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 Gather Points at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 1:2 Leicester City

City came from behind to claim a late victory against Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday…

Nigel Pearson sent out an unchanged side against Boro, who had a 100% record at home this season.  City started brightly with Vardy having an effort cleared by Woodgate and Bikey then had to deflect a Nugent shot over the bar.
At the other end Bailey went close with a shot across goal.
City had to make a change in the 28th minute when De Laet limped off for Moore, and then Nugent missed the best chance of the half, sending Konchesy’s cut-back wide.
Just before the break a great challenge from Morgan halted Friend’s mazy run into the box.
If City could be satisfied with their fist half performance the away jinx struck again just five minutes after the break when Bailey had too much time and space to line up a 30 yard rocket.
Things nearly got worse when Jutkiewicz slid in to hit the post a couple of minutes later, before Nigel Pearson shuffled his pack and brought on King and Dyer for James and Marshall.
This soon brought it’s reward, as City hit back with a 62nd minute equaliser. A Nugent shot was blocked and Vardy pounced on the rebound to level the game.
City were on top now and Boro keeper pulled off two fantastic saves to deny King and St Ledger.
Ledesma then hit a shot straight at Schmeichel when well placed in a rare home attack.
It was City who found that something extra in the tank in the 89th minute when Knockaert sent Dyer in and the winger’s shot took a deflection that carried it over Steele and into the net, much to the delight of 1,000 travelling supporters.
City’s first points on the road move them up to fifth place, just a point behind leaders Brighton, City’s strongest start going into October since the 2002-03 promotion season…

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Woodgate (Hines 37), Bikey, Friend, McEachran, Leadbitter, Thomson (Ledesma 66), Bailey, Zemmama (Williams 63), Jutkiewicz. Unused Subs: Leutwiler, Arca, Smallwood, Haroun.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 28), Morgan, St Ledger, Konchesky, James (King 56), Drinkwater, Vardy, Knockaert, Marshall (Dyer 61), Nugent. Unused Subs: Logan, Whitbread, Waghorn, Futacs.

 

Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire). Attendance: 15,679.

 

…to subscribe to The FOX for the 2012-13 season via Paypal and receive your Summer Special and free set of City postcards by return of post, press this blue button… 

Alternatively you could print off and fill in this form…

City Rescue a Point as Pearson Sees Red

Leicester City 2:2 Middlesbrough

A late Beckford goal rescued a point for City against Middlesbrough at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday night in a game dominated by the antics of referee Gavin Ward.

Nigel Pearson, who was to end the night sitting in the stand, stuck with his current side with none of the four new faces making the starting line-up.
This seemed to be working fine when City took a 7th minute lead, after Nugent met a clever Wellens chip with his head to beat Steele at the far post.
However, ten minutes later Boro were back in the game when City’s defence – who hadn’t conceded in three games – allowed a slackly marked McDonald to rise at the far post and nod home a McMahon corner from the left. 
Nugent and Gallagher both failed to keep shots down as the first half settled into a midfield war of attrition with the ref frustrating a small and shivering crowd with a series of poor decisions.
Beckford’s recent improvement continued and he went close on a couple of occasions, being denied by Steele.
An incident round the dug-out had the crowd straining  for a view at the beginning of the second half, after which Nigel Pearson was conspicuous by his absence.
The second half saw City working hard to regain their lead despite constantly being frustrated by the officials, and it looked as though Nugent’s fierce shot had been blocked by Bates’ hand, but referee Ward waved play on.   
He also waved play on again, when Delfouneso – on as sub with Drinkwater in the 62nd minute – was brought down in the box with the crowd now raging at him. Four City players were booked to Boro’s none as frustration threatened to boil over. Ward had missed an elbow on St Ledger and a two handed handball, yet appeared to be obssessed with stamping on the slightest bit of dissent.
City almost went ahead in the 75th minute when Schmeichel’s huge kick was nodded on by Nugent to Beckford who struck the underside of the bar with a fine effort, but it was Boro who took a 79th minute lead, a 25 yard free-kick from McMahon flying beyond Schmeichel’s reach.
The home crowd, led by Jobbers drum and L1, carried on with their spirited and raucous singing regardless and helped City find that equaliser. 
In the 86th minute a wayward backpass was charged down by Beckford who found a narrow angle beautifully to trundle the ball along the goal line and in off the far post.
In the face of determined Boro side and a dreadful refereeing performance this was a hard won point.

Post-match, a livid Nigel Pearson revealed that referee Gavin Ward had barged into his dressing room and interrupted his team talk, which resulted in him being told: “…where to go.” 
“If the FA have to get involved then I will be appealing, there’s no doubt about that,” Pearson said. “I can’t wait to see what happens. I don’t know what really happened. I was talking to my players and giving them instructions for the second half when I was rudely interrupted. I didn’t see who it was that barged into my dressing room but I told them to get out – and that may be a euphemism for what I actually said.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, St Ledger, Konchesky, Gallagher (Drinkwater 62), Danns, Wellens (Howard 84), Dyer (Delfouneso 62), Nugent, Beckford. Unused Subs: Logan, Morgan.
Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon, Hines, Bates, Hoyte, Haroun, Williams, Robson (Martin 69), Emnes (Thomson 69), Jutkiewicz, McDonald (Halliday 74). Unused Subs: Ripley, Bennett.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey). Attendance: 20,512.

What you are saying about: GOT, NOT GOT…

What people are saying about ‘GOT, NOT GOT – The A to Z of Lost Football Culture, Treasures & Pleasures…

* Well, what can I say – your book is a FINE piece of work! Honestly, I think its brilliant and I have seldom put it down since I picked it up…

* The best book about football written in the last 20 years.

* I found myself engrossed again in the trivia that so preoccupied my life between the age of 5 and 15 and laughing until my ribs hurt.

* Wonderful book, great illustrations and is a throw back to days when football was more important than anything else, Superbly written and put together.

* If there’s anyone in your life who attended football when it was still good (60s- 80s) buy them this book and they’ll love you forever.

* I don’t even follow football anymore but I love this book. It’s packed with memories of the game when it was a simpler more enjoyable (to me anyway) sport.

* Superb stuff. Anyone who grew up in the seventies with even a passing interest in football, let alone City, will love this book.

* I utterly and completely love it… so much stuff in there that I’d pretty much forgotten about, but which is a joy to rediscover.

Featuring: Aberdeen, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Cardiff City, Carlisle United, Celtic, Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, England, Everton, Fulham, Hearts, Hibs, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Luton Town, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Newcastle United, Northern Ireland, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, QPR, Rangers, Reading, Scotland, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Wales, Watford, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wimbledon & Wolves…

City Make a Point on Teeside

Middlesbrough 0:0 City

City earned a decent point at the Riverside on Wednesday night in a scrappy goalless draw with Middlesbrough…

After Sunday’s long trip to Cardiff 500 City fans clocked up more miles with a trip to the North East, and still didn’t see any goals.
Sven made one change to his side with Johnson in for Fernandes, his first league start since 2009.
After an uneventful opening 20 minutes, with Schmeichel saving an angled Bennett drive, City should have taken the lead when Peltier had nodded an Abe cross to a well positioned Beckford but the former Everton man got too much on his header and sent it over the bar.
Chances were a rarity as the first half progressed with Schmeichel easily fielding an mnes effort and Vassell going close after being set up by Johnson. 
The second half saw Beckford replaced by Schlupp after just three minutes, the youngster in the news for apparently attracting the interest of Liverpool.
After Abe wasted a chance and Fernandes came on for the injured Johnson, Boro gradually took control of proceedings. Schmeichel had to save a MacMahon free-kick from range and as the game entered it’s closing stages it was more a case of City holding on for a point, substitute Arca going uncomfortably close last on.
But neither side has really done enough to earn three points and a 0-0 draw was about right.

Sven was pleased with a third consecutive clean sheet in the league but admitted that: “We didn’t make many clear chances.” With the defence now looking solid it is time he turned his attention to the forwards line.

Middlesbrough: Ikeme, Hoyte (Arca 83), Bates, McMahon, Williams, Bennett, Robson (Thomson 83), Bailey, Haroun, McDonald (Nimely 61), Emnes. Subs: Zemmama, McManus.  
Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky, Mills, Bamba, Peltier, King, Abe, Wellens (Danns 77), Johnson (Fernandes 61), Vassell, Beckford (Schlupp 48). Subs: Weale, Paintsil.
Referee: A Bates (Staffs). Attendance: 16,883.

Striker Target Revealed

Sven Goran Eriksson gave some insight into his team building plans telling the Mercury: Eriksson said: “We want two players for every position and we have that with defenders and midfielders now…”

He also hinted that City are close to bringing in another striker, with sources in South Wales claiming that big wages are to be offered to Middlesbrough’s Leroy Lita to divert him from a move to Swansea.
The Congolese born 26 year old played for Bristol City and Reading before moving to the Riverside in 2009.
He has maintained a decent scoring rate at all his clubs, including 7 in 16 games while on loan at Norwich City.

——————————————————————————

Subscribe to The Fox fanzine for the 2011-12 season and you will receive a free set of four Leicester City postcards…

You can either post this form to the address below, or pay online via Paypal using the blue ‘Fox Subs’ button on the right…

Yakubu Hat Trick Not Enough at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 3:3 Leicester City

A Yakubu hat-trick was not enough to earn the points for City at the Riverside on Saturday, with Middlesbrough finding a 95th minute equaliser to square an eventful game at 3-3…

Sven Goran Eriksson shuffled things up with Ricardo dropped in favour of Weale, King demoted to the bench, and Kamara making his debut, while Oakley returned for Abe in midfield.
It was a line up that paid instant dividends with City taking a 4th minute lead. A Gallagher corner from the left was retrieved by Wellens who fired a cross into the goalmouth which Yakubu diverted home to silence the boos that had greeted the former Boro player’s appearance.
However, the home side were level again within nine minutes. Smallwood broke through the middle and fed Emnes on the right, the Dutchman slotting the ball under Weale.
Both side shad decent chances to go ahead, Van Aaanholt forcing a good save from Smith and Smallwood going close with an effort, but it was City who regained the lead just before the break.
Gallagher delivered a corner from the right, Bruma headed into the danger area and Yakubu beat Bamba to the ball to guide it over the line from inches out.  
City almost went ahead through Kamara soon after the break but he was denied by Smith. The travelling fans didn’t have long to wait however, Yakubu completing his hat trick in the 49th minute. Latching on to a clever ball from Vassell he outpaced the Boro defence and slotted the ball under the advancing Smith to give City a two goal lead.
Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Six minutes later the lead was reduced when Williams lashed in a shot from the edge of the area after combining well with Arca.
Substitute Zammama then fired a 25 yard shot onto the left hand upright with City living dangerously.
In the 76th minute Bruma was harshly judged to have handled after blocking a fierce Arca shot into a crowded area. Weale brilliantly saved Arca’s spot kick low to his left and while his team mates congratulated him, Bruma foolishly had a word with the ref, which resulted in him being shown a second yellow card. 
The left hand upright was hit again when Emnes should have scored, and as the game entered it’s fourth minute of time-added-on it looked as though the ten men had earned the points.
Unfortunately McManus then got a thumping header to an Arca corner to give Boro a share of the spoils. 
In an instant City had gone from 8th to 12th in the live League Tables on a day when the teams surrounding City had not done well.

The fact that City lost two points from a header in Bruma’s position was not lost on Sven: “Players should not talk to the referee and should not discuss with him any decisions. I will talk to the referee when he comes off. If players argue with the referee they will get booked. Some of my players need to be reminded of that.”

Middlesbrough: Smith, Davies (McManus 71), Taylor (Kink 71), McMahon, Hines, Williams, Bennett, Arca, Smallwood (Zemmama 60), McDonald, Emnes. Subs Not Used: Tavares, Halliday, Grounds, Coyne.
Leicester: Weale, Bamba, Naughton , Van Aanholt, Bruma, Oakley, Wellens, Kamara  (Waghorn 88), Yakubu  (Vitor 80), Gallagher (Abe 71), Vassell. Subs Not Used: Howard, King, Ricardo, Dyer.

Referee:A Haines (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 14,500.

Photo: Paul Kirk.

Stylish Stalemate for City and Boro

Leicester City 0:0 Middlesbrough

A good performance failed to produce a goal for City against Middlesbrough at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, as new owners Aiyawatt and Vichai Raksriaksorn looked on…

Almost half the side was changed from Tuesday’s League Cup line-up with Paulo Sousa restoring Weale, Berner, Dyer, King and Campbell back to the starting line-up.
There was a lively end-to-end start to the game with City having early claims for a penalty turned down; Campbell having an on-target shot blocked and King heading against the underside of the crossbar from the resultant corner.
At the other end Boyd broke clear on goal but Hobbs, back on form after a shaky start to the season, caught up with him and dispossessed him with a perfect tackle.
Wheater then narrowly missed out on putting the visitors ahead, heading over from a corner when it looked easier to score. A slick Boro passing move then ended with Williams beating three defenders before pushing the ball narrowly wide of the left hand post.
Campbell then swerved in a 25 yard free-kick which debutant Boro keeper Steele tipped over the bar.
City, playing a neat passing game and always looking to get forward quickly, then had the ball in the net ten minutes before the break when a precise ball from Campbell sent King through, but the Welsh international was harshly judged to be offside. 
Howard then sent a header looping just over the bar, as an entertaining half ended goal less.

Boro had the first chance of the second half from a free-kick, the ref pulling up play for any minimal bit of contact, but Weale managed to block an awkward shot that skidded off the turf.
On the hour City went close again when Campbell’s diving header from a Dyer cross went just the wrong side of the left hand upright.
King then squared a ball for Howard, whose precise shot was heading for the top right hand corner before Steele managed to finger-tip it round the post.
At the other end O’Neil then sent a rising volley narrowly over from the edge of the area.
In the final quarter of an hour Sousa brought Gallagher on for King and then Lamey made his debut in place of Neilson and Fryatt came on for Campbell. 
Both sides chased a late winner, McDonald’s low shot being saved by Weale and a goalmouth scramble in the Boro goalmouth  being hoofed clear by McManus, but Paulo Sousa and Gordon Strachan had to be content with a point after 5 minutes time added on failed to seperate them.
Despite a start of one point from two games City fans will have been encouraged by this display, knowing that better is to come as Sousa gets to know his squad and hopefully adds to it as the new owners make funds availabler.
Sousa said: “I think it was a good performance. There were moments in the game when we played some brilliant footbal.”

Leicester: Weale, Berner, Hobbs, Neilson (Fryatt 82), King (Gallagher 74), Dyer, Oakley, Moreno, Wellens, Campbell (Lamey 82), Howard. Subs Not Used: Kennedy, Logan, N’Guessan, Morrison.
Middlesborough: Steele, Hoyte, Bates, McManus, Wheater, Robson, Thomson (Lita 71), Bailey, McDonald, Williams (O’Neil 46), Boyd (Kink 85). Subs Not Used: Coyne, Miller, Hines, Arca.

Referee: M Jones (Chester). Attendance: 21,587.

City March into Play-Offs With Another Win

Leicester City 2:0 Middlesbrough

City ended the regular season with a fifth consecutive win at home to Middlesbrough despite seven changes to the side with: Logan, McGivern, Solano, N’Guessan, Wellens, Kermogant and Bruce starting.

The freezing cold wind wasn’t typical last day of the season weather, but those partaking in Birch’s Annual Run would have been glad of it, even though the 30,000 crowd were shivering.
City had the early chances but Vaughan failed to capitalise on a great through ball from Wellens and Spearing fired a shot over the bar. Then Boro keeper Jones blocked a Hobbs header from close in.
Having had the best of the first half City took a deserved lead five minutes before the break. Gallagher found Kermorgant with a through ball and the Frenchman opened his scoring account in style, curling a 25 yard effort beyond the reach of Jones.
The second half saw City pressing forward and Jones made a string of fine saves to keep Boro in the game. There was an impressive double save from Vaughan and a superb stop to deny N’Guessan’s fiercely struck shot.
Then, in the 58th minute, Fryatt came on for Gallagher, getting a warm reception from the home crowd after months out of action.
Suddenly it was Logan who was the busier keeper, saving from Aliadiere and tipping an Arca shot onto the bar.
His finest save then came from twelve yards after Wellens was judged to have handled an Arca cross. There wasn’t much wrong with Killen’s penalty kick, but Logan got down to his right to brilliantly tip it round the post.
Logan then made another fine save from Naughton, but in the other goal Jones was not having such a good afternoon. Although he made a good save from substitute Waghorn his luck ran out with six minutes remaining.
Dyer broke through the middle like a whippet and was upended by Jones, the referee having no choice but to whip out a red card. Former City-keeper Coyne came on as sub, but the first duty he had to perform was picking the ball out of the back of the net after Wellen’s cheeky chipped spot kick for his first goal in a City shirt.    
An inpressive fifth consecutive victory was sealed and it was all over bar a few Mexican Waves and a mini lap of honour to thank the fans for their support.

Nigel Pearson was looking to the next task: “I wanted to make changes but we didn’t want to lose the game because we have won the previous four. But it was important we didn’t pick up injuries and get players sent off. It was good to get through and win the game. It will be a normal week and there is nothing particularly out of the norm in terms of preparation for the next game. We know the magnitude of the tie but, if you start looking too far into that, it can distract you. It is about it being another game for us.”

Leicester: Logan, Bruce, Hobbs, McGivern, Solano, Wellens, Spearing, Gallagher (Fryatt 58), Vaughan (Dyer 77), N’Guessan (Waghorn 71), Kermorgant. Subs Not Used: King, Powell, Weale, Neilson.
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Grounds, Naughton, Bennett, Arca, O’Neil, McDonald, Aliadiere, Luke Williams (Coyne 84), Killen. Subs Not Used: Lita, Miller, Franks, Pilatos, Park, Gibson.

Referee: A Taylor (Manchester). Attendance: 30,223.

13 Years Ago… One Night in Sheffield

After a disappointing 1997 League Cup Final at Wembley ended in a 1-1 draw with a late equaliser from Emile Heskey, Leicester and Middlesbrough replayed at Hillsborough ten days later on 16th April.
20,000 City and 20,000 Boro fans descnded on Sheffield to witness an exciting encounter between to evenly matched sides… one moment seperated them. Steve Walsh won an aerial duel with Nigel Pearson and Steve Claridge was in the right place at the right time (again) to guide the ball into the net.

It was City’s first major honour in 33 years and, incredibly, Martin O’Neill had delivered on his promise of getting City into Europe just 16 months into the job.
Apparently Juninho still wakes up in a cold sweat after dreaming that Pontus Kaamark is following him around….