Pearson targets home comforts
Boss Nigel Pearson knows Leicester must "make a move" now as he targets home points to seal survival.
The rock-bottom Foxes are seven points from safety in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Saturday's visit of West Ham.
They are winless in their last nine league games and have only won four times in the top flight since clinching the Sky Bet Championship title last May.
Leicester have six of their final nine matches at home - including games against Chelsea and Southampton - but, despite winning just twice in the league at the King Power Stadium this season, Pearson reckons that will be key.
"I can talk about staying in touch but we have to make a move," he said.
"In the games we have remaining we have six at home. We have to make sure we maximise our home opportunities. That really is going to be pivotal over whether we can make a move or not.
"When you look at our form so far, the fact we haven't been more successful at home is a disappointment and a surprise for some people.
"It's not nothing we fear, we know if we perform to our maximum at home we have chances.
"We have a tough end to the season, in the sense we have a lot to do, but we can use as a positive motivator.
"We have to remain realistic about how we go about getting points in the last few games. Is the pressure off us? Maybe a little bit and if that's a help rather than a hindrance we'll certainly use it."
The Foxes face West Brom, Sunderland and Burnley away and Pearson also recognises the importance of the games against their drop rivals.
He said: "Our away games are going to be very important too, when you are playing against sides and you are potentially able to drag them into the situation, and one or two are very much still in the relegation fight, that gives you a different type of motivation"
Matt Upson is out with an Achilles problem while Dean Hammond is sidelined with his calf injury and Jeff Schlupp will be assessed after international duty with Ghana.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists everyone involved with the club has specific reasons to end the season in style.
The Hammers currently sit ninth in the Premier League after a barren run of form saw them drop out of contention for a place in Europe - with a late 1-0 win over Sunderland before the international break their first league victory since January.
Allardyce takes his side to bottom club Leicester on Saturday and, although there may be less to play for than he would have hoped, the 60-year-old is keen for West Ham to get back to their best in the final eight games and not just start planning their summer holidays.
"It's sometimes a little bit concern for any manager, but the reality is at this level, you cannot switch off the gas," he said.
"You have to be spot on no matter where you are in the table. There is always emphasis on the size of the financial pot for the football club.
"If we want to get better we have to create more revenue - and one of the ways is by finishing as high as possible. It's nearly a B#1million a place. That's not in the players mind but in terms of the club's.
"For the players it is a case of finishing the season with the best season we have had since getting back into Premier League. That is the ultimate goal. Having finished better than 10th, finishing with more points, is very important to us in last few games."
New Zealand defender Winston Reid is likely to return to Allardyce's side following a hamstring injury and will partner James Collins at the back for the Hammers.
Collins, who played in Wales' 3-0 European Championship qualifying win in Israel last weekend, echoed the comments of Allardyce and is aiming to make the run-in a memorable one.
"You can't take your foot off the pedal, we want to win every game left, that's enough of an incentive," he told the club's official website.
"Realistically, eighth is the best we can do looking at the table and that would be a fantastic achievement. We've got three home games left and we are certainly looking to win them. Since we've been promoted, tenth is the best we've done so to better that would be great."
Source: PA
