Leicester keep Wolves from the door and retain second place

Leicester City 2:1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

City eventually overcame stubborn opposition and some frustrating refereeing to beat Wolves 2-1 at the KPS on Thursday night…

Despite fears that he wouldn’t be fit Knockaert made the starting line-up and was a constant thorn in Wolves’ side., often trying to weave his way through the gold shirted defence.
Wood then controlled a long ball on his chest  before sending a dipping 25 yard volley inches over the bar.  Marshall was the next to have a crack, testing Ikeme with a long-range effort that the former City keeper gathered at the second attempt.
City took a well deserved lead in the 24 minute when Schmeichel picked out Knockaert on the right and he worked his way through the defence towards goal before firing home from close in, making it look all so easy.
There were a few gaps in City’s defence however and during one sequence Sigurdarson and Ebanks-Blake both had attempts on goal.
But City should have gone in 2-0 up at the break when a Nugent dummy set Marshall up with a clear sight of goal but he fired over.

This miss looked more damaging 6 minutes into the second half when Doumbia set Sako up for a sweetly struck 20 yarder that arrowed past Scmeichel.
City almost conjured up an instant response when De Laet delivered a low cross from the right but Wood didn’t get a clean contact from 12 yards out and the ball went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Wolves enjoyed their best spell of the game after this and looked the more likely winners for a while, until City regained the lead in the 73rd minute thanks to a bit of Nugent magic. There appeared to be little danger to Wolves when Nugent collected the ball on the left, but he continued on a run across the field until the goal came within his sights and he produced a superb finish to curl the ball round Ikeme and find the net.
Wolves had one chance to equalise in the closing stages but Ebanks-Blake could only find the outside of the post with a good chance and City had a precious three points in the bank ahead of the weekend’s action.

There is, inevitably, growing talk of promotion among City fans but Nigel Pearson urged caution: “I think going into this crucial part of the season, it’s not easy, and we’ve managed to start the New Year well, but there’s a long way to go and it still remains very, very tight. I don’t think it’s prudent to make assumptions that we’ve cracked it because there’s a long way to go.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, Knockaert (Vardy 76), King, Drinkwater, Marshall (Dyer 69), Wood, Nugent (Waghorn 90) Subs Not Used: Logan, Gallagher, Wellens, Futacs.
Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Batth, Berra, Ward, Doumbia (Davis 82), Henry (Edwards 81), O’Hara, Sako, Sigurdarson (Peszko 77), Ebanks-Blake. Subs not used: De Vries, Doyle, Margreitter, Cassidy.

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire). Attendance: 21,677. 

A Right Royal Thumping…

Reading 3:1 Leicester City

It was déjà vu for City at the Mad Stad as they ran headlong in to a Reading side that comfortably notched up their eighth successive win in a manner identical to twelve months previously, the last time City played at Reading.

Nigel Pearson made just one change from the side that lost so disappointingly at Bristol City with Drinkwater replacing Marshall but they were soon on the back foot as the Royals laid siege to City’s goal. In one frantic spell Schmeichel dived low to keep out Hunt’s shot and then Morgan and St Ledger both headed off the line in the space of a few seconds as City somehow survived.
It wasn’t long before the home side had the advantage when McAnuff laid the ball in to the path of the onrushing Leigertwood who drove the ball handsomely past Schmeichel and in to the top corner from twenty yards.
City had little to offer in response and were unable to keep the ball as Reading owned the midfield and continued to play most of their football in City’s half. Half time arrived to City’s relief and gave them a chance to regroup but, surprisingly, Nigel Pearson chose to replace Beckford with Howard and Kennedy with Bamba, with St Ledger moving to left back.
The visitors began the second half with more purpose and were able to put some pressure on the Royals’ defence but despite this pressure there was little in the way of a serious threat to Federici’s goal.
Nugent worked hard and created a couple of shots that both went wide and the end product was lacking. Despite City’s possession and pressure it was Reading who continued to look the more dangerous side with real pace on the break that eventually brought reward in the 75^th  minute when Hunt’s cross was met by Roberts from six yards and he side-footed home to give Reading some breathing space.
This was the cue for the home fans to sing “Where the f**k is Matty Mills?” and this was followed up soon after with “You could have had him for a tenner”.
In the final minute Reading added a third and once again Hunt was the provider from the right wing as his cross was headed home at the far post by Church.
There was just time for Danns to add a consolation as City fans headed for the exits and he had time to control a loose ball before he drove low in to the corner from ten yards.

So Reading continue their march up the league and City fans are left to contemplate a second defeat on the road in the space of five days and an infuriating inconsistency. City were second best all over the park today against a side that was confident and has now beaten City five times in a row. Reading aren’t blessed with a highly talented side but what they have is pace and a phenomenal work ethic which City couldn’t handle.
It serves as a reminder (as if it were needed) that Nigel Pearson’s side still has a long way to go.

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, McAnuff, Karacan, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Hunt, Roberts (Church 84). Unused Subs: Tabb, Le Fondre, Andersen, Cywka.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St Ledger, Kennedy (Bamba 46), Drinkwater (Gallagher 74), Danns, Wellens, Dyer, Beckford (Howard 46), Nugent. Unused Subs: Marshall, Schlupp.

Referee: B Madley (West Yorkshire). Attendance: 21,858.

City Edged out at Loftus Road – or – Ish Miller We Will Not Let You Go.

Queens Park Rangers 1:0 Leicester City

City matched the league’s best side for 87 minutes on Saturday, before QPR sub Ishmael Miller struck a late winner to put QPR another stride towards the Premier League…

Sven Goran Eriksson made two changes to his side for this eagerly awaited clash with the league leaders, Mee replacing the injured Van Aanholt at left back and Oakley coming into the midfield in place of Gallagher.
Roared on by 3,200 visiting fans City enjoyed a bright start, Vassell setting up Yakubu in the box before the Nigerian was shoved over by Hall, who escaped punishment from the ref.
At the other end, Mee, Bamba and Burma looked solid dealing with the considerable threat of Taarabt. 
In a tight encounter the first good save came from Ricardo on 27 minutes when he blocked a fierce shot from Helgusson with his right foot.
Rangers went close again when a rare piece of slack marking allowed Hall an overhead kick, which sailed over the bar.
At the other end Yakubu broke down the left and attempted a lob over Kenny which the R’s keeper tipped over at full stretch. From the resulting corner the ball fell for Yakubu whose half volley flew a couple of inches over the bar.
Yakubu then chested a ball into King’s path but the youngster couldn’t summon his usual accuracy.
The 0-0 scoreline at half time reflected what had been an even contest between two of the league’s best sides.
Rangers had the best of the early stages of the first half with Ricardo doing well to parry a well struck Buzsaky shot at his near post, Helgusson heading over from a Taarabt free-kick; and Routledge firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Sven brought Waghorn on for Vassell on the hour and although he battled well to create two good chances for himself, he couldn’t get either on target.
The first saw him in a chase on goal with Connolly, who he robbed of possession before lifting his shot just over. 
King then hit the bar with a header from a Yakubu lob and Abe fired over from 25 yards.
As City’s fine spell contiinued Waghorn’s deft touch presented him with a chance from 8 yards before two defenders dived in to smother the opportunity.
Miller than came on for Taarabt with four minutes left and gave City an instant lesson in taking your chances…
Latching on to a through ball from Routledge, Miller’s fresh legs kept him ahead of Bamba and the West Brom loanee slotted the ball past the advancing Ricardo to win the game for the home side.
It was hard to accept that City had earned nothing from a very good display, and suddenly the task of reaching the play-off places looked that much harder.
Neil Warnock described it as: “A fabulous game between two cracking sides..” and for once it was hard to argue with him.
Sven looked a little down, saying: “It’s hard to lose a football match like that, but we’ll come back, still eleven to go.”

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Orr, Hall (Connolly 31), Shittu, Routledge, Derry, Buzsaky (Ephraim 89), Taarabt (Miller 86), Faurlin, Helguson. Subs Not Used: Smith, Cerny, Vaagen Moen, Hulse.   
Leicester: Ricardo, Bamba , Naughton, Mee, Bruma, King (Gallagher 79), Oakley, Abe, Wellens, Yakubu (Dyer 86), Vassell (Waghorn 65). Subs Not Used: Vitor, Weale, Berner, Moreno.

 Referee: R East (Wiltshire). Attendance:18,068.

Guide to the Championship

Here is the FOX Guide to the Championship from the 2007 Summer Special…

Can you name all 24 clubs?

Best Advert Ever…

Adverts don’t usually get football fans right at all, but this Aviva Insurance ad featuring Plymouth Argyle fans travelling to Newcastle is wonderful in every way.  “Newcastle away today, I mean that’s a long old poke annit?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuVGST_1gE&NR=1

Paul Whitehouse’s Green Army driver is right up there with any of his creations. If we all promise to take out Aviva insurance do you think they would do an ad for each club in the Championship?

“GET ON, YOU JAANNER!”