Leicester Miss Out in Dramatic Finale

Watford 3:1 Leicester City

City missed out on a Wembley Play-Off final in the most agonising way possible at Vicarage Road when Troy Deeney smashed home the decisive goal for Watford, seconds after Anothony Knockeart’s penalty miss in the 7^th minute of injury time…

Nigel Pearson fielded an unchanged side again and City pressed forward right from the kick off gaining three corners in quick succession.  Knockaert’s flag-kick found De Laet at the near post but his was blocked by Deeney.
But Watford looked dangerous going forward and a ball over the defence from Deeney set Vydra up but he snatched and missed the target as he had done in the first leg.
The lively Deeney then tested Schmeichel with a shot from the edge of the area.
This good spell for the Hornets was capped with a 15^th minute opener, Vydra making no mistake this time with a stunning volley to square the tie.  However City responded well to this set back and hit back with an equaliser just four minutes later.
James’ corner found Nugent at the far post and he sent a header beyond Almunia’s reach to restore City’s lead in the tie.
Deeney then forced another save from Schmeichel while Knockeart fired an effort over the bar.
City had preserved their advantage up to the three-quarter mark, and were 45 minutes from Wembley.

Early in the second half Knockaert sent a free kick narrowly over the bar and then a Nugent header went straight to Almunia.
On the hour both sides made a chance with swapping Kane for Wood and Zola introducing Forestieri for Doyley with more accent on attack.
It soon paid off for the home side when Vydra exchanged passes with Deeney before sending a precise low shot past Schmeichel to level the tie.
Pearson then brought Drinkwater on for Dyer.
The game entered a nervy last twenty minutes… Battocchio was denied by Schmeichel while Nugent and Kane both wasted well placed free-kicks sending them sailing over the crossbar.
As the 90 minutes came up Watford began to turn on the pressure, but this was broken up somewhat by a lengthy spell of treatment and it was City who were presented with a girt-wrapped ticket to Wembley with 97 minutes on the clock.
Knockaert surged into the penalty area on the right and went down under a challenge from Chalobah. It may have been a little harsh, but after a couple of seconds thought Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.

Knockeart’s spot kick was saved by Almunia, who also managed to block the Frenchman’s follow up effort.
To add insult to injury Watford then charged upfield, Forestieri floated a cross over from the right, Hogg nodded it back and smashed it into the net, sending Watford to Wembley seconds after the ball had been on their penalty spot.

It was a dramatic and devastating end to a season, but in truth on the day and over the campaign as a whole, Nigel Pearson’s man had fallen short.

Watford: Almunia, Deeney, Doyley (Forestieri 65), Briggs, Vydra, Anya, Abdi, Cassetti, Battocchio (Hogg 79), Chalobah, Ekstrand. Unused Subs: Bond, Eustace, Hall, Pudil, Geijo.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, King, Dyer (Drinkwater 67), Keane, James, Schlupp, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood (Kane 61). Unused Subs: Logan, Konchesky, Marshall, Vardy, Moore.

Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 16,142.

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Nugent’s late strike edges City Ahead

Leicester City 1:0 Watford

An 81st minute goal from David Nugent gave Leicester a slender lead to take to Watford in their play-off semi-final…

Nigel Pearson fielded an unchanged side for this vital first leg, watched by the largest crowd of the season who turned up the volume to a level we haven’t heard for a few seasons.
And City responded early on, dominating possession for the first 20 minutes. Nugent’s back-heel was saved by Almunia as City went close to taking an early lead. Almunia was then equal to a De Laet header from a James’ corner as City relentlessly pressed forward at pace.
Watford’s first chance came on 18 minutes when a Schlupp error let Anya in on goal.  But Schmeichel blocked his shot and then saved again from Abdi. This incident seemed to turn the tide with City losing their early momentum and Watford being given time to establish their passing game.
Chances were rarer and Nugent fired one off target after being set up by the lively Dyer.
Anya and Chalobah, both went close for the Hornets before the last chance of the half fell to Knockeart who did well to battle his way past Ekstrand from the goaline.
City continued in an attacking vein after the break though too often passes were going astray and good work was undone.
Schlupp opened up a decent bit of space for himself but fired well over, before Abdi went close with a free-kick as the game swung from end to end.
The best chance of the game then fell for Vydra, but he snatched his shot with only Schmeichel to beat, for a huge let off for City.
Nigel Pearson brought Kane on for Wood just after the hour.
Watford were enjoying a decent spell now and Vydra forced a fine save from Schmeichel before Geijo sent his header over when it looked easier to score.
Just when it looked as though City had run out of steam they took a precious lead in the 81st minute. Knockaert’s free kick from the left saw a stampede of defenders and attackers towards goal and Nugent got there first to nod home his first goal since January and raise the stadium roof.
Straight from the restart City went agonisingly close to a second when Knockaert, was denied by a fine save from Almunia.
City were all over Watford, as they had been at the start of the game, but could not extend their advantage going into the second leg.

However, they have a vital lead to take to Vicarage Road on Sunday…

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, King, Dyer, Keane, James, Schlupp, Knockaert (Drinkwater 90), Nugent, Wood (Kane 63). Unused Subs: Konchesky, Marshall, Vardy, Logan, Moore.
Watford: Almunia, Hogg, Doyley (Hall 86), Pudil (Briggs 73), Vydra (Forestieri 90), Anya, Abdi, Cassetti, Geijo, Chalobah, Ekstrand. Unused Subs: Eustace, Yeates, Briggs, Bond, Battocchio.

 Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire). Attendance: 29,560.

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Leicester Clinch Play-Off Place Against the Odds

Nottingham Forest 2:3 Leicester City

An injury time winner from Anthony Knockaert sealed a glorious 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest and saw City scrape into the play-offs on goal difference….
Nigel Pearson made one change to his side with Nugent in for the injured Konchesky, with City needing win on a ground where they hadn’t succeeded in the league since 1972, while also relying on Blackpool preventing a Bolton win.
It didn’t look promising for City and their following of 2,000 as early as the 3rd minute however, when Cox was allowed two bites at the cherry with blue-shirted defenders slow to react, he prodded the ball past Schmeichel from close range to make our play-off hopes looking a little forlorn.
City responded well with Knockaert the driving force and his shot kissed the top of,  the crossbar in the 15th minute.
Nugent then tested Darlow with a well struck shot.
Meanwhile, at the Reebok, Bolton went a goal down to Blackpool giving the East Midlands sides an extra incentive.
City struck back in the 23rd minute when a James shot took a big deflection past Darlow to put City right back in the mix.
Nugent then missed out on a chance to put City ahead when he missed the target after being set up by Dyer.
City were the better side leading up to the break, as news that Bolton were two goals down circulated round the stands, and they took the lead three minutes before half-time.
Knockaert delivered a lovely cross to the far post for King to head home from close in, and as things stood at half-time incredibly City were in a play-off place.
Bolton, however, had pulled back two goals to go in at 2-2.

Forest took charge for a while after the break and levelled the score when Ward rose highest to nod home a Reid free-kick.
Things got worse for City a minute later when De Laet had to go off, replaced by Moore.
Wood then volleyed wide and goalmouth scramble, ended with a referee’s whistle, as City desperately pressed for that precious goal.
Kane came on for Dyer and then hearts were in mouths as Cox went one-on-one with Schmeichel, but lost out to the City keeper.
Knockaert then had a shot blocked before Pearson’s last change saw Marshall for Keane.
Four minutes of injury time were announced and then came the season’s defining moment.
A Schlupp ball upfield saw Knockaert and Wood suddenly outnumbering Forest defenders. Knockaert passed to Wood, who squared back to Knockaert as the keeper closed in on him, leaving the Frenchman to find an unguarded net right in front of the wildly celebrating Leicester fans.
There was no further score at Bolton, so City had miraculously leap-frogged their way into the play-offs at not only the eleventh hour, but at 11:59.
Considering the dramatic slump in form in the last few months it was incredible that they made it, but make it they did and City fans were queuing up for Watford tickets first thing Sunday morning…
Nigel Pearson commented: “It was one of those situations where we had to find a win from somewhere and with it being a local derby as well put a different dimension to it, but I thought the players coped well with the pressure.”

Forest: Darlow, Harding, Collins, Guedioura (Sharp 74), Cohen, Henderson, Reid (McGugan 62), Halford (Majewski 33), Cox, Lansbury, Ward. Unused Subs: McGugan, Tudgay, Blackstock, Ayala, Alrashidi.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 56), Morgan, King, Dyer (Kane 60), Keane (Marshall 85), James, Schlupp, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood. Unused Subs: Drinkwater, Vardy, Logan, Gallagher.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 28,646.

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Leicester Stung by Hornets

Leicester City 1:2 Watford

City now maintain only the slimmest hopes of a play-off place, losing 2-1 to Watford at the KPS on Friday night, two goals leading up to half-time doing the damage…

Nigel Pearson sent out the same side that drew 2-2 at Palace  and they were greeted onto the pitch by a post-run Birch speech and the racket of thousands of  clap banners which had been laggy-banded to each seat.
Although City had most of the possession Watford displayed flashes of their Premier League credentials. Anya’s cross found Hogg in a dangerous position, but Schmeichel denied him with a fine save.
City, playing  a more direct game, then had a chance of their own, but King sent a half volley  narrowly wide.
Knockaert then fired a shot over from distance as City pressed forward.
But, five minutes before the break, the visitor’s got the vital first goal.  A corner from the left made it through a crowded six yard box and was  nodded back for Deeney who netted from the edge of the six yard box.
Three minutes later Watford struck a killer second goal, the ball sitting up nicely for Chalobah to execute a perfect half-volley past Schmeichel.
In almost got even worse for City before the half time whistle when De Laet was well placed on the line to block a low shot from Hogg.

Pearson traded Nugent for Schlupp at the break and he went close after diverting a De Laet cross early on.
But City were struggling to make much impression on a well-drilled Watford side and a further change was made on the hour, with Kane on for Dyer.
This proved to be the key to unlock the yellow wall, with Kane’s well timed run seeing him head home a Konchesky free-kick after two minutes on the field. Every defender had his arm in the air for offside, but they were wrong.
With City desperately in search of an equaliser Kane tested Almunia with a fierce shot before Marshall replaced Knockaert.
Marshall went close with a shot during a passage of play that Wood going down heavily in the box,  but City’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.
Watford then shut up shop, broke up the game with substitutions, and killed the game expertly, with City unable to trouble them, even in five minutes time added on.

And so the season at the King Power has almost certainly ended in huge disappointment, having looked so promising up until late January.

A win at Forest is something City haven’t managed in the league since 1972, and even that might not be enough…

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Morgan, King, Dyer, Keane, James, Schlupp (Nugent 46), Knockaert (Marshall 64) Wood. Unused subs: Drinkwater, Whitbread, Logan, Moore.
Watford: Almunia, Hogg, Deeney, Doyley, Pudil, Vydra, Anya (Briggs 71), Abdi (Battocchio 83), Cassetti, Chalobah (Yeates 78), Ekstrand. Unused Subs: Murray, Bond, Geijo, Forestieri.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Attendance: 25,091.

You can now subscribe to The FOX for the 2013-14 season online via Paypal – just press the blue button…

 

FOX 185 – ON SALE TONIGHT

Issue No 185 of The FOX – The Leicester City Fanzine –will be on sale before tonight’s game against Watford…
It might be the last home game of the season… it might not.

FOX 185  features: an interview we did in Dublin with Pat Byrne, recalling his time at City under Jock Wallace;  Something Old, Something New; Fully Programmed from 1968-69; Fox Diary – which starts badly and then gets worse; the latest from the Foxes Trust; Tales From the Riverbank; Rewind – an eventful night at the Victoria Ground; the Chris Lymn Column; John Hutchinson looks through the 1980s box in the Leicester City archives; Fox-Photos; Please – an extensive list of what is wrong with modern football; your letters and Bentley’s Roof; Parting Shots – our favourite photos from the last month; and FortySomething gets messed around by the ever-changing fixture list ….

all for £2…

Pat Byrne Interview Extract…

He gave us a fascinating insight into his time at Filbert Street under Jock Wallace and had very fond memories of a win at Anfield:

“When we got to Liverpool Jock tried to take the pressure off us straight away and he said ‘We’re not supposed to win here today, you know that don’t you? We’ve just lost at Exeter and today is a match that we’re not supposed to win’ and that was how he prepared us and it worked! He had a strange way of doing things at times but this was his way of getting us in the mood by taking the pressure right off and telling us to go out and enjoy ourselves. He believed so much in his team and it was a team to him and not about individuals. If he even felt that there was even a sign of someone trying to be an individual then he would jump on it very quickly. Maybe he would have been happy to have not been hammered but we never felt that, we believed we could do it. I think we probably had a bit of luck that day and we even scored all of the goals! Youngy scored a beauty in his own net didn’t he? The goal I scored was one of those that you catch just right even though I was a way out but the ball came across and I hit it first time. If I hadn’t got it right it would have killed a few seagulls on its way out of the ground! But what a feeling to see the ball in the net at the Kop end; that’s why you play football for moments like that. Even now people still want to talk about it which I find incredible.”

You can now subscribe to The FOX for the 2013-14 season online via Paypal – just press the blue button…

City get a point from Palace

Crystal Palace 2:2 Leicester City

Leicester twice came from behind at Selhurst Park to draw 2-2, but a point was not enough to keep them in the play-off frame…

Nigel Pearson made no changes to the side that beat Bolton for this trip to South London.
City survived an early scare when James was saved the embarrassment of an own goal by a fine Schmeichel save.
But after a scrappy opening spell it was Palace who took a 27^th minute lead when Gabbidon rose high to meet Dobbie’s free-kick, directing his header beyond Schmeichel’s reach from some distance.
Wood then struck a 25 yard free-kick that hit a defender but looped up over the bar.
City levelled matters in the 37th minute, when a slick move involving Konchesky, Knockaert and Dyer set up King for a side-step round Delaney and a cool finish past Speroni.
Another fine Schmeichel save then denied Murray to ensure parity at the break.

City had early chances in the second half with De Laet heading on-target from James’ free kick, and Konchesky delivering a decent cross which Knockaert, hit over from close in.
Another dangerous Dobbie free-kick saw Wilbraham head against the crossbar in the 58^th  minute.
The hosts then regained the lead in the 67th when persistent work from Murray on the edge of the area opened the way for  Dobbie to curl a precise shot round Schmeichel.
Pearson then brought Nugent on for Schlupp and City were gifted a second equaliser.
In the 73^rd minute a Delaney error saw Wood bearing down on goal, and he blasted a shot across Speroni to even the score before celebrating with the 2,400 City fans.
Both sides appeared to reluctantly settle for a point late on, with City dropping out of the play-off frame, leap-frogged by Bolton, who beat Middlesbrough.

Nigel Pearson admitted: “I think at any other time we’d be talking about this as a very good point, but we’ve got to win our last two games now.”

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Zaha, Dikgacoi, Marrow (O’Keefe 78), Dobbie (Bolasie 76), Murray, Wilbraham. Unused Subs: Fitzsimons, Ramage, Moritz, Banton.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, King, Knockaert (Kane 90), Dyer (Gallagher 89), James, Wood, Schlupp (Nugent 73). Unused Subs: Drinkwater, Whitbread, Logan, Moore.

Referee: A. Madley (West Yorks). Attendance: 18,563.

City regain Play-Off place with victory over Bolton

Leicester City 3:2 Bolton Wanderers

 Leicester’s first win in ten attempts put them back in the play-off frame -  with Jeff Schlupp’s winner finally seeing Bolton off  at the KPS on Tuesday night….

With every game now a ‘must win’ Nigel Pearson made two changes to the side that drew against Birmingham, Knockaert and Dyer returning to the wings  in place of Nugent andDrinkwater, in a 442.
City got off to a shocking start however,  as Morgan tripped Lee in the area and Ngog netted with the spot-kick despite Schmeichel getting a touch.
Bolton had the lead and were happy to defend which meant chances were few for City. In the 18th minute De Laet set up Wood for an overhead kick, but it cleared Bogdan’s bar.
Bogdan then saved well from a Wood free-kick and there was litle of note to report on a becalmed first half, until five minutes before the break.
Dyer burst down the left and into the area, where Butterfield brought him down.  Wood made no mistake from 12 yards for his first goal in ten games.
Two minutes later the crowd were out of their seats again as the game turned completely around. Wood set up Dyer who produced a fine finish to beat Bogdan and put City ahead.
City had their tails up for the second half, but Bolton gradually worked their way back into the game. City got a warning shot across the bows in the 61st minute when Davies struck the a post from 25 yards.
With 20 minutes remaining there was a familiar sinking feeling as City had seemingly once gain failed to see out a game.
Alonso’s throw from the right was nodded on and fell nicely for an unmarked for Pratley to prod home from close in.
Nugent came on for Dyer and was soon involved in City’s winner.
In the 79th minute  De Laet’s throw-in, was flicked on by Wood towards Nugent, who hurried Knight into a poor clearance which sat up nicely for Schlupp on the edge of the area. His dipping volley found the net much to the joy of the young striker and some long suffering fans.

There was a still a long nail-chewing period to endure and Bolton threw everything forward, Knight being denied by a fantastic Schmeichel save.
City survived a late aerial onslaught from the visitors to put their play-off destiny back in their own hands, thanks to their own efforts and some great results coming in from elsewhere.

Nigel Pearson was pleased with his players: “We had to deal with going behind to a penalty after two minutes, but it was important that we got the three points. We showed a lot of courage and also we showed a lot of ability.”

Leicester:  Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Morgan, King, Dyer (Nugent 79), Keane, James, Schlupp, Knockaert (Drinkwater 82), Wood. Unused Subs: Whitbread, Vardy, Logan, Gallagher, Kane.
Bolton: Bogdan, Butterfield (Ricketts 59), Knight, Dawson, Alonso, Kamara, Vela (Davies 57), Pratley, Eagles, Lee, Ngog (Eaves 87). Unused Subs: Lonergan, Ream, Hall, Sordell. 

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 22,442.