Leicester City 1:1 Coventry City
City and Coventry shared the points with a 1-1 draw at Filbert Way on Saturday, with Leicester unable to convert possession into goals…
Sven Goran Eriksson reshuffled the side that lost at Cardiff, with Vassell taking Dyer’s place, Abe returning to the midfield, and Burma taking Mee’s place in defence.
City were camped out in Coventry’s half for the opening spell of the game and Yakubu missed two chances to put City ahead during this one-sided start to the game.
But it was the Sky Blues who hit City on the break to take a 14th minute lead. Jutkiewicz beat Van Aanholt down the right and his cut back found King, who fired the ball through Ricardo’s legs from 10 yards.
Yakubu was then denied by a last ditch Wood challenge as looked set to equalise, but King almost made it 2-0 moments later. A long ball undid the City defence far too easily and King did the hard part bringing the ball down and rounding Ricardo before blazing his shot wide.
Gallagher then sent a shot over on a day when City just couldn’t seem to hit the target, and there was another scare when former City winger Bell then delivered a cross and Keogh sent a looping header onto the crossbar over a pedestrian looking Ricardo.
Abe then went close after a storming run through the middle but sent his shot just wide of the right hand upright.
City fans finally had something to cheer about as the first half entered time-added-on.
Naughton made steady progress down the right before arrowing a magnificent drive into the top left hand corner from just inside the area.
City’s dominance continued in the second half and the yellow cards began to mount up for the visitors who were becoming stretched by Naughton’s pace.
City’s best chance of the second half came when Gallagher swung in a cross from the right, Yakubu’s header was parried away by Westwood, and Bamba hit the inside of the left hand post with the goal at his mercy.
Sven brough Dyer on for Gallagher and Waghorn on for Vassell, but still City couldn’t find a way through.
The best chance in the closing stages saw Waghorn teeing up Van Aanholt, but his hurried shot sailed over the bar and into the Family Stand.
Cranie’s dismissal for a second rash challenge came too late to make a difference and when Dyer skied a low Van Aanholt cross over from 6 yards it was clear that this wasn’t our day.
City had to be content with a point when things never quite clicked together.
No one does understated disappointment quite like Sven: “We are disappointed we don’t win games like this. It was a bit like last Tuesday, we played rather good football and created chances. But in these last two games we conceded goals a little too easily for my taste, unfortunately.”
Leicester: Ricardo, Bamba, Naughton, Van Aanholt, Bruma, King, Abe (Oakley 85), Wellens, Yakubu, Gallagher (Dyer 69), Vassell (Waghorn 75). Subs Not Used: Vitor, Weale, Moreno, Mee.
Coventry: Westwood, Keogh, Cranie, Wood, O’Halloran (Clingan 64), Cameron, Bell, Baker (Eastwood 71), Gunnarsson , King, Jutkiewicz. Subs Not Used: Hussey, McSheffrey, Ruffles, Ireland, O’Donovan.
Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire). Attendance: 25,356.
