Hammers keep slender hopes alive

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is hoping for a helping hand from already-relegated Coventry on Saturday as the Hammers look to pip Southampton to the second promotion spot from the npower Championship.

Third-placed West Ham kept their automatic promotion hopes alive with comeback 2-1 away win over Leicester, Jack Collison smashing in the winning goal just before the hour after Winston Reid had cancelled out Jermaine Beckford’s opener.

The victory sees West Ham move to within two points of second-placed Southampton heading into Saturday’s final day, where the Hammers are at home to Hull and the Saints play host to second-bottom Coventry.

Nolan said: “We knew we had to put the pressure on Southampton. We’re not expecting much on Saturday, but it was always positive for us to make sure that we kept our momentum going and our wins going. Hopefully Coventry can do us a favour on Saturday, but it will be a bit tougher for Southampton now. ”

If West Ham are to get second spot they will have to improve on their indifferent home form this season, where they have only won 10 times in 22 league matches so far.

That is in contrast to their away form, with last night’s win being their 13th on their travels.

LEICESTER: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, Bamba, Konchesky, Marshall, Wellens (Dyer 22), Drinkwater, King (St. Ledger 46), Beckford, Nugent (Waghorn 65).

WEST HAM: Green, Demel (Faubert 76), Reid, Tomkins, Taylor, Collison (Lansbury 88), Noble, Nolan, O’Neil, Cole (Collins 81), Vaz Te.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton.