LONDON - West Ham earned its fourth win in five games after Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing scored for a 2-0 victory over last-place Leicester, keeping the London club in the top four of the Premier League.

Former West Ham player Paul Konchesky gifted Carroll the opener with a careless pass, allowing the striker to pounce on the ball and neatly lift it over goalkeeper Ben Hamer in the 24th minute.

Downing's second was unstoppable, however, as the playmaker curled a sumptuous shot into the far corner in the 56th to ensure that Leicester's winless streak was extended to 12 games.

Leicester is bottom of the table with 10 points from 17 rounds, while Sam Allardyce's surprising club is in fourth place, just one point behind Manchester United.