Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City secured a 3-1 victory over West Ham United in the 14th round of the Premier League, marking a dream debut for the Dutch manager. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the second minute, giving the Foxes an early advantage. West Ham dominated the first half, taking 20 shots without finding the net, with their best chance thwarted when a 58th-minute goal was disallowed due to a foul by Tomas Soucek on Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
It was Jamie Vardy who broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for scoring in consecutive Premier League games when he achieved 11 in a row for Leicester in 2015.
Nine years later, he scores the club's first goal under Van Nistelrooy as manager.
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Leicester doubled their lead in the 62nd minute when Zakaria El Hannouss netted a composed finish. Patson Daka sealed the win in the 90th minute with a clinical strike to make it 3-0. In stoppage time, West Ham scored a consolation goal, with Niklas Fullkrug heading home from a corner on his return from injury. It was the German’s striker first goal for the Hammers, coming off their 30th shot on the night.
Leicester’s win lifts them to 15th in the table with 13 points, just behind 14th-placed West Ham, who sit on 15 points. Reflecting on the game Van Nistelrooy praised his side, saying, “I saw togetherness, energy and spirit in the team” and remained cautious by adding “We know the level in the Premier League and we know every game we play that everything has to be right.”