City successfully negotiated a tricky looking tie with Swindon at Filbert Way on Saturday to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2005.

With Drinkwater and Delfouneso unavailable Pearson stuck with the starting eleven that had won the last two games, and they got off to the perfect start taking a 4th minute lead.
Swindon failed to clear a corner properly and Mills chipped a ball across the area for Beckford to fire home. This had the invaluble effect of silencing Town’s big following and putting Swindon on the back foot.
As the half wore on the League Two side eventually got a foothold  in the game and enjoyed a good spell approaching the break.
Risser tested Schmeichel with a header; Connell skimmed the crossbar with a shot and Ritchie went close after a goalmouth scramble. Just before the half time whistle Schmeichel then turned a Cibocchi free-kick over the bar, but City had weathered the storm.
It was all over for Paolo Di Canio’s side eight minutes after the break when City extended their lead.
Wellens sent Gallagher in down the right and his cross was only cleared as far as Beckford who crashed home his fifth FA Cup goal of the year and his 14th in 16 appearances.
St Ledger, with a header, and Danns with a low shot both went inches wide, while Swindon continued to press forward when they could but produced only a series of wildy hit shots to cap some decent approach play.
Nugent rose like a salmon to meet a Gallagher cross with a downward header but Foderingham brought off a fine save; and then young debutant Hopper found the side-netting after a good run, but City could not summon a third goal.
But thanks to those two Beckford strikes City were in the last sixteen for the first time in seven years…

Leicester: Schmeichel; Peltier, Mills, St Ledger, Konchesky (Kennedy 73), Gallagher, Danns, Wellens, Dyer, Nugent (Hopper 81), Beckford (Howard 65). Unused Subs: Smith, Tunchev, Parkes.
Swindon: Foderingham, Caddis, Devera, McCormack, Cibocchi, Ritchie, Ferry (Thompson 80), Risser, De Vita (Gabilondo 54), Benson, Connell (Murray 60). Unused Subs: P. Smith, Boateng, J. Smith, Magera.

Referee: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire). Attendance: 19,942.

City completed a league double over second placed Southampton with a fine 2-0 win at St Marys on Monday night…
Although City’s line-up was familiar there were new faces Danny Drinkwater and Nathan Delfouneso on the bench, both of whom made an appearance.
City started very brightly, taking the game to the loftily placed Saints, but it was the home side who should have gone ahead in the 12th minute. A hasty back-pass from Danns set former-City striker Connolly up perfectly but his scuffed shot was comfortably fielded by Schmeichel.
Three minute later, City took the lead. A long but precise ball from Mills found Nugent on the left and he cut inside his marker before curling a beauty of a shot beyond the reach of Davis and in at the far post.
The former-Portsmouth man had received plenty of stick from the Saints fans in the opening quarter of an hour and enjoyed his celebrations. 
City continued to put Southampton on the back foot and Nugent went close with a shot across goal as three defenders closed on him.
But City’s loyal band of followers didn’t have long to wait for another goal celebration. In the 26th minute a Gallagher corner from the right saw Dyer sending St Ledger in on the left. Like a seasoned winger he beat Martin and sent over a precise cross for Mills to nod home from 6 yards out.
Southampton mounted a brief revival with Cork and Hammond both missing chances, but City’s two goal lead survived to the break.
Just before half time Drinkwater replaced Gallagher who was struggling with a back injury.
Saints almost pulled a goal back early in the second half, when Hammond got a firm header to a Fox free-kick but Schmeichel added to his portfolio of fantastic saves, clawing the ball out from under the bar.
City went close too, when Konchesky thundered a 25 yard free-kick against the left hand post. ~
Despite the introduction of three subs Nigel Adkins’ side couldn’t dent City’s resolve, with Mills and St Ledger continuing to forge a solid looking partnership in central defence.
Delfouneso replaced Beckford for the final quater hour and went close with an effort after being set up by Wellens. At the other end Saints rarely threatened and the result looked a foregone conclusion long before the final whistle.
It was a superb performance and result rewarding the 600 City fans who travelled to the South Coast. They also got a free scarf, pie and pint, courtesy of the Thais…. cheers!
Although every City player deserved some praise for a great team effort, the first appearance of Drinkwater also looked highly promising. Hopefully this game will be remembered at the start of a revival in City’s league fortunes.

Southampton: Davis, Harding, Martin, Hooiveld (Richardson 65), Fox,Cork, Hammond (Holmes 56), Schneiderlin, Falque (De Ridder 56), Connolly, Do Prado. Unused Subs: Bialkowski, Reeves.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills (c), St. Ledger, Konchesky, Gallagher (Drinkwater 42), Danns, Wellens, Dyer, Beckford (Delfouneso 75), Nugent (Howard 87). Unused Subs: Logan, Kennedy.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire). Attendance: 21,014.

With Andy King possibly set to join Darius Vassell on the list of players that are out for the season City are beginning to look a little short-staffed, bringing more urgency to the January transfer window.
Danny Drinkwater is currently on loan at Barnsley and last Saturday the 21 year old winger provided two precise crosses from the left for Andy Gray to score the two goals that won the game for the Tykes.
Manchester born, he has been with United since the age of 9, and has also had loan spells at Huddersfield, Cardiff and Watford.
His transfer to Leicester is expected to be completed tomorrow.

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We have a special one-off New Years’ offer… subscribe to The Fox fanzine for the 2011-12 season and you will recieve The FOX Summer Special 2011, a free set of four Leicester City postcards, issue 176 with the Andy Lochhead interview, issue 177 with the Andy King interview and issue 178 with the Nigel Pearson interview by return of post.…
And also for a limited time you will recieve all six issues from the 2010-11 season completely free…

Either pay via paypal using the blue button on the right, or send a cheque for £14.50 to:
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City easily hurdled Forest to make it into the 4th Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-0 victory at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night; thanks to a Jermaine Beckford hat-trick…

With Andy King injured Nigel Pearson brought Beckford back to the starting XI and rested Tunchev with St Ledger partnering Mills at the back. 
With City lining up in a more balanced 4-4-2 they immediately looked better than in recent weeks and went for Forest in determined fashion right from the kick-off.
The Forest defence looked to be living on their nerves in the early stages and so it proved in the 7th minute when Dyer drilled in a low cross from the left which Boateng diverted past Camp.
Moments later it should have been 2-0 but a scramble in the Forest goalmouth ended with Nugent rolling the ball along the goal line into Camp’s grateful grasp.

For all City’s dominance Forest should have been on level terms in the 10th minute. A Cunningham cross from the left looked to be dipping under the bar until Schmeichel got a hand to it. The ball fell for Findley, who faced with an open goal from two yards out somehow lifted it over the bar for one of football’s all-time worst misses.
After this reprieve City never looked back. On the half hour Danns fed Peltier down the right and he delivered a fine cross which Camp could only touch on to Beckford, who placed a precise header over Moussi and under the bar. 
With Forest having so little to offer there was already a feeling of game over though Moussi did well to block a goalbound Gallagher shot just before the break.
Five minutes into the second half City sealed their passage into the fourth round in route one fashion. Schmeichel’s huge kick was nodded on by Nugent for Beckford who had sneaked in behind the Forest defence and lifted the ball over the advancing Camp for a cool finish.
Seven minutes later it was 4-0 as Wellens battled with Reid to send beckford through. Although Camp blocked his shot Beckford showed much more urgency than the Forest defence to reach the loose ball and fire into the roof of the net for a well-earned hat-trick. 

From then on it was simply a case of whether City could add to the scoreline. Despite close calls from Danns, Gallagher and Peltier the shivering, but happy, fans had to be content with thumping their local rivals 4-0.
What impact this will have on league form is difficult to tell, as Forest had to be the worst side City have faced all season, but it can’t do any harm to the confidence of Beckford or the side as a whole.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, St Ledger, Konchesky, Gallagher, Danns, Wellens, Dyer (Kennedy 80), Nugent, Beckford (Howard 79). Unused Subs: Weale, Abe, Tunchev, Taft.
Forest: Camp, Gunter, Moussi, Lynch, Cunningham, Findley, Boateng (McGugan 46), Greening (McGoldrick 46), Anderson, Reid, Harewood (Blackstock 81). Unused Subs: Smith, Majewski, Derbyshire, McCleary.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Attendance: 16,210.

Barnsley enjoyed a rare victory while Nigel Pearson was left reflecting on the size of his rebuilding job after City put in an abject performance to lose Saturday’s game at the King Power Stadium…

On a freezing cold afternoon City, with Wellens and Dyer restored to the starting line-up, enjoyed a reasonable start to the game and should have gone a goal ahead after ten minutes when a low Gallagher free-kick was brilliantly saved by Tykes’ keeper Steele who saw it late.
But it was the visitors who took the lead two minutes later. A break upfield led to a simple passing move with Taz Ve and Drinkwater combining to set up a slackly marked Gray who prodded hom,e from close in.
City recovered quickly from this setback with a direct move leading to an equaliser three minutes later. Mills sixty yard long ball out of defence saw Dyer chesting it down on the edge of the area before directing a shot past Steele despite the close attention of two defenders.
City, however, failed to kick on from there. Too many passes went astray on an increasingly frustrating afternoon, which got worse when Barnsley retook the lead ten minutes before the break. 
Again Vaz Te and Drinkwater combined down the left to tee up Gray, this time a header beating Schmeichel from close in with the City defence playing statues again.
The second half did not bring about an improvement. Danns fired a shot over, as did Beckford when he came on as sub. Wellens diverted a Tunchev shot onto the crossbar with his head, which is the closest City came to rescuing a point, and later found the side-netting from an acute angle.
But Barnsley should have increased their lead, firstly when Done’s low shot was well saved by Schmeichel, and again when Vaz Te charged forward late on. Having done the hard part in slicing through Tunchev and Mills like a hot knife through butter, he then tried a bit of showboating, giving Schmeichel the chance to deny him with a fine block.
So 2-1 it remained, though the manner of this defeat was more worrying than the scoreline. City were, quite simply, awful.
Nigel Pearson’s after match comments included the comment that there were “delusions of grandeur” at th eclub. Whether this was referring to players, owners, supporters or all of the above wasn’t made clear, but indicated that the problems run deeper than simply a poor run of form.
Pearson has two weeks to bring in some desperately-needed fresh options before the transfer window shuts.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, Tunchev, Konchesky, Danns, Wellens, King, Gallagher (Beckford 73), Nugent, Dyer. Unused Subs: St Ledger, Weale, Abe, Kennedy.
Barnsley: Steele, Hassell, Foster, McNulty, McEveley, Drinkwater, Addison (Davies 67), Perkins, Vaz Te (Wiseman 90), Gray, Dagnall (Done 61). Unused Subs: Preece, Edwards.
Referee: D Whitestone (Northants). Attendance: 22,116.

City agreed a £2M fee with Doncaster Rovers yesterday opening the way to signing their leading goalscorer Billy Sharp.
But Sharp, who scored both goals in Doncaster 2-1 win over City earlier this season, is also thought to be attracting the interest of Premier League Fulham.
Some Doncaster shareholders are trying to piece together a financial package to keep their prize asset at the Keepmoat Stadium,  but it seems unlikely they would be able to get close to the deal City are offering which has been quoted as something in the region of £5M.
Talks are ongoing with Sharp’s agents.

Another City target, Reading’s Jimmy Kebe, is also being pursued by Wesy Ham who have already had a bid rejected by the Royals. The Mali international’s contract runs out in the summer so it is unlikely that Reading will hold out for long.

City’s £1.5M bid for Hull winger Cameron Stewart has been batted firmly away with Head of Football Operations Adam Pearson, saying: “City were wasting their time in trying to sign Stewart. He is not for sale, end of story. We don’t want to sell Cameron and the player doesn’t want to go, so Leicester are wasting their time.”

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We have a special one-off New Years’ offer… subscribe to The Fox fanzine for the 2011-12 season and you will recieve The FOX Summer Special 2011, a free set of four Leicester City postcards, issue 176 with the Andy Lochhead interview, issue 177 with the Andy King interview and issue 178 with the Nigel Pearson interview by return of post.…
And also for a limited time you will recieve all six issues from the 2010-11 season completely free…

Either pay via paypal using the blue button on the right, or send a cheque for £14.50 to:
The FOX, PO Box No 2, Cosby, Leicester, LE9 1zz.

City and Forest failed to produce a goal in their FA Cup 3rd round tie on an afternoon when decent football was in short supply…

Leicester’s fans were only just outnumbered at the City Ground in an 18,000 crowd in what is, according to Forest supporters, Britain’s closest non-derby, making for a half decent atmosphere.
Nigel Pearson made three changes to his side with regualr full-backs Peltier and Konchesky returning to the side, along with Paul Gallagher.
However, the City boss’s plans had to be revised after just three minutes when Schlupp suffered what looked to be a serious injury after a midfield collision with Greening.
Beckford replaced the youngster, but Forest seized the initiative and were on top for the rest of the half. 
The home side should have taken a 10th minute lead when a penetrating Gunter cross fell for McGugan whose fierce shot from close range was blocked by an incredible save from Schmeichel. Reid looked certain to score from the follow up but Mills threw himself in front of the shot to maintain City’s clean sheet.
Three minutes later Schmeichel came to the rescue again when Reid broke clear on goal, but the Dane raced out of his goal swiftly to smother his effort.
Chances for City were rare in the first half, though Nugent hit the top of the crossbar with a header, and then sent a lobbed effort just wide of the right hand post with Camp stranded.

The second half was a different matter, with City producing half a dozen decent chances, at the end where their supporters were crammed into the Bridgford Stand, but unable to convert any of them.
Ten minutes into the second half Gallagher had the chance to make up for a poor performance when Abe found him in some space, but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Soon afterwards he sent another, more difficult, attempt into the side netting.
A fierce Konchesky effort was then deflected wide before Mills sent a header from a corner straight at Camp. 
With Dyer and Wellens on for Abe and Gallagher City were reinvigorated but still couldn’t alter the scoreboard, Beckford spooning a shot over after a decent exchange with Dyer.
They saved the best chance until last – Nugent getting a firm header to Danns cross, but Camp produced a save to equal Schmiechel’s first half wonder. The rebound fell for Dyer who somehow smashed it over the bar from 5 yards out when he had time to place it.
City had deserved more on their second half showing, but had to be content with a replay after another frustrating afternoon by the Trent.
Forest: Camp, Gunter, Chambers, Lynch, Freeman; McCleary (Anderson 82), Greening, Moussi, McGugan, Reid (Harewood 66), Tudgay (Blackstock 78). Unused Subs: Boateng, Derbyshire, Smith, Makewski.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, Tunchev, Konchesky, King, Abe (Wellens 60), Danns, Gallagher (Dyer 60), Nugent, Schlupp (Beckford 5). Unused Subs: Moussa, Weale, Kennedy, Taft.
Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 18,477.

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Nigel Pearson shuffled his pack for the trip to Selhurst Park and produced a winning start to 2012…
No one could have predicted Pearson’s line-up to face Palace with full-backs Peltier and Konchesky out in favour of Liam Moore and Tom Kennedy who had just returned from loans spells with Bradford and Peterborough. They performed the wing-back roles with Tunchev brought back alongside Mills and Bamba in a 3-5-2.
In midfield former-Eagle Danns replaced Wellens and he was to have a big influence on the afternoon’s proceedings.
After a slightly shaky start for the new look City defence, which saw Garvan uncomfortably close to Schmeichel’s goal, City began to gain some ground. Bamba went close with a header from a Danns corner and then the ex-Palace man put City ahead in the 18th minute thanks to a gift from Palace keeper Price.
Price’s quickly taken kick struck the back of Murray and fell for Danns on the left who cut inside Clyne before curling a fine shot into the net. He followed this with the fashionable ‘muted-celebration’ against a former-club. You play for us now… CELEBRATE!
1,255 visiting fans were celebrating again in the 37th minute when City extended their lead after resisiting a spell of home pressure. Keinan fouled the pacy Schlupp and Danns delivered a good free-kick which was nodded on by Nugent for Bamba to bundle home at the far post.
City fans were allowing themselves to contemplate the possibility of being only the second side to take 3 points from Selhurst Park this season, when Palace struck back four minutes before the break.
Good work from Garvan set up a chance for Parr who beat Schmeichel with a fine finish.
It could have been worse for City with Schmeichel saving from Murray just before the half-time whistle.
The second half saw another change-round for City, with Dyer on for Tunchev and a reversion to 4-4-2.
Palace did most of the attacking in search of an equaliser, but City stood firm. Murray, Garvan and Zaha all went close but couldn’t find a way through a determined City rearguard.
Beckford and Howard were introduced for the last 15 minutes but Howard’s contribution consisted of telling the linesman something that earned him an straight red card.
Ten man City held out for a very welcome three points, ensuring a Happy New Year, and perhaps showing that Nigel Pearson does have a Plan B after all.

Palace: Price, Clyne, Keinan, Ramage, Parr, O’Keefe (Ambrose 55), Jedinak, Garvan, Zaha, Murray (Easter 73), Scannell (Martin 72). Unused Subs: Fitzsimons, Dikgacoi.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Mills, Bamba, Tunchev (Dyer 46), Moore, King, Abe, Danns, Kennedy, Schlupp (Beckford 76), Nugent (Howard 75). Unused subs: Gallagher, Weale.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight). Attendance: 14,460.

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Subscribe to The Fox fanzine for the 2011-12 season and you will recieve The FOX Summer Special 2011, a free set of four Leicester City postcards, issue 176 with the Andy Lochhead interview, issue 177 with the Andy King interview and issue 178 with the Nigel Pearson interview by return of post.…

Either pay via paypal using the blue button on the right, or send a cheque for £14.50 to:
The FOX, PO Box No 2, Cosby, Leicester, LE9 1zz.

City once again fell below expectations at the KP Stadium with a performance that was not enough to wrestle all three points from a hard working and strong Pompey side.

Nigel Pearson shuffled his pack again as he seeks the elusive win over the holiday period and Beckford and Dyer made way for Schlupp and King with the former clearly relishing his first league start with a lively display. Both sides started cautiously and neither keeper was troubled early on with Schlupp coming closest after a good run and low shot just wide but it was Pompey who got their noses in front on twenty minutes following a deep cross to the far post from Norris who found Futacs. The Hungarian had time to chest the ball down and lash the ball past Schmeichel from close in. It was a soft goal to concede but City hit back with three minutes when Nugent rose to meet a Gallagher free kick and planted a perfect header past Henderson.

After this tit-for-tat exchange of goals it was Pompey who looked more threatening and City were struggling to cope with the constant aerial threat that they posed and after Schmeichel failed to collect a Ward cross, Greg Halford headed against the post of the unguarded net. City almost imploded again a few minutes later when Sol Bamba rescued Schmeichel after Liam Lawrence beat the blond ‘keeper to a loose ball but was unable to finish. It was Keystone Kops stuff at the back and City were struggling to put anything together at the other end with the end product simply not good enough whenever they ventured forward. They did, however, come closest to taking the lead just before half time when Wellens set up Abe who had a thumping shot beaten away as far as Schlupp who was unable to convert the rebound as his shot was smothered.

The second half was a mediocre affair with both sides enjoying spells of possession but City were never able to assert themselves and build a decent head of steam and create genuine pressure. Only in the later stages of the game did City look likely to snatch a winner when substitute Jermaine Beckford forced a good save from Henderson and then had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Beckford appeared to be tripped by Joe Mattock when clean through on the angle. The crowd’s frustration was clear at the final whistle and yet another home match has gone by without three points and 6 wins from 13 home fixtures is not play-off form and neither is the 3 points out of 15 that City have picked up in December. Nigel Pearson has voiced his own frustration at the recent performances and has promised changes in the January transfer window that will improve results. As it stands at the end of 2011 City are seven points off of the last play-off spot and a season that promised so much is in danger of being over too soon unless there is a change of fortunes soon. Only Nigel Pearson and his under-performing players can deliver that. Happy New Year!

City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills (c), Bamba, Konchesky, King, Abe, Wellens (Danns 72), Schlupp (Dyer 86), Nugent (Beckford 72), Gallagher.Unused subs: Howard, Weale.

Portsmouth: Henderson,  Mokoena, Halford, Pearce, Mattock, Ward, Norris, Mullins, Lawrence (c), Kitson, Futacs.Unused subs: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Huseklepp, Williams, Benjani.

Attendance: 25,356 (568 away) Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear)