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Jamie Vardy scored the first goal of Ruud Van Nistelrooy's Leicester reign Jamie Vardy helped hand Ruud van Nistelrooy the perfect start as new Leicester boss - and pushed Julen Lopetegui closer to the brink at West Ham. Striker Vardy pounced after just 98 seconds in Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, before Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka struck to seal victory for the hosts. The Foxes moved up to 15th in the Premier League, two points behind the Hammers, but lived dangerously and needed goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to frustrate the visitors with a string of fine saves. Niclas Fullkrug nodded home a consolation for the visitors in stoppage time. But the pressure will remain on boss Lopetegui as he struggles to find a solution for success with the Hammers. With just three wins from their last 12 top-flight games, Hammers fans vented their anger at the manager, but Lopetegui claimed not to have heard. "I am a coach, I'm not aware of what happened around me, " he said. "I think we had a good match talking about football but talking about the score, no. "We have to improve to be more effective in the opposite box and improve our consistency. I'm sure we are able to achieve this in the next challenge. "There are a lot of matches in front of us and a lot of points, a lot of things which will happen. I believe in these players. " Van Nistelrooy, who was appointed on Friday to replace Steve Cooper, has said he was not a romantic manager who will put style in front of results. But the King Power Stadium will soon fall in love with the Dutchman if he continues to bring out the Foxes' fighting spirit. They relied on a gritty display against the Hammers, but also owed much to the wastefulness of the visitors. Danny Ings hit the post with a close-range header, Jarrod Bowen spurned several chances, while Leicester defender Conor Coady cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville. After Vardy's second-minute opener – although the Foxes needed to wait over two minutes for the video assistant referee (VAR) to rule the striker onside after he raced on to El Khannouss' ball - keeper Lukasz Fabianski denied the veteran forward again, before the Hammers took control. After Ings hit the woodwork, Bowen was twice denied by the excellent Hermansen. The Hammers thought they had levelled after the break when Hermansen punched the ball into his own net as he tried to deal with a hanging ball, but Tomas Soucek was ruled to have fouled the goalkeeper in the build-up. Almost immediately, Leicester broke and grabbed a crucial second in the 61st minute when Moroccan El Khannouss found the corner from Kasey Mc Ateer's pass for his first league goal. Fabianski's fine save stopped Wilfred Ndidi from adding a third, before Coady kept out Summerville's bundled effort to keep his side in control. Bobby de Cordova-Reid had another late Foxes strike ruled out for offside by VAR, but Daka wrapped up a dream night for Van Nistelrooy when he broke away in the 90th minute and rifled high into the net. Fullkrug's headed finish from Summerville's corner was his first Hammers goal, but mattered little to the outcome as his side slipped to a disappointing seventh defeat in 14 league games. Smiling Van Nistelrooy brings belief back to Leicester This video can not be played Missed chances 'frustrate' Lopetegui after defeat at Leicester West Ham will wonder how they lost this game, given their opportunities, but the loss left boss Lopetegui's future under scrutiny again. His fate could be decided by Boxing Day – if not before. The Hammers face Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton and the Spaniard's legacy is likely to hinge on the remaining December fixtures. "The only thing I am worried about now is to go in tomorrow for the training session and to prepare for the next challenge, said Lopetegui after the match. "We have one month of a lot of matches and I'm sure with this attitude we will achieve much more points. Today it's hard to say this. "There are days when it is easy, today it is not easy. We are very frustrated but because we deserved much more. This is the summary I have. " Frustrated fans turned on the manager during the wait to see if De Cordova-Reid's goal would be ruled out for offside - and many had left before Fullkrug's stoppage-time effort. Lopetegui's appointment in the summer promised a new era for the Hammers - despite predecessor David Moyes' successful tenure - but they are floundering in 15th place and six points above the relegation zone. They managed 31 shots, 10 on target, at the King Power Stadium but had little to show for it. It will not have escaped the attention of his former club and third-bottom Wolves, who he left in 2023 having felt he was not being backed. If Gary O'Neil's side win at Everton on Wednesday, they will be just three points behind West Ham and could catch the Londoners up after their Monday meeting at the London Stadium. Have your say on Leicester's performance What did you make of West Ham's display? This video can not be played Van Nistelrooy praises Foxes 'spirit' and 'togetherness' after dream start Van Nistelrooy had just two days with his Leicester players before facing West Ham, but managed to transform them after a six-match winless run. They led a charmed life at times, especially in the first half, but demonstrated the fight and fire needed to steer them away from the relegation places. Van Nistelrooy watched from the stands on Saturday as the Foxes were dismantled 4-1 by Brentford, barely laying a glove on the hosts in their worst performance of the season. But having taken training for the first time on Sunday, the Dutchman was delighted as Leicester's response was full of endeavour and enterprise. Foxes fans needed to see their team play for the shirt, with their commitment questioned by the travelling support at Brentford. There was no doubt this time. Leicester's unity has been one of the foundations of their success in the last decade and on Tuesday there were glimpses it could return. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 3rd December 2024 at 22: 15 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Ruud van Nistelrooij Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Julen Lopetegui Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Ruud van Nistelrooij Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Julen Lopetegui Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Match ends, Leicester City 3, West Ham United 1. Second Half ends, Leicester City 3, West Ham United 1. Offside, West Ham United. Niclas Füllkrug is caught offside. Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by James Justin (Leicester City). Attempt blocked. Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jarrod Bowen. Goal! Leicester City 3, West Ham United 1. Niclas Füllkrug (West Ham United) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Crysencio Summerville with a headed pass following a corner. Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Victor Kristiansen. Substitution, Leicester City. Jordan Ayew replaces Facundo Buonanotte. Fourth official has announced 9 minutes of added time. Goal! Leicester City 3, West Ham United 0. Patson Daka (Leicester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Victor Kristiansen. Foul by Maximilian Kilman (West Ham United). Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing. Attempt missed. Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. VAR Decision: No Goal Leicester City 2-0 West Ham United. GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Leicester City) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review. Offside, Leicester City. Facundo Buonanotte is caught offside. Substitution, West Ham United. Niclas Füllkrug replaces Mohammed Kudus. Edson Álvarez (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Edson Álvarez (West Ham United). © 2024 BBC. 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