Evans Calls For Final-Day Focus

- Jonny Evans has previewed Sunday's clash with West Ham United
- Leicester City need a win at King Power Stadium to have a chance of Premier League survival 
- Dean Smith's men also need results elsewhere to go their way on the final day
- Evans hopes the players can rise to the occasion and do their part, beating the Hammers

The Foxes go into the final-day encounter with the Hammers sitting 18th in the Premier League, two points from safety. Everton are 17th and host AFC Bournemouth. If City are to survive, they must win their game, hope the Toffees don't, and end the day with a greater goal difference than Leeds United if the Yorkshire outfit also beat Tottenham Hotspur at home.

Leicester's advantageous goal difference could prove key on Sunday, but it won't matter if they don't beat West Ham. Ahead of that Filbert Way showdown with David Moyes' UEFA Europa Conference League finalists, Evans previewed a huge afternoon in England's top flight.

"We’ll have a game plan coming into the game," the former Manchester United centre-back told LCFC TV in Seagrave this week. "We’ll make sure that everyone understands that and that we’re prepared.

"I’m sure there will be lots of different scenarios that could pop up throughout the 90 minutes, so we’ve got to be well prepared and know how we’re going to approach the match as we’re in it and as it’s going on."

Knowledge of matters elsewhere could also play a part in how the match unfolds, but the requirements on City will remain the same. Whatever happens at Goodison Park or Elland Road, a win is needed. 

Evans said: "If we are in a winning position, you’ll want to know what’s going on. I think it’s important to have that information because it can obviously change how you approach the match, if you want to kill the game, or speed it up. There’s so many different things which go on throughout the game."

West Ham have climbed the standings over recent months to banish their own relegation concerns, while also reaching the final of the Europa Conference League, where they will face Fiorentina in Prague on 7 June. Evans has no doubt that the east London side will pose considerable challenges for the Foxes, but is equally sure that City have the tools to win. 

"West Ham are in good form at the moment," Evans admitted. "They’ve got themselves into a final, but we’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing. We know they’re a good team, with some very good players.

"David Moyes will have them well fired-up, well-drilled. He’s a winner, he’ll want to win every game, so we know it’s going to be difficult. We have to be secure behind the ball when we are going forward and make sure we limit them."

Managing emotions and controlling nerves is naturally going to be a factor on Sunday. Evans, though, believes they can in fact help Leicester's preparations if the players use those heightened feelings to focus on the job at hand. 

"It’s always good to have that little feeling," he explained. "We had that going into the Newcastle game, I felt it. The butterflies can sometimes help you focus. If you’ve got that through the week, it can focus your training and your approach.

"Sometimes it’s important not to let it get to you too much as well, so you’re not overthinking or over-worrying about it. We’ve got players here with experience. We’ve played in finals and big matches for this club. We’ve been through that before and we know what we’ve got to do and how to prepare."