Fighting Foxes earn Claudio's kudos

Claudio Ranieri praised his side's fighting qualities as Leicester City moved to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Saturday.

The much-traveled Italian, back in English soccer after losing his job at Chelsea in 2004, might have fewer big names to work with than he was used to at Roma, Inter Milan and Valencia, but after impressive wins over Sunderland and now a West Ham, he said his Leicester players have impressed him with their work ethic.

"I think it was a fantastic first half," said Ranieri, whose side got first-half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez and a resolute second-half defense.