Ian Marshall ended Leicester's West Ham hoodoo with a late goal in a thrilling English Premiership encounter at Filbert Street last night. The striker-turned-central-defender came up trumps with eight minutes remaining by sidefooting home a Steve Guppy corner at the second attempt to lift Leicester into fourth place.

That halted a run of nine successive victories for West Ham over Martin O'Neill's side - including the last four meetings at Filbert Street - and a sequence of four successive defeats spanning three different competitions.

But West Ham were left to rue their inept finishing in the second period, as they had the opportunities to have killed off Leicester before Marshall struck with his fifth goal of the season.

Leicester were the more purposeful side in the first half, but Harry Redknapp's team gradually took command, with Eyal Berkovic always a handful for the home defence.

How they must have regretted squandering golden chances via Iain Dowie and Steve Lomas.

West Ham, retaining the side who beat Bolton 3-0, were the first to settle, but Leicester initially were the more threatening and acting skipper Matt Elliott struck a volley straight at Craig Forrest.

O'Neill's side eventually broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when West Ham appealed in vain for offside after Guppy's chip freed Emile Heskey.

The England Under-21 striker raced forward unopposed into the penalty area and steadied himself before drilling a low shot under the body of Forrest.

West Ham opened the second half on the offensive and a dipping volley from Hartson flew inches over, before Lampard failed to connect properly when again in a good position, his shot trickling through to Arphexad.

It came as no surprise when the visitors drew level in the 58th minute. Hartson weaved his way past two defenders and his low centre was hammered home by Berkovic.

Leicester threatened briefly and Muzzy Izzet volleyed over from close range, but West Ham were now in control and Dowie mis-hit his shot when clean through, enabling Arphexad to deflect it for a corner.

A centre from Lampard should then have been converted at the far post by Lomas, but again the shot lacked the necessary power and Arphexad got a vital touch to turn it around the post.

Leicester: Arphexad, Kaamark (Campbell 89), Guppy, Savage (Parker 68), Prior, Elliott, Izzet, Lennon, Claridge, Marshall, Heskey. Subs Not Used: Andrews, Fenton, Cottee. Goals: Heskey 16, Marshall 82.

West Ham: Forrest, Unsworth, Ferdinand, Rowland, Potts, Lomas, Lampard, Berkovic, Moncur, Dowie, Hartson. Subs Not Used: Sealey, Bishop, Pearce, Hodges, Alexander. Booked: Lomas, Unsworth, Rowland, Moncur. Goals: Berkovic 58.

Referee: M D Reed (Birmingham).