Leicester Clinch Play-Off Place Against the Odds

Nottingham Forest 2:3 Leicester City

An injury time winner from Anthony Knockaert sealed a glorious 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest and saw City scrape into the play-offs on goal difference….
Nigel Pearson made one change to his side with Nugent in for the injured Konchesky, with City needing win on a ground where they hadn’t succeeded in the league since 1972, while also relying on Blackpool preventing a Bolton win.
It didn’t look promising for City and their following of 2,000 as early as the 3rd minute however, when Cox was allowed two bites at the cherry with blue-shirted defenders slow to react, he prodded the ball past Schmeichel from close range to make our play-off hopes looking a little forlorn.
City responded well with Knockaert the driving force and his shot kissed the top of,  the crossbar in the 15th minute.
Nugent then tested Darlow with a well struck shot.
Meanwhile, at the Reebok, Bolton went a goal down to Blackpool giving the East Midlands sides an extra incentive.
City struck back in the 23rd minute when a James shot took a big deflection past Darlow to put City right back in the mix.
Nugent then missed out on a chance to put City ahead when he missed the target after being set up by Dyer.
City were the better side leading up to the break, as news that Bolton were two goals down circulated round the stands, and they took the lead three minutes before half-time.
Knockaert delivered a lovely cross to the far post for King to head home from close in, and as things stood at half-time incredibly City were in a play-off place.
Bolton, however, had pulled back two goals to go in at 2-2.

Forest took charge for a while after the break and levelled the score when Ward rose highest to nod home a Reid free-kick.
Things got worse for City a minute later when De Laet had to go off, replaced by Moore.
Wood then volleyed wide and goalmouth scramble, ended with a referee’s whistle, as City desperately pressed for that precious goal.
Kane came on for Dyer and then hearts were in mouths as Cox went one-on-one with Schmeichel, but lost out to the City keeper.
Knockaert then had a shot blocked before Pearson’s last change saw Marshall for Keane.
Four minutes of injury time were announced and then came the season’s defining moment.
A Schlupp ball upfield saw Knockaert and Wood suddenly outnumbering Forest defenders. Knockaert passed to Wood, who squared back to Knockaert as the keeper closed in on him, leaving the Frenchman to find an unguarded net right in front of the wildly celebrating Leicester fans.
There was no further score at Bolton, so City had miraculously leap-frogged their way into the play-offs at not only the eleventh hour, but at 11:59.
Considering the dramatic slump in form in the last few months it was incredible that they made it, but make it they did and City fans were queuing up for Watford tickets first thing Sunday morning…
Nigel Pearson commented: “It was one of those situations where we had to find a win from somewhere and with it being a local derby as well put a different dimension to it, but I thought the players coped well with the pressure.”

Forest: Darlow, Harding, Collins, Guedioura (Sharp 74), Cohen, Henderson, Reid (McGugan 62), Halford (Majewski 33), Cox, Lansbury, Ward. Unused Subs: McGugan, Tudgay, Blackstock, Ayala, Alrashidi.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 56), Morgan, King, Dyer (Kane 60), Keane (Marshall 85), James, Schlupp, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood. Unused Subs: Drinkwater, Vardy, Logan, Gallagher.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 28,646.

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Penalty Leaves Pearson Fuming as City are held by Forest

Leicester City 2:2 Nottingham Forest

City, with Whitbread in for Keane and Schlupp taking on Konchesky’s left back role, started this East Midlands derby brightly and were ahead by the 6th minute. Dyer motored down the left and fired a shot across goal, which was diverted past Camp by Ward when it looked to be heading wide.
Morgan almost double the lead when he was inches short of getting a touch to Waghorn’s free-kick floated over the Forest defence.
However, City looked a bit slack at the back for a period and were eventually carved up by a Forest passing move that ended with Guedioura’s equaliser flying past Schmeichel.
City regained the lead ten minutes later when an ingenious lob from Knockaert fell for Nugent who produced a sublime touch to lift the ball over Camp.
The second half presented City with several chances to wrap the game up, but none of them were taken. Waghorn, with time and space should not have given Collins a chance to clear off the line; and then his header was saved by Camp at full stretch. Dyer’s firm drive then forced Camp into a another fine save.
Lingard came on for the injured Nugent, for a promising debut, but fortune favoured Forest in the 67th minute.

Whitbread got into a tangle with Sharp on the edge of the area but clearly played the ball away from danger. The referee pointed to the spot for the softest of penalties which Cox converted past Schmeichel amid much City protest.
Having been gifted a point Forest were not going to let go of it and City, with Nugent off and Waghorn still struggling to find his form, did not have enough firepower to trouble them. Knockaert’s depature for Marshall also removed City’s ability to produce something special.
Waghorn got a free header to a Marshall corner, but it was well wide and City had to be content with a point.

Not surprisingly Nigel Pearson was not happy with referee Anthony Taylor.

“You can tell I’m not happy about it and I’ve seen on the TV again and basically it’s a good challenge. He gets the ball, the referee is in a good position, full-stop.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Schlupp, Knockaert (Marshall 77), King, Drinkwater, Dyer, Nugent (Lingard 59), Waghorn. Unused Subs: Danns, Logan, James, Moore, Futacs.

Forest: Camp, Moloney, Ward, Collins, Halford, Cohen, Guedioura (Jenas 53), Gillett (Blackstock 87), Reid (Lansbury 79), Cox, Sharp. Unused Subs:  Darlow, McGugan, Coppinger, Tudgay.

 

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire). Attendance: 24,793.

 

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City and Forest in Game Almost Without Incident

Leicester City 0:0 Nottingham Forest

There was a poor turnout by both sets of fans this this local derby, which felt like just another midweek game down at the KPS, and it brought to mind Danny Baker’s quote about: “Two dogs fighting over a rubber bone.”

Nigel Pearson made one change to his side with Bamba in for the suspended Danns and Schmeichel wearing the captain’s armband.
Forest had the early chances with Blackstock sending an effort drifting wide  of the left hand post, and Schmeichel blocking Guedioura from point-blank range but that proved to be the extent of Forest’s ambition.
Steve Cotterill’s side had come to defend a point and they achieved that with a defensive set-up and that City just couldn’t find a way round.
Chances were few and far between. Bamba produced a good save from Camp with a low shot; and Marshall went close to an opener with a curving shot from 20 yards that Camp tipped away at full stretch. Dyer also went close, but that was it for the first half, and the second half was virtually incident-free.
In the 75th minute Blackstock headed an easy chance against the bar but even then the linesman’s flag was raised.
Howard and Schlupp were brought on, but made no impression on Forest’s stubborn defence as the game drifted to it’s goalless conclusion.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St Ledger, Konchesky, Marshall, Bamba, Drinkwater, Dyer (Howard 78), Beckford, Nugent (Schlupp 64). Unused Subs: King, Kennedy, Moore.
Forest: Camp, Wootton, Chambers, Lynch, Cunningham, Majewski (Tudgay 68), Moussi, Guedioura, Gunter, Blackstock, Reid (Higginbotham 90). Unused Subs: Smith, McGugan, Miller.

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire). Attendance: 23,412.

FA Cup Stalemate by the Trent

Nottingham Forest 0:0 Leicester City

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.

 

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…

Thrown Away

Nottingham Forest 3:2 Leicester City

A lively and well balanced East Midlands derby was settled 3-2 in Forest’s favour by the latest Chris Weale calamity at the City Ground on Good Friday…

Sven Goran Eriksson brought in Mee, Vitor and Gallagher, for Van Aanholt, Bamba and Vassell and the reshuffled defence did not deal well with their first test – Forest’s 15th minute opening goal.
McGugan, out on the right, delivered a fine cross for Tudgay to head home, the Forest man having drifted in between  Vitor and Naughton.
It was a poor start for City, but they battled their way back and were level five minutes later.
A sweeping City move saw Wellens palying Naughton in down the right and his cross found Gallagher beyond the far post. His cross/shot attempt was blocked by Moussi and the ball rolled out of the penalty area to be met with a perfect fierce, low shot that Camp reached but could not prevent going into the net.
Soon after this equaliser Mee was sent in on the left but his angled drive was place too close to Camp.
The game tightened up after this and chances were scarce up to the break.
Earnshaw’s progress was blocked as he closed in on goal, and that was the nearest either side came. 
Sven was forced into a change just five minutes into the second half when Oakley limped off, replaced by Abe. Seven minutes later he brought Vassell on for Yakubu to try and revive a tired looking side.
The game burst back into life with seventeen minutes remaining with the hosts regaining their lead.
McGugan rode a challenge before firing in a fierce shot from 25 yards. Weale parried the effort but it fell nicely for Earnshaw who finished neatly before Weale could fully recover his position. 
However, City struck back a minute later with their second equaliser of the afternoon.
Wellens sent Naughton down the right and his low shot was blocked by Camp, the ball sitting up for Vassell to sidefoot home from five yards out.
3,300 City fans were celebrating hard in the away end,  but sadly there was another twist in the tale.
Mee sent a header narrowly wide, but it was Forest who found a late winner.
With six minutes of the 90 left, McKenna volleyed a weak effort goalwards and it slipped under Weale on it’s third bounce, to give the home side the points and dismiss any ligering hopes of a play-off place.

Sven was already looking ahead: “Unfortunately we deserve to be where we are. Come Tuesday, after our home game against Watford on Monday, we will start to seriously think about what we want to do. I will be here next season – as long as it is up to me.”

Forest: Camp, Morgan, Chambers, Gunter, Moloney, Cohen, McKenna, McGugan (McGoldrick 86), Moussi, Tudgay (Boyd 75), Earnshaw (Findley 80). Subs Not Used: Bennett, Majewski, McCleary, Darlow.  
Leicester: Weale, Vitor, Naughton, Mee, Bruma, King, Oakley (Abe 50), Wellens, Kamara (Howard 76), Yakubu (Vassell 57), Gallagher. Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Dyer, Moreno, Berner.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 24,217.

King Fells Forest

Leicester City 1:0 Nottingham Forest

City defeated neighbours Nottingham Forest on a wintry Monday night in front of the SKY cameras, with Andy King clinching the three points with a second half goal…

Sven Goran Eriksson made one change for this last game of the Milan Mandaric era, with new loan signing Roman Bednar in for Steve Howard up front.
Bednar immediately gave City some added presence up front, though both sides were struggling to create anything worthwhile in a scrappy opening phase of the game. 
The first chance fell to Adebola but his effort was wayward.
At the other end Gallagher took a free-kick from a similar position to his spectacular goal in last season’s encounter, but this one disappointingly went straight into the wall.
In the 25th minute another free-kick frpom Cunningham led to a scramble in the penalty area, Bednar very unlucky not to open his account for City when a fierce half volley struck a defender’s leg when goalbound.
Forest were struggling to deal with Bednar at this stage, but yet another free-kick was mis-hit by Gallagher.
Earnshaw replaced Adebola on 36 minutes and was soon looking to add to his tally of goals against City, but Weale narrowed his angle well and blocked a shot from close in on the right. 
City should have gone in at half time with the lead but Vassell saw his effort rescued on the goal line and Gallagher fired a shot from the left inches wide.   
City’s dominance grew in the second half as City attacked the Kop end. The busy Abe fired a shot over; Wellens forced Camp into a save; and then there was uproar when Vassell was wrestled over in the area and the ref waved play on.
But City were not to be denied. In the 59th minute Bednar fed the ball to Vassell in the area and he emerged from a crowd of four red shirts with the ball which he fired across goal to find King, in the right place at the right time as ever, for a simple tap in at the far post. 
It was no more than City deserved and they should have doubled that lead two minutes later when a great move involving Vassell ended with Gallagher sending a low shot just wide of the right hand post.
King then beat two players with a run which ended with him curling a shot just wide of the target, before Dyer replaced Vassell to warm applause.
Weale then saved from Tyson and Davies sent a long range effort over the bar as the snow began to fall.
Bednar was given a big ovation as he trooped off to be replaced by Howard with ten minutes remaining.
Wellens and King combined well to set up Howard but he was denied by an incredible save from Camp who tipped a close range shot over the bar.
Three minutes of time added on passed without drama, and in truth Forest’s most threatening second half moment had been a penalty shout when Earnshaw had gone full length but failed to impress the ref.
It was fantastic night for those who had ventured from their fireplaces and the victory saw City take a healthy leap up the table to 14th place. 
Sven was pleased with the performance: “We were much better in the second half and were much more dangerous. We played more direct. We started the second half very well and scored one goal and should have had one more. I think we thoroughly deserved to win.”

Leicester: Weale, Davies, Hobbs, Naughton, King, Abe, Wellens, Cunningham, Gallagher (Waghorn 89), Vassell (Dyer 72), Bednar (Howard 80). Subs Not Used: Logan, Fryatt, Oakley, Morrison.
Forest: Camp, Morgan, Chambers, Gunter, Bertrand, Cohen (Ramsey 61), Anderson, McGugan (Tyson 68), Moussi, Adebola (Earnshaw 36), McCleary. Subs Not Used: Smith, Tudgay, Wilson, Majewski.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland). Attendance: 24,659.

Fox Covers: No 84

The Fox Fanzine No 84 – January 1999

Winning against Forest… as sweet today as it has ever been…

City Gain Sweet Revenge Over Forest

Leicester City 3:0 Nottingham Forest

City delighted a full house at Filbert Way on Saturday with a 3-0 win over east midlands rivals Forest…

Although Nigel Pearson had tried to play down the ‘revenge’ element of this meeting there was only one thing on the minds of the 30,000 plus who made their way to the stadium… that 5-1 stuffing at the City Ground in December… and they were desperate for some payback.
Pearson continued his squad rotation during this busy spell with Oakley and Gallagher in for Solano and N’Guessan.
Before kick off there was a warm minute’s applause in honour of recently departed Bobby Smith, and then we were down to business. It was typical derby fare with both sets of fans in good voice and 100 mph stuff on the pitch.
So frenetic was the action that there were very few chances created in the first half. Waghorn went on a magnificent run through the middle but then sent his shot high and wide.
At the other end Weale saved comfortably from a Majewski shot, but the City defence snuffed out Forest’s attacking moves with Hobbs, especially, looking majestic.
The best chance of the half saw a Majewski free-kick launched into the area and Earnshaw sent a header against the bar, Brown heading clear. Majewski then picked up a yellow card for one dive too many.
Although Forest had their best spell in the ten minutes up to the break they couldn’t find a way through and the teams went in goalless at the break.

Early in the second half it was City’s turn to hit the woodwork, when Morrison met a Waghorn free-kick with his head from close in but found the underside of the bar. The linesman flagged for offside, however.
Gallagher then sent a shot over the bar when well placed, but City were building up a head of steam and finally took a 68th minute lead. Gallagher delivered a free-kick into the area and there was a scramble for the ball at the far post. Wellens emerged with the ball and was pursued by three red shirts across the penalty area. A clever back heel found Berner on the six yard line and he had the space to lash a shot into the roof of the net.
If this goal delighted the home crowd, then ten minutes later they were ecstatic… Gallagher stepped up to take a free-kick twenty yards out and curled it beyond Camp’s reach into the top left hand corner.
Two minutes later life got even better for City fans as Forest’s defence were breached again.
Dyer held the ball up well before laying a ball into Berner’s path; the Swiss defender’s shot from the edge of the area was diverted past Camp with a clever touch from King and it was game over with a huge roar from the sell-out crowd.  
The last ten minutes consisted mostly of substitutions with Kermorgant, Adams and Howard coming on for Wellens, Waghorn and Gallagher who all enjoyed standing ovations from a very happy crowd. 
Forest had one late chance for a consolation goal but Weale saved well from McKenna, and most of their fans had gone home by then anyway.

Revenge is a dish best served cold and it was a fantastic afternoon for City fans who had felt the pain of that 5-1 defeat… but, more importantly, City are now six points clear of 7th place.
Nigel Pearson commented: “Local derbies always have a bit of an edge with the fans, but the bottom line is that it was an important game for us in the sense that at this stage of the season, if you’ve got some momentum you’ve got to maintain it. We’re looking good at the moment.”

Leicester: Weale, Brown, Berner, Hobbs, Morrison, King, Dyer, Oakley, Wellens (Kermorgant 86), Gallagher (Howard 89), Waghorn (Adams 89). Subs Not Used: Logan, Solano, Bruce, N’Guessan.
Forest: Camp, Morgan, Perch, Wilson, Gunter, Cohen, Anderson (Tyson 45), McKenna, Majewski (McGoldrick 74), Blackstock, Earnshaw. Subs Not Used: Smith, Adebola, Chambers, McGugan, Moussi.

Referee: Lee Probert (Gloucestershire). Attendance: 31,759.

Scoreboard, Scoreboard What’s the Score?

The old scoreboard that used to sit on top of the East Stand at Filbert Street is shown here celebrating a goal against Nottingham Forest thirteen years ago.

It may not have been state-of-the-art even in 1997, but we liked it. For years everyone in the Main Stand would shout ‘Scoreflash!’ whenever that message would blink on and off, in anticipation of news from elsewhere. 
Due to an untimely entry into administration the Walkers Stadium scoreboards are no better. In fact they are worse, looking positively stone age when compared with most clubs modern ‘jumbo-trons’.
And worse still, they are no fun. Not like the old East Stand scoreboard…