mark Noble, was sent off in the opening half.

After a run of good form, West Ham has lost their last two Premier League outings. Looking to climb the table, they faced a Foxes side in similar form. The word that Marko Arnautović was suffering an illness and would not feature was depressing news to the supporters traveling to Leicester looking for a result.

From the outset Leicester looked the better side. Kelechi Iheanacho scored a goal that was called back for offside in the second minute. West Ham keeper, Lukasz Fabianski, was under duress for the opening minutes until finally Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass were able to put some pressure on Kasper Schmeichel with some good attempts.

In the 31st minute, Balbuena took the lead when he headed off the post and then was able to score on the rebound. With the early lead, the visiting Hammers looked to grow their advantage when minutes later Noble was accused of a studs-up challenge on Ndidi and was sent off. With most of the game to be played with a ten men roster, West Ham sought to find additional goals.

Leicester brought on Jamie Vardy in the opening of the second half in hopes to find their opening goal. But a mix of strong play in the midfield from West Ham and great goalkeeping from Fabianski kept the Hammers in the lead.

In the 90th minute of the match, disaster struck for West Ham when Ndidi’s shot deflected off of Balbuena into the net to give the home side their long-sought equaliser. With only moments to play in added time, Angelo Ogbonna had a great opportunity reclaim the lead, but his strike was just over the crossbar.

The only other notable action of the stoppage time was that Daniel Amartey was stretchered off after a bad-looking leg injury. Otherwise, the ten men side was unable to find the lead and had to walk away with only a point.

The points from the draw gives Leicester 13 points to West Ham’s eight, the 13th place Hammers are a single spot below the Foxes. Later this week, West Ham breaks from Premier League play to host Spurs in the League Cup at the London Stadium on Halloween night. Their return to league play is next Saturday against Burnley, also at home.

The general feel from supporters leaving the ground were that West Ham played well despite the red card and having no participation from their top scoring striker. Had Arnautovic been available, the result might have been different. If the Hammers hope to make a move up this table, the schedule from November to Christmas is favorable as possible. Hopefully the health and form of the team will match.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Soyuncu, Maguire, Chilwell, Ghezzal, Iborra, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho, Albrighton

Subs: Evans, Gray (61’), Vardy (45’), Ward, Periera, Okazaki (80’), Mendy

West Ham: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Noble, Masuaku, Anderson, Rice, Snodgrass, Diangana, Chicharito

Subs: Adrian, Ogbonna (81’), Cresswell (75’), Fredericks, Antonio (61’), Powell, Coventry

Referee: Michael Oliver