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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City regain Play-Off place with victory over Bolton

Leicester City 3:2 Bolton Wanderers

 Leicester’s first win in ten attempts put them back in the play-off frame -  with Jeff Schlupp’s winner finally seeing Bolton off  at the KPS on Tuesday night….

With every game now a ‘must win’ Nigel Pearson made two changes to the side that drew against Birmingham, Knockaert and Dyer returning to the wings  in place of Nugent andDrinkwater, in a 442.
City got off to a shocking start however,  as Morgan tripped Lee in the area and Ngog netted with the spot-kick despite Schmeichel getting a touch.
Bolton had the lead and were happy to defend which meant chances were few for City. In the 18th minute De Laet set up Wood for an overhead kick, but it cleared Bogdan’s bar.
Bogdan then saved well from a Wood free-kick and there was litle of note to report on a becalmed first half, until five minutes before the break.
Dyer burst down the left and into the area, where Butterfield brought him down.  Wood made no mistake from 12 yards for his first goal in ten games.
Two minutes later the crowd were out of their seats again as the game turned completely around. Wood set up Dyer who produced a fine finish to beat Bogdan and put City ahead.
City had their tails up for the second half, but Bolton gradually worked their way back into the game. City got a warning shot across the bows in the 61st minute when Davies struck the a post from 25 yards.
With 20 minutes remaining there was a familiar sinking feeling as City had seemingly once gain failed to see out a game.
Alonso’s throw from the right was nodded on and fell nicely for an unmarked for Pratley to prod home from close in.
Nugent came on for Dyer and was soon involved in City’s winner.
In the 79th minute  De Laet’s throw-in, was flicked on by Wood towards Nugent, who hurried Knight into a poor clearance which sat up nicely for Schlupp on the edge of the area. His dipping volley found the net much to the joy of the young striker and some long suffering fans.

There was a still a long nail-chewing period to endure and Bolton threw everything forward, Knight being denied by a fantastic Schmeichel save.
City survived a late aerial onslaught from the visitors to put their play-off destiny back in their own hands, thanks to their own efforts and some great results coming in from elsewhere.

Nigel Pearson was pleased with his players: “We had to deal with going behind to a penalty after two minutes, but it was important that we got the three points. We showed a lot of courage and also we showed a lot of ability.”

Leicester:  Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Morgan, King, Dyer (Nugent 79), Keane, James, Schlupp, Knockaert (Drinkwater 82), Wood. Unused Subs: Whitbread, Vardy, Logan, Gallagher, Kane.
Bolton: Bogdan, Butterfield (Ricketts 59), Knight, Dawson, Alonso, Kamara, Vela (Davies 57), Pratley, Eagles, Lee, Ngog (Eaves 87). Unused Subs: Lonergan, Ream, Hall, Sordell. 

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear). Attendance: 22,442.

The FOX – the Leicester City Fanzine – new email address

With the Sky email transfer over to Yahoo turning into a train crash we have now had to set up a new email address for The FOX…

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Please use this to contact us for the foreseeable future. Thanks.

Ten man City Lose out to Lions

Leicester City 0:1 Millwall

 

The game which should have brought a new start for City brought another home defeat with Millwall playing against ten man Leicester for 88 minutes after Morgan’s dismissal. A spirited performance counted for nothing when Dunne hit an 87th minute winner.

With the City squad refreshed from a trip to Portugal De Laet, James,  Knockaert and Schlupp all returned to the side.
Sadly we will never know how things would have played out, as City suffered the blow of having captain Wes Morgan dismissed in the second minute. Keogh was sent through on goal and Morgan made contact about 20 yards out, but referee Stuart Attwell’s red card looked very harsh.
Schmeichel then had to make saves from Lowry and Smith then again as the Lions had their tails up.
The home crowd, stung by this injustice, roared on their side and in the 11th minute Knockaert crossed for Wood, who headed across goal for Keane, but Lowry cleared off the line.
De Laet and Nugent then sent efforts narrowly wide as the ten men pressed forward, but the Lions carried a threat.  Schmeichel saved a Hulse shot (and Konchesky’s blushes)  when the defender lost possession on the edge of the area.
Hulse then had the ball in the net but was denied by a late linesman’s flag.

Neither side made a change at the break but Nigel Pearson didn’t wait long to replace Drinkwater with King.
The game reached stalemate for a while with Chaplow, Trotter,Dunne and Schlupp going into the ref’s notebook but little else of note.
City’s best chance to snatch the points came in the 76th minute when Wood got his head to a Knockaert free kick but Forde managed to touch it onto the left hand post.
Wood then made way for Kane.
After holding out for so long City’s resistance was finally broken  with three minutes left when Chaplow laid on a ball for Dunne to run onto and crash home from inside the area.
City never managed to threaten in the five minutes of time added on as the dreadful run of results continued.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater (King 59), Morgan, Keane, James, Schlupp, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood (Kane 84). Unused Subs: Whitbread, Vardy, Dyer, Logan, Wellens.
Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Shittu, Trotter, Hulse (Marquis 72), Lowry, Keogh (Woolford 90), Jack Smith (Abdou 72), Adam Smith, Easter, Chaplow. Unused Subs: Taylor, N’Guessan, Malone, Saville.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warks). Attendance: 22,365.

 

City’s poor run continues with defeat at Derby

Derby County 2:1 Leicester City

Leicester’s play-off hopes took a further dent at Pride Park on Saturday evening, with a 2-1 defeat adding to a recent miserable run…

Nigel Pearson made one change for this local derby with Konchesky resuming his left back role, and Schlupp starting on the bench.

City enjoyed a good start to the game, as they always seem to,  St Ledger’s cross from the right set up King for a header that went narrowly over the bar.
However, it was Derby who took a 16th minute lead.  Ward’s free-kick into the area was met by Keogh who outjumped St Ledger to plant a header beyond Schmeichel’s reach.
City desperately searched for an equaliser but Konchesky had a shot blocked and Dyer fired over when well placed.
The Rams then had loud penalty appeals turned down when Wellens knocked Freeman over on the edge of the area.
A minute before the break the home side went further ahead, with more slack marking to blame.
Forsyth’s cross from the left found an unmarked Martin who had time and space to nod his header past an exposed Schmiechel.

Pearson brought Schlupp on for Wellens for the second half which brought an improved performance from City.
Eleven minutes into the half Marshall came on for Dyer on 56 minutes, and he soon forced Fielding into a smart save at his near post.
City’s best moment of the evening came in the 62 minute when Schlupp, teed up by Nugent,  fired a fine shot past Fielding to give some hope to the blue corner.
Nugent then wasted a good chance firing straight at Fielding, from a great position.
City’s last substitution saw Kane on for Wood.
Marshall then fired a free kick in his favourite range yards over the bar.
Despite six minutes of time added on City could not build up any significant pressure on the Rams defence, with them coping comfortably with the long balls raining in on them.

The poor run continues, and now it looks as though City’s place in the play-off frame may be under threat.

Nigel Pearson commented: “Not good enough. It was an awful game and we showed a lack of quality which is a bit difficult to watch again. They were poor goals to concede and we’ve got to rectify this very, very quickly because we’re putting what has been for long periods a very good season at risk by under performing. I’m going to have to have a good long look at how we shape up for the next game because I’m not happy about how we went about today.”

Derby: Fielding, Freeman (Gjokaj 82), Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Coutts, Hendrick, Bryson, Ward (Davies 62), Sammon, Martin. Unused Subs: Legzdins, Doyle, Bennett, Jacobs, Hoganson, Davies.
Leicester: Schmeichel, St Ledger, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, Wellens (Schlupp 45), Drinkwater, King, Nugent, Wood (Kane 69), Dyer (Marshall 56). Unused Subs: Whitbread, Vardy, Logan, Waghorn.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Attendance: 23,122.

 

Leicester’s malaise continues with home defeat to Owls

Leicester City 0:1 Sheffield Wednesday

City lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday at the KPS on Saturday, Connor Wickham netting the only goal of the game…

Nigel Pearson made two changes with Marshall starting ahead of Knockaert and Schlupp recalled from a spell at Manchester United to fill in for the hamstrung Konchesky at left-back.
Nugent had the first decent chance of the game but his shot was tipped over by Kirkland.  Then Keane got onto the end of a Marshall cross but was narrowly off-target.
Wednesday, roared on by a large and lively crowd who had exhchanged smoke bombs with L1,then had a chance – Lita shold have done better with a header from an Antonio cross.
De Laet then carved out two opportunities for himself down the right, but was denied by Kirkland on both occasions and the sides went in goal-less at the break.
The second half saw Marshall beating his marker and crossing from the right, but Kane planted his header a few agonising inches over the bar.
Soon after Antonio was sent through one-on-one against Schmeichel but the Dane was equal to the challenge.
On the hour Pearson brought Knockaert on for Kane  and a lively spell ensued Marshall firing over the bar while at full stretch. But too often Knockaert ran himself up a cul-de-sac as the frustration grew.
With 20 minutes left, Wednesday delighted their following by taking the lead.
A Buxton cross was flicked on by Antonio at the near post for Wickham to knock it home at the far post.  It was a disaster fro City and they didn’t recover from it.
Marshall was replaced by Gallagher but still City couldn’t get going.
A King header hit the post but City never really applied a great deal of pressure on th eOwls defence despite sending Morgan, and then Schmeicel forward.
To make matters worse De Laet was stretchered off down the tunnel late on, surrounded by medics.

Wednesday held on to their precious points and City fans are left wondering what on Earth has happened to our season?

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (St Ledger 86), Schlupp, Drinkwater, Morgan, King, Keane, Marshall (Gallagher 74), Nugent, Kane (Knockaert 61), Wood. Unused Subs: Whitbread, Vardy, Logan, Waghorn, Wellens.
Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Helan, Gardner, Llera, Pugh, Lita (Semedo 79), Antonio, Johnson (Wickham 59), Prutton, Lee. Unused Subs: Bywater, Taylor, McCabe, Johnson, Madine.

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire). Attendance: 24,883.

City Take a Step Backwards

Ipswich Town 1:0 Leicester City

City suffered a damaging defeat at Portman Road on Saturday being edged out of a tight game by Ipswich…

Nigel Pearson chose an unchanged side for this trip to Suffolk with David Nugent yet to recover from his neck injury.

There were very few chances in the first half, with Kane sending in a couple of narrowly off-target efforts for City while Chopra and Chambers both forced good saves from Schmeichel for Town. Kane bundled the ball into the net in first half injury time but was denied by the linesman’s flag for offside.

Early in the second half Knockaert was shown a yellow card for booting the ball away, City’s frustrating afternoon in great contrast to the 6-0 win over Ipswich earlier in the season.
Ipswich then went close to an opener when McGoldrick, in on the right, fired in a low shot that Schmeichel did well to keep out.
Just before the hour mark Chambers’s wayward back pass set Kane up with a gift-wrapped opportunity, but his shot brushed the outside of the left hand post with only Henderson to beat.
Nigel Pearson brought Dyer on for Knockaert and Gallagher for Marshall but still City couldn’t find a way through. Wood nodded over and Drinkwater sent a long range effort off-target, but it was the home side who finally made the breakthrough in the 85th minute.
Moments before the winner Murphy appeared to elbow Morgan in the face, but escaped a red card. Morgan, however was shown yellow for pointing this out to the ref for a little too long. It may have still been on his mind seconds later as he made a rare mistake in attempting to play the ball out of defence and  Murphy sent McGoldrick in down the left to slot the winner under Schmeichel.
The nearest City got to an equaliser was a King shot blocked by Emmanuel-Thomas, but the final whistle heralded a defeat, raising further question marks over City’s consistency.

Nigel Pearson commented: “We didn’t deserve to lose. But credit to Ipswich they are working very, very hard and Mick McCarthy has them well organised. They are a lot more difficult to beat now than they were when he first arrived and credit to them for that, but I’m disappointed and the players are disappointed today.”

Ipswich: Henderson, Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N’Daw, Martin (Emmanuel-Thomas 80), Chopra (Murphy 80), McGoldrick (Drury 90).
Subs not used:Loach, Kisnorbo, Mclean, Nouble.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, Marshall (Gallagher 69), Drinkwater, King, Knockaert (Dyer 65), Kane, Wood. Subs not used: Logan, Whitbread, Vardy, Waghorn, Wellens.

Referee: D Deadman. Attendance: 17,021. 

Leicester’s Owners Purchase the King Power Stadium

This morning has brought the momentous news that Leicester City’s owners have struck a deal to buy the King Power Stadium through their company K Power Holdings Co Ltd…

According to the Leicester Mercury previous owners Teachers Insurance, an American pension fund manager that will be a name familiar from the dark days of administration ten years ago, received £17 million in the deal.

Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (formerly Raksriaksorn) explained: “It has always been part of our long-term vision to put the stadium back where it belongs, into the hands of the football club. While there are no immediate plans to alter the structure or design of the stadium site, the increased flexibility through direct ownership ensures that the football club can freely adjust to the changing needs of its supporter-base for the future.”

This is great news for Leicester City, who have had this drain on the finances holding them back for over a decade, and also underlines the Srivaddhanaprabha’s commitment to the club.

 

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. 

 

Stalemate by the Sea

Blackpool 0:0 Leicester City

This was a dour contest between two out-of-form sides on a pitch that resembled a cabbage patch and whilst City may feel they did enough to win, the truth is that neither side deserved all 3 points.

Nigel Pearson gave a debut to new loan signing, Harry Kane (who bears a striking resemblance to Chris Wood from a distance by the way) and played three up front with Knoackaert making way for Kane. The only other change was Andy King back for the injured Matty James. City started well and were playing a lot of football in Blackpool’s half but with no real end product and it was becoming clear early on that the pitch was going to be a problem. It cut up very badly and there seemed to be more sand on the pitch than the nearby beach. The afternoon was punctuated with sliced passes, poor control and simple balls going astray; the beautiful game it wasn’t!

Kasper Schmeichel saved early on from Taylor-Fletcher who seemed certain to score from close in before Harry Kane brightened up the half with a stunning first-time shot out of nowhere that Gilks did well to keep out. Soon after Ben Marshall has Gilks scrambling across his goal with a run and an effort that hit the side netting. It was Blackpool who finished the half stronger when a superb double save from Schmeichel kept out a lob from Tom Ince and the follow up from Eardley.

The second half opened with City on the front foot and a gift penalty gave them the opportunity to open the scoring. Kane was chasing a loose ball out of the area when Eardley inexplicably bundled him over for a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Chris Wood who opted to drive the penalty kick straight down the middle but sadly on to the bar and in to the crowd. If that wasn’t bad enough Wood’s afternoon worsened after he missed a simple chance to make amends a few minutes later. Lloyd Dyer (on for Marshall) cut the ball back across goal for the big Kiwi who scuffed his effort wide from 6 yards with the goal yawning at him. Wood’s hat-trick of near misses was completed with 10 minutes remaining when his header from a long ball was tipped over by Gilks. At the other end the City defence was on top and the hosts were restricted to long-range efforts and set-pieces which were dealt with comfortably by Schmeichel who was in commanding form.

The final whistle brought a merciful end to a poor match but special mention for Tom Ince. Amid the players struggling to cope with the awful pitch was a lad with real class who rose above it and showed why there is so much interest in him right now. He even took the inevitable chants from City fans in his stride (‘Daddy’s boy’ and ‘He’s not your real dad’) and got on with a classy performance.

A not so special mention for Blackpool F.C. stewards who ruined the afternoon for countless travelling fans today. It was a classic case of fools in high vis jackets on a power trip. They were able to create trouble where there was none and a procession of fans were ejected for no good reason as these idiots continually created conflict and tension amongst a good-natured, trouble-free travelling support.

Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Cathcart, Broadfoot, Crainey, Eardley, Ferguson, Basham, Ince, Taylor-Fletcher (Delfouneso 72), Phillips (Derbyshire 80). Subs Not Used: Halstead, Wabara, Grandin, Sylvestre, Martinez.
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Keane, Morgan, Konchesky, Marshall (Knockaert 73), King, Drinkwater, Kane (Vardy 79), Nugent (Dyer 61), Wood. Subs Not Used: Logan, Whitbread, Gallagher, Wellens.

Referee: Simon Hooper. Attendance: 14,509.