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 Can’t Shake off the Blues

Leicester City 2:2 Birmingham City

Nigel Pearson made two changes to the starting XI that drew at Brighton with De Laet in for Moore and Wood replacing Marshall.
In front of a large crowd for a televised game City had the first attempt on goal in the 12th minute, when Nugent forced a save from Butland with a 25 yarder.
James delivered the resulting corner from the right and former-Fox Davies, trying to get ahead of Morgan, nodded past his own keeper to put City ahead. It was a stroke of luck for a City side who hadn’t had the breaks lately and Schlupp should have added to the score in the 20th minute
after a Blues defensive error but he was twice denied by Butland.
Soon after Keane got his head to another James corner, but sent it narrowly over the bar.
King then wasted a good chance firing an effort straight at Butland, while for the Blues’ (wearing highlighter pen pink)  the lively Redmond kept  Schmeichel on his toes with a couple of smartly struck efforts.
Nugent then screwed a chance wide, before Wood fired a free-kick into the wall.

More chances came City’s way early in the second half but Schlupp sent one shot wide and then was denied by a Davies block.
In an entertaining end to end game Elliott then send a shot narrowly wide of Schmeichel’s goal.
The feeling that City might regret all those missed opportunities came to fruition on the hour when a clever Caddis move unzipped City’s defence and left Zigic with an easy tap in from six yards.
More chances came and went, Schlupp hit the post  and was then sent through on goal by King, but Robinson denied him with a brilliant recovering tackle.
Dyer came on for Drinkwater in the 68th minute as City threw everything forward and they regained the lead with fifteen minutes remaining. Again it came from a James corner from the right and  Schlupp rose like a salmon to nod a header under the bar from close in.
Sadly this did not prove to be the winner.
In the last minute Nugent carved a path through his own defence before conceding possession to Thomas and then tripping him on the edge of the  area. Referee Mick Russell judged that it was inside the box and Burke slammed it home despite Schmeichel getting close.

Any lingering play-off hopes have now surely been dispersed…

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater (Dyer 68), Morgan, King, Keane, James, Schlupp, Nugent, Wood (Kane 87). Unused Subs: Marshall, Vardy, Logan, Moore, Knockaert.
Birmingham: Butland, Davies, Morrison, Gomis, Elliott (Thomas 76), Zigic, Redmond, Hancox, Caddis, Robinson, Ferguson (Burke 82). Unused Subs: Caldwell, Mullins, Lovenkrands, Doyle, Reilly.
Referee: Mick Russell (Herts). Attendance: 25,554

Late Keane Goal Rescues a Point Against Leeds

Leicester City 1:1 Leeds United

City rescued a point from a poor performance against Leeds at the KPS on Tuesday night when Michael Keane nodded home an equaliser deep into time added on.

Nigel Pearson made one change to his side with Nugent returning in place of Marshall giving City’s line-up an attacking look.
It was a tight first half that eventually turned into a stalemate with few chances at either end.
City’s best chance came when Kenny failed to hold a 25 yarder from Kane, but the ball just eluded the onrushing Nugent.
Kenny then made amends tipping Wood’s shot over and then clawing away a curling Knockaert effort that was heading for the top right hand corner.
The second half saw an enforced change with Dyer replacing Konchesky at left back, and a disjointed and frustrating performance from City.
Leeds went ahead in the 52nd minute when McCormack’s corner from the left fell nicely for Byram at the far post.
And the visitors almost doubled their lead soon after when Lees headed a corner narrowly over; and McCormack forced a flying save from Schmeichel with a well-struck 25 yarder.
Marshall then came on for Knockaert as City attempted to fight their way back.
But nothing was going right for them, passes were going astray and then Wood watched his on-target shot deflected wide by a grounded Nugent, which just about summed up the frustration.
City managed to build up a spell of pressure in the four minutes of time added on, with Schmeichel coming up for the corners and throwing himself around the Leeds penalty area like a man possessed, he set up King for an overhead kick saved by Kenny.
Kane then went down in th ebox but loud penalty claims were ignored, before King had a header saved.
With the atmosphere turning manic Waghorn’s corner from the right was met by Keane at the far post for a late, late equaliser.

A late goal couldn’t mask another poor performance and Nigel Pearson was involved in a brief altercation with a couple of supporters as the teams made their way off the field. His post-match comments revealed that he might be feeling the pressure of City’s haul of 5 points from the last 18, suggesting that if some fans didn’t like it, they shouldn’t come..

Next Saturday brings an afternoon game at last,  and it needs to see a return to winning ways.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Keane, Morgan, Konchesky (Dyer 46), Drinkwater, King, Knockaert (Marshall 60), Nugent (Waghorn 81), Kane, Wood. Subs Not Used: Logan, Whitbread, Gallagher, Wellens. 
Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Peltier, Lees, Warnock, Green, Tonge, Norris, Varney, Morison, McCormack (Pearce 90). Subs Not Used: Ashdown, White, Brown, Diouf, Habibou, Hall

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 22,660. 

Leicester Head Back up the Table

Leicester City 3:0 Blackburn Rovers

Three headed goals and a wonder save from Kasper Schmeichel restored City to winning ways at the KPS on Tuesday night…

Nigel Pearson made one change from the Blackpool game with Nugent’s neck injury ruling him out in favour of Knockaert; while the home crowd got a first look at Kane.
City got off to their usual decent start, with Kane’s low shot being tipped round the right hand post by Kean, Then King went very close with a header, before Knockaert had a fierce shot saved by Kean and Drinkwater fired a long-ranger inches over.
For all City’s dominance they were lucky not to go behind in the 25th minute when a Pedersen shot was deflected only for Schmeichel to produce a world class save to deny Rovers.
Soon after this a Marshall corner was nodded on by Keane to Wood. His athletic effort was blocked to Keane who missed the target.
However, any thoughts that it might be ‘one of those nights’ were dismissed on the half hour when Wood headed home from a Marshall cross for his ninth City goal, preserving his goal a game ratio.
Three minutes before the break City doubled their lead when Kane battled his way through the defence to get a close range header to a Marshall corner, and it already felt like the game was won with  DJ Campbell & Co getting no change from Wes Morgan and his defence.

The second half turned into something of a procession. Appleton shuffled his pack to little effect bringing on three subs, and City were restricted to fewer chances, Marshall and Kane sending in off target efforts.
The 75th minute introduction of Dyer for Knockaert pepped things up a bit but when his speed took him clear of the defence he fired his shot straight at the advancing Kean.
City finally added to their goals tally in injury time when a Waghorn corner from the right was nodded home by King to wrap up a decent display and very welcome three points.

Nigel Pearson was happy: “We defended well as a team, moved the ball really well, scored three headed goals and did our goal difference the world of good.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Keane, Morgan, Konchesky, Marshall, Drinkwater, King, Knockaert (Dyer 75), Kane (Vardy 83), Wood (Waghorn 87). Subs Not Used: Logan, Whitbread, Gallagher, Wellens.  
Blackburn: Kean, Orr, Dann, Rekik (Henley 46), Hanley, Lowe, Pedersen (Olsson 46), Murphy, Bentley, Campbell, Rhodes (Nuno Gomes 72). Subs Not Used: Sandomierski, Givet, Morris, Goodwillie

Referee: Geoff Eltringham. Attendance: 19,561. 

 

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. 

Fans lose out as Leicester beat Boro and the weather

Leicester City 1:0 Middlesbrough

City’s insistence on playing this fixture despite the conditions, no doubt with Sky TV in their ear, meant that thousands of City fans missed out on seeing their club beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the KPS on Friday night…

City had declared their intentions early on saying the game would definitely be going ahead despite a whole day’s snow being forecast, and duly arriving. Gridlock across the city in the afternoon and evening meant that many people didn’t get home in time to set off for the game and some 15,000 didn’t make it, despite the delayed kick-off time due to Middlesbrough taking two hours to make a short journey from their hotel.

City, unchanged from the win at Bristol City, had the first chance of the game when Marshall’s effort brought a comfortable save from Steele. Boro soon had a chance of their own but McDonald blasted over from close range.
Nugent then tested Steele with a near post shot after a run down the right; before Knockaert cleared the goal frame of snow managing to strike both crossbar and right hand post with a dipping shot.
McDonald forced Schmeichel ito a save with a well struck shot from distance and the Dane was in action again saving from Bikey’s close-range header.
City twice threatened to take the lead just before the break but Nugent’s shot was saved by Steele, and then Keane’s header from a precise Wood chip sent the crossbar rattling again.

Ten minutes into the second half City struck the woodwork yet again, Konchesky’s cross headed against the foot of the left hand upright by Wood.

Nugent then found the net, turning De Laet’s cross beyond Steele, but the linesman’s flag signalled what must have been a very tight decision in Boro’s favour.
But City finally made the breakthrough with 20 minutes remaining. A fantastic lofted ball from Wood teed up Nugent for an even better finish past Steele to give City a precious lead.
Soon after a chance to clinch the points was lost when Nugent netted again only to be denied by the linesman’s flag for a second time. This time it looked like the correct decision.
Dyer, King and Vardy were all introduced into the action as City attempted to run the clock down without any drama, but that is exactly what happened as the game entered injury time.  Williams made the most of a clumsy Vardy challenge in the area and Roger East handed the visitors a life-line, pointing to the spot.
Fortunately for City, Schmeichel got down well to Emnes’ spot kick, to produce a fantastic save.

Three precious points, but a shame that some many City fans were denied the chance to experience it first hand.
Nigel Pearson commented on City’s lofty position: “It feels great to be second in the league. The players applied themselves well tonight. In the second half we pushed the full-backs forward more and took more chances going forward. I think we had the better chances and it was a good game.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, Knockaert (Dyer 76), James, Drinkwater, Marshall (King 81), Nugent (Vardy 83), Wood. Unused Subs: Logan, Waghorn, Gallagher, Moore.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte (Thomson 21), Hines, Bikey, Friend, Williams, Leadbitter, Haroun, Ledesma, McEachran (Emnes 69), McDonald (Jutkiewicz 72). Unused Subs: Ripley, Reach, Bailey, Smallwood.

 

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire). Attendance: 8,585

 

City Hit Ipswich for Six

Leicester City 6:0 Ipswich Town

A rampant City recorded their biggest winning margin since 1982 over a poor Ipswich side at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon…

City hit their stride straight away against Mick McCarthy’s fragile looking side and they were ahead by the 7th minute. Dyer’s sprint down the left ended with him being brought down by Town keeper Henderson and Nugent confidently planted the spot-kick home.
It was all City, and ten minutes later Nugent doubled the lead. Waghorn had cut in from the right and his curling left-footed effort was saved by Henderson but fell perfectly into Nugent’s path and he didn’t have to break stride to chest it into an empty net.
By the 27th minute it was already beginning to look like a damage limitation exercise for the visitors as Dyer hared down the left again, and outstripped the Ipswich defence before beating Henderson with a low shot.
At this point Nugent, still suffering the effects of a neck injury from last week, was replaced by Vardy.
This didn’t stop the flow of goals, however. Just before the break the Town defence again failed to cope with a Dyer run down the left and he squared for an unmarked Knockaert to sidefoot home from 12 yards.

The second half saw Waghorn, desperate for a goal, head a Dyer cross against the post, but he didn’t have long to wait.
In the 53rd minute a clever through ball from King teed up Waghorn for a curling effort beyond Henderson’s reach. Every outfield player joined Waghorn’s celebrations in the back of the net for a hugely deserved goal.
City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for the rest of the game, and Vardy was denied by a good Henderson block.
But City broke the scoring record since the move from Filbert Street in the 82nd minute.
Dyer again was the creator, this time running through the middle before finding substitute Futacs who slotted home through a crowded area.
It was City’s highest winning margin since a 6-0 win over Carlisle in 1982, and put Nigel Pearson’s side firmly back on track after four games without a win…

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Schlupp, Knockaert (Marshall 64), King, Drinkwater, Dyer, Nugent (Vardy 30), Waghorn (Futacs 74). Unused Subs: Logan, James, Moore, Lingard.

Ipswich: Henderson, Orr, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell, Edwards, N’Daw (Hyam 58), Reo-Coker, Martin, Campbell (Chopra 78), Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 58). Unused Subs: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Smith, Bilel.

 

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Attendance: 20,779 (990 away)

 

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City Overcome Non-Vintage Clarets…

Leicester City 2:1 Burnley City made hard work of beating an average-looking Burnley side, but got there in the end with a 2-1 win at the KPS on Wednesday night… Nigel Pearson made three changes to the side that lost at Wolves with St Ledger, Knockeart and James in for Moore, Dyer and King. Having made all the early running in front of a sparse crowd City fell behind to Burnley’s first attempt on goal in the 10th minute. Paterson’s cut back was fired home by Marney, who actually managed to break the goal-rigging, the restart being held up by a couple of minutes. City’s response didn’t overly trouble the visitors. Marshall and Knockeart forced Grant into regulations saves from distance, and Nugent got a little closer with his effort skimming the crossbar. Otherwise it was a poor half for City and they were resoundingly booed off at the half time whistle. Things improved in the second half with Knockeart given a roaming brief, and City quickly equalised. A throw from Marshall saw Vardy tee up Nugent  who found the net with an untidy finish. Having waited eleven games for his 100th career goal, he didn’t care. Ten minutes later City went ahead, although again it wasn’t the crispest connection.
Vardy ran onto a ball down the right from Knockeart and fired in a shot which took a deflection off Shackell that carried the ball over Grant and in at the far post.
City failed to find a third that would have made life more comfortable, with Marshall, and subs Waghorn and Dyer all wasting chances, and a late Burnley revival almost brought them a point. But Shackell hit the post and Schmeichel pulled off a fine save to deny Vokes.
The final whistle saw City’s 100% record at home still intact and a rise up the table to one point away from the play-off positions.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, St Ledger, Konchesky, Knockaert, Drinkwater, James, Marshall (Dyer 75), Nugent (Futacs 89), Vardy (Waghorn 75). Unused Subs: Whitbread, Danns, Logan, Beckford.

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Edgar, Shackell, Mills (Wallace 75), Marney, Stock (Mee 61), McCann, Stanislas, Paterson (Vokes 61), Stewart. Unused Subs: Jensen, O’Neill, Bartley, Hewitt.

  

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire). Attendance: 18,480.

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Reshuffled Leicester beat League Leaders Blackpool

Leicester City 1:0 Blackpool

City went into the international break with a much-needed win after defeating league-leaders Blackpool at the KPS on Saturday evening.

Nigel Pearson had an early problem to deal with against an Ian Holloway side with maximum points from their opening three games.  De Laet injured himself in the pre-match warm-up, which saw St Ledger promoted from the bench and Waghorn dragged away from his pre-match meal.

City dominated the game for much of the first half.
Vardy broke through early on but placed his shot too close to keeper Gilks, and then Gilks had to be alert to keep out a low shot from Marshall.
Dyer also flashed a shot over the bar when well placed.
Gilks then tipped a Marshall free-kick round his left hand upright at full stretch.
Late in the half Blackpool managed to get their passing game together and created a few chances. Taylor-Fletcher sent a long-ranger narrowly over the bar; Ince scuffed a weak effort when well placed; and then Ferguson sent a thumping volley against the right hand post.

But City regained their ascendancy in the second half. They built up a head of steam and a series of penalty claims led to increasing pressure on referee Michael Jones from a raucous crowd.
Vardy appeared to have been shoved over in the box but Jones waved play on. Then Dyer had his legs hooked from underneath him when about to shoot for a much stronger claim. King had the ball in the net, but Nugent was judged offside. So when Vardy ran across Gomes and got his foot trodden on in the 54th minute the roars for a penalty seemingly could not be ignored.
Although Gilks guessed right Marshall’s spot-kick was firmly struck home to give City the lead.
City had some defending to do after that. Schmeichel saved from Phillips and Ince had a chance before Nigel Pearson re-shuffled a pack short on defenders.
St Ledger was replaced by striker Schlupp who went to left-back, Konchesky moved to centre-half and Moore to right-back.
Although there appeared to be confusion in the City ranks for a while they managed to settle, and Dyer should have doubled the lead when his point blank shot on goal hit Baptiste.

Blackpool had an attacking spell late on but City’s makeshift defence, marshalled by an immense performance from Morgan, held out fairly comfortably for a vital win.

Nigel Pearson was happy: “I think the tempo of our game was very good, we dominated possession and we didn’t allow them to settle. Blackpool are a good footballing side and if you give them too much time on the ball they can hurt you, so the tempo was always going to be important. In general we were very positive in how we dealt with a side that have started the season very well.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, St Ledger (Schlupp 63), Morgan, Moore, Konchesky, Marshall (Knockaert 68), King, Drinkwater, Dyer (Beckford 77), Nugent, Vardy. Unused Subs: Logan, Waghorn, James, Futacs.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Baptiste, Cathcart, Crainey, Osbourne, Ferguson (K Phillips 71), Gomes (M Phillips 57), Ince, Dicko (Delfouneso 66), Taylor-Fletcher. Unused Subs: Halstead, Harris, Angel, Sylvestre.

 

Referee; Michael Jones (Cheshire). Attendance: 18,655 (558 away).

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