West Ham 2-0 Leicester: Sam Allardyce on being in top four

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce says being in the Premier League's top four is "a great Christmas present" after his side's 2-0 victory over Leicester at Upton Park.

Andy Carroll put the home side ahead, pouncing on a poor backpass from ex-Hammer Paul Konchesky and dinking the ball over the on-rushing Ben Hamer, before Stewart Downing doubled the hosts' advantage with a curling 20-yard shot.

Allardyce hails Stewart Downing as "one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League", a point of view supported by the fact he has created more goal-scoring chances (52) than any other player in the division so far this season.