City fans fill the tiny away end at at the Abbey Stadium for the club’s first ever play-off game in 1992.
City drew 1-1 before thrashing Cambridge 5-0 in the second leg at Filbert Street.
City have never lost a play-off semi-final: Portsmouth 1-0 (h) 2-2 (a); Tranmere 0-0 (a) 2-1 (h); Stoke 0-0 (h) 1-0 (a).
A good omen for a side currently in the play-off frame.
Blackpool 1:2 Leicester City
City won their first league game at Blackpool since 1937 on Saturday afternoon, with a goals from N’Guessan and Dyer capping a fine performance…
Nigel Pearson made just one change for this trip to the seaside with N’Guessan in for the suspended Wellens.
City had the first chance early on when a quickly taken throw in from Oakley caught out the Blackpool defence but Fryatt couldn’t beat Gilks from an acute angle.
Blackpool then came close in the 12th minute when a rising shot from Dobbie out on the right was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Weale.
After this close call City took a 15th minute lead. Waghorn sent N’Guessan through with a superbly precise 40 yard pass and the Frenchman coolly steered the ball past the advancing Gilks and in at the far post.
Ian Holloway’s side pressed forward in search of an equaliser and Vaughan and Bannan both went close.
At the other end King’s half volley from 25 yards was tipped round the post by Gilks. From the resulting corner Hobbs was inches away from nodding the ball in at the far post.
Blackpool then had an incredible let off when a goalmouth scramble from another corner ended with Fryatt firing the ball goalwards from one yard. Smonehow it struck Baptiste on the leg and bounced clear.
City had another golden opportunity to stretch their lead early in the second half when a fine run and cross from N’Guessan on the right was met by Waghorn from 6 yards. The ball bounced off both Gilks’ legs before being hooked away by a defender.
As the action swung from one end to the other Dobbie made a run into the box but was foiled by Weale at the near post.
As the half progressed Blackpool pressed forward and Southern’s header was tipped round the left hand post by Weale.
Soon after Weale was tipping the ball around the same post when a Dobbie volley from 25 yards almost crept in.
There were nervous times for City, but the tension was dispelled in the 78th minute when City doubled their lead. Gallagher won the ball in midfield and then sent Fryatt down the right. His slide rule cross was met by Dyer who beat Gilks from 6 yards. The City fans shook the temporary stand as they celebrated the three points, though there was still a nervy end to the game.
Blackpool found a way past Weale at last in the 89th minute, beating two men before finding the net with a low shot from the edge of the area.
Five minutes time added on fired up the home crowd and with seconds remaining Adam went down in the area after contact from N’Guessan and there were loud appeals for a penalty.
Fortunately for N’Guessan, who’d had his best game in a City shirt to date, the ref didn’t want to know – booking Adam for diving - and seconds later he blew the final whistle amid furious scenes.
This wasn’t City’s problem however. They had won at Bloomfield Road for the first time in 73 years and regained their place in the play-off frame with a fine performance.
Nigel Pearson observed: “We needed to get back to winning ways. If we had a bit of good fortune before the end we were certainly due it.”
Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Eardley, Crainey, Evatt (Demontagnac 74), Southern, Adam, Bannan (Burgess 44), Vaughan, Dobbie, Taylor-Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Edwards, Butler, Euell, Husband, Rachubka.
Leicester: Weale, Brown, Berner, Hobbs, Morrison, King, Oakley, Gallagher (Howard 87), Fryatt, N’Guessan (Bruce 89), Waghorn (Dyer 59). Subs Not Used: Logan, Neilson, McGivern, Verma.
Referee: A Haines (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 8,484.
In November 1991 The FOX went to visit Tony James, hero of the Great Escape, who had recently broken his leg in a game against Wolves…
FOX: Did you realise the historical importance of your goal against Oxford on The Great Escape day?
TJ: It didn’t really hit me at first. We were just looking upon it as a game we had to win. But what a feeling when we did! After the game there was a the Supporters Club Player of the Season do and when I was given the trophy it was too much.
After the presentation I went out with Gary Mills and Steve Walsh and their wives for a meal. I got home at 4am but I couldn’t sleep. At 6.30 I was down the paper shop making sure it hadn’t been a dream.
When the fans came on the pitch I could feel the tears starting. The whole terrible, frustrating season rested on that 90 minutes. I just yelled when the ball hit the roof of the net. David Kelly tried to lay claim to it but I knew it was mine. He would have had to have been a contortionist to get it in from where he was. I think he kicked my foot. All we were really bothered about was winning and cancelling out that season. There was a huge amount of pressure on us during that last week and I know th supporters were really nervous as well. I know how much they would have hated seeing their team go down to the third for the first time ever.
We didn’t appreciate the map of the third division that appeared in the Mercury that week either, you don’t need things like that when you are already a bag of nerves. You need to be told that the fans are right behind you, which of course they were. There was a queue for the toilets in our changing room I can tell you…
Leicester City 0:0 Newcastle United
Despite playing for over an hour with ten men, City held league leaders Newcastle to a 0-0 draw at Filbert Way on Saturday evening…
Nigel Pearson made three changes to his side with Berner, King and Fryatt replacing Powell, N’Guessan and Kermorgant; while new signing Salano had a place on the bench. Almost immediately this looked like an improvement on recent performances, which have produced three consecutive defeats.
City were the better side for most of the first half and their best chance came when great work from Waghorn and Oakley teed up Fryatt with a chance from 12 yards but Harper tipped his drive over the bar.
City then suffered a big blow on the half hour when Wellens was harshly yellow carded for a minimum of contact on Routledge. Unfortunately Wellens had already been booked earlier in the game and he was soon walking down the tunnel with the home fans roaring their disapproval at the ref.
City, however, did not seem to be too affected by their reduction in numbers and Fryatt almost netted the goal of the season when a mazy run down the right saw him beat five Newcastle players before his shot was blocked by Van Aanholt.
Newcastle broke swiftly and Van Aanholt was involved at the other end of the field sending a swerving shot from 18 yards towards the top right hand corner before Weale tipped it away at full stretch.
From the resulting corner a Smith header was then hooked off the line by Berner.
Oakley then broke clear and fired a 25 yard shot straight at Harper, in what was turning into an excellent contest.
The ref sank further in the estimate of the home crowd when he failed to award a free-kick when Taylor almost cut Waghorn in half with a wild challenge, but then booked Berner seconds later when he barely touched Butt.
Half time saw referee Marriner escorted off by stewards and booed to the rafters.
Ten man City continued to press forward in the second half. A Gallagher free-kick deflected off the wall and went narrowly past the left hand upright.
Berner was then lucky not to see red when he went in late on Routledge, for a far worse foul than the one that got him booked.
The Magpies should have gone ahead when Nolan found space between Brown and Weale but sent his header over from six yards. Substitute Ranger then had the ball in the net but the celebrations of the large travelling support were cut short by the linesman’s flag.
City were still creating chances and King fired one effort over the bar after great work by Berner; and then Gallagher latched on to a poor clearance from Harper but sent a weak shot straight at the keeper.
At the other end Brown did well to block a Taylor shot.
Soalno was introduced with five minutes remaining and got a good reception from both sets of fans and one through ball of his almost put Dyer through.
As 0-0 draws go this was good entertainment for a big crowd of just under 30,000, and it indicated that City might be back on track after a below par month.
Leicester: Weale, Brown, Berner, Hobbs, Morrison, King, Oakley, Wellens, Gallagher (Dyer 66), Fryatt (Solano 84), Waghorn (Howard 71). Subs Not Used: Logan, N’Guessan, Neilson, McGivern.
Newcastle: Harper, Williamson, Taylor, Van Aanholt, Coloccini, Routledge, Butt, Guthrie, Nolan (Pancrate 75), Carroll, Smith (Ranger 62). Subs Not Used: Hall, Krul, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Kadar.
Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands). Attendance: 29,067.
Jurgen, a City fan living in Belper, nicked this momento of Leicester’s 4-0 thrashing of Derby in 1998 from outside his local newsagents.
A nice reminder of the day we knocked the pride out of Pride Park…
Barnsley 1:0 Leicester City
City suffered a third consecutive defeat for the first time since Nigel Pearson became manager when they lost 1-0 to Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday night…
Pearson made one change to his side as City attenpted to regain their place in the play-off frame, with 40 year old Chris Powell replacing teenager Ryan McGivern at left-back.
More heat than light was created for the opening half hour, with both teams deperate for a win but lacking composure. The home side had the first clear cut chance when a midfield error allowed Hume in but Brown saved City with a timely challenge.
A minute later the ball was nestling in the Barnsley net but N’Guessan’s effort was judged offside.
N’Guessan had two more chances leading up to the break, but one was fired at Foster, covering for Steele who had ventured out of his goal, and the second saw a far post header from a Gallagher cross going the wrong side of the post.
Although Steele then had to be alert to save a speculative Wellens effort, and then Weale made a good save from a Colace header, the sides went in goalless at the break.
Barnsley began to exert some pressue on Weale’s goal as the second half progressed and the City keeper produced a fine save from a Hamill rocket shot. From the resulting corner both Gallagher and Oakley made goal line clearances as the ball pinged round the goalmouth.
Hume then stabbed a shot wide and Weale saved again from Hamill as the Tykes piled on the pressure.
In the 66th minute Fryatt and Howard came on for Waghorn and Kermorgant, but it was the home side who took the lead ten minutes later.
A Hume corner fell for Shotton, Weale managed to save his shot but the ball fell in the path of Coalce, the Argentinian making no mistake fromn close in to give Barnsley a deserved lead.
Weale made another fine save from a De Silva volley, before City mustered a late rally.
Their final hopes were shattered when a fairly obvious handball from Foster in the area was ignored by the ref with seconds remaining.
Nigel Pearson admitted: “We are having a bit of a difficult time at the moment and we have to get back to basics.”
City now face the challenge of League leaders Newcastle at home on Saturday…
Barnsley: Steele, Kozluk (Moore 17), Foster, Dickinson, Shotton, Doyle, De Silva, Hammill, Colace, Macken (Gray 76), Hume. Subs Not Used: Hallfredsson, Preece, Potter, Butterfield, Adam.
Leicester: Weale, Brown, Powell, Hobbs, Morrison, Oakley, Wellens, Gallagher, N’Guessan (King 73), Kermorgant (Fryatt 66), Waghorn (Howard 66). Subs Not Used: Dyer, Logan, Neilson, McGivern.
Referee: D Webb (Lancashire). Attendance: 12,065.
Leicester and Leeds agreed a fee for Max Gradel over the weekend and he has now moved to Elland Road on a two and a half year contract.
Max went to Leeds on loan in October, making a big impact and scoring three goals, and when he returned to Leicester last week he put in a transfer request, unhappy at the prospect of no longer being involved in first team football.
Max, who joined the Academy in 2006, was a popular figture at Leicester who will forever be remembered for one golden moment in a City shirt last season. City were losing a vital promotion game at MK Dons when, in the sixth minute of injury time Max fired home a long range equaliser from a free-kick, It was a season-turning moment on the way to the League One title.
We’re sorry to see him go and wish Max all the best in the future…
Cardiff City 4:2 Leicester City
A late collapse in time-added-on saw City dumped out of the FA Cup in this fourth round tie at Cardiff, when they had done enough to earn a replay over 90 minutes…
Nigel Pearson made three changes to his side for this second trip to Wales in eight days; with Wellens, N’Guessan and Waghorn in for King, Dyer and Fryatt.
There was a lively start to this cip tie and City had an early chance, when a headed clearance fell nicely for Waghorn but he got under his volley and ballooned the ball thirty yards over the bar.
Ledley then had the ball in the net for the home side but the celebrations were halted by the linesman’s flag.
It was only a temporary reperive for City as the Bluebirds took a 16th minute lead when Chopra crossed from the right and Bothroyd sent an emphatic header past Weale from close in.
City stuck to their task howver, and equalised in the 34th minute. Gallagher lofted a free-kick into the area and an unattended Morrison rose to nod it on past Marshall in Cardiff’s goal.
Five minutes later the City supporters were celebrating again as N’Guessan latched onto a chip forward from Oakley, sandwiched between defender and goalkeeper the City striker beat both, prodding the ball home from close range.
City took that lead in at the break and kept it for most of the second half. Hobbs did well to clear a McCormack free-kick and Weale pulled off a fine save from a vicious Chpra shot.
But they were finally breached in disappointing fashion in the 71st minute when a Whittingham free-kick from wide on the right floated over everyone and in at the far post.
City pressed forward in search of a winner: N’Guessan had claims for a penalty waved away when he was tripped and then Marshall pulled off a fantastic save, blocking a Kermorgant header.
It looked as though City had earned a replay as th e90 minutes were up, but time-added-on brought a sting in the tail.
A shot from the edge of the area hit a Cardiff player and fell into the path of substitute Burke who fired it home from 16 yards.
Worse was to come a minute later as Chopra had his shot blocked by Morrison but McCormack was on hand to net the rebound.
The 4-2 scoreline was harsh on City, who had battled well… at least until the clock read 90.
Cardiff: Marshall, Quinn (Burke 61), Gerrard, Hudson, Kennedy, Whittingham, Ledley, Blake, Chopra, McCormack, Bothroyd. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Taiwo, Meades, Feeney.
Leicester: Weale, Brown, Hobbs, Morrison, McGivern, Oakley, Wellens, Gallagher, N’Guessan, Kermorgant, Waghorn (Fryatt 82). Subs Not Used: King, Powell, Dyer, Logan, Howard, Neilson.
Referee: P Crossley (Kent).
Attendance: 10,961.
After training with the City squad yesterday, veteran Peruvian winger Nolberto Solano today signed a deal that will keep him at Leicester until the end of the season.
’Nobby’ is one of Peru’s most famous sons… he has appeared on a postage stamp, and his wedding was televised live to the nation.
The 35 year old winger first came to England in 1998, when he signed for Newcastle. He then moved to Aston Villa, returned to Newcastle for a spell, and also played for West Ham before returning to Peru in 2009.
Nigel Pearson was assistant manager at St James Park when Solano played for the Magpies, who may be the first opposition for the Peruvian at Filbert Way.
