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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No tea party at the Vicarage

Watford 2:1 Leicester City

A subdued City side had an Italian Job done on them at Watford on Saturday afternoon, Udinese duo Abdi and Forestieri scoring for the Hornets in a 2-1 win…

Nigel Pearson brought Moore, Marshall and James back into his starting eleven, but Watford dominated the first half hour with the City back four, Morgan excepted, looking vulnerable.
Deeney went close in the 11th minute, flashing a shot just wide, and Watford took the lead three minutes later. A good passing move carved City up down the middle and Abdi gave Schmeichel no chance with a sweeping finish.
Forestieri then forced Schmeichel into a fine save and Pudil missed a chance before City finally shook themselves into action on the half hour.
Almunia saved from Marshall and then Hogg cleared a Morgan header from off the line as 2,000 City fans had something to applaud at last.
Dyer replaced Drinkwater for the second half, but City’s afternoon was summed up when Moore and Morgan had a clash of heads which required lengthy treatment.
Whenever City built up a bit of momentum a Watford player would go down requiring treatment, before trotting off unharmed.
Nugent then went down under a challenge from Hoban, but D’Urso didn’t seem to want to give the away side anything all afternoon.
Matters worsened in the 69th minute when Schmeichel saved well from Pudil but Forestieri reacted quickly to fire in the rebound.
City hit back just three minutes later when Nugent produced a fine finish from a Konchesky cross, but Watford’s large Italian influence extended to some top class tactics when it came to breaking up play with endless stoppages.
City pressed forward in search of an equaliser but the task grew even steeper in the 84th minute when Whitbread received a second yellow card.
Even with seven minutes added on, there was no way back for an out of sorts looking City side.
The tough Championship schedule presents City with a trip to Bolton on Tuesday and they will have to improve in every department…

Watford: Almunia, Doyley, Hall (Anya 90), Hoban, Cassetti, Hogg, Chalobah, Abdi (Smith 86), Pudil, Deeney, Forestieri (Vydra 80).

Unused Subs: Bond, Yeates, Geijo, Ekstrand.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Moore, Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, King, Drinkwater (Dyer 46), James, Knockaert (Waghorn 64), Nugent, Marshall (Futacs 64).

Unused Subs: Danns, Logan, Gallagher, Schlupp.

 

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex). Attendance: 12,954.

 

City Stung by Hornets

Watford 3:2 Leicester City

City’s play-off hopes look ever more distant after a 3-2 defeat at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.
An unchanged City set out looking for their first back-to-back wins in a year, but suffered an early setback. In the 5th minute a Peltier fouled Garner on the left. Murray swung in a free-kick that was glanced beyond Schmeichel by the head of Mariappa.
Six minutes later City were level when Nugent cut in from the left and beat Loach with an accurate drive, Beckford helping to distract the keeper. 
By the 18th minute the 1,400 City fans were celebrating again as Beckford and Nugent, showing an increasing understanding, combined to give City the lead.  Beckford’s flick to Nugent on the edge of the area set him up nicely for a full-blooded half-volley that flew past Loach.
Drinkwater then went close as City pushed forward looking to extend their lead.
However, the teams would go in level at the break after a Watford enjoyed a slice of luck. A Murray free-kick took a big deflection off the wall, leaving Schmeichel stranded.
Nigel Pearson brought on Morgan for Peltier and Danns for Drinkwater at the start of the second half as the game tightened up.
St Ledger, now operating down the right, capped a good run with a fine cross but Beckford missed a big opportunity to regain the lead for City.
Loach was tested by efforts from Beckford and Gallagher, and Morgan went close with a header, before the home side began to gain the upper hand in the final twenty minutes.
Eustace almost caught Schmeichel out with a chip but the Dane managed to reach it after some furious back-pedalling.
The decisive moment of the game arrived with ten minutes to go, when substitute Forsyth fired home a low shot from 18 yards.
City desperately tried to find a leveller but Wellens sent an effort off target before some late controversy.
Nosworthy tripped Beckford just inside the area, but Doyley was shown the red card and referee David Webb awarded a free-kick on the 18 yard line.
Gallagher could not repeat his trick against Cardiff and City’s league season was all but over.
A bullish Pearson did not agree:  ”I’ve just told the players that I don’t want to hear anybody talking about the season being over. It doesn’t enter my mindset as far as I’m concerned and I don’t expect anybody else within our ranks to be talking in those terms as well.”

Watford: Loach, Hodson, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Doyley, Murray (Forsyth 46), Eustace, Hogg, Kacaniklic (Dickinson 90+4), Iwelumo, Garner (Buaben 81). Unused subs: Gilmartin, Yeates.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier (Morgan 46), Mills, St Ledger, Konchesky, Gallagher, Wellens, Drinkwater (Danns 46), Dyer (Howard 85), Nugent, Beckford. Unused subs: Logan, Marshall.

Referee: David Webb (CountryDurham). Attendance: 11,800.

City Ease to Victory over Hornets

Leicester City 2:0 Watford

City enjoyed a comfortable win against Watford, showing some economy of effort to gain a 2-0 win over the Hornets in front of a sparse crowd…

Sven made four changes to the side that lost at Birmingham with Danns, Fernandes, Vassell and the suspended Mills replaced by Wellens, Johnson, St ledger and Beckford, who teamed up with Nugent for the first time.
And City enjoyed a bright start with Watford having a couple of shaky moments at the back and Beckford having a goal ruled out when Bamba failed to keep the ball in play before crossing.
It wasn’t long before City had the ball in the net again when a Konchesky ball found Nugent, who showed a great touch and cool composure to beat the Watford defence and slot the ball past Loach.
A mix up in the City defence allowed Garner in for a rare Watford chance but Schmeichel dived bravely at his feet, picking up a knock to the face in the process. 
But City doubled their lead soon after, when Abe crossed for Beckford to rise and nod home his first goal in a City shirt.
With Watford having little to offer the game looked to be over and City didn’t expend too much energy in the second half, conceding ground and possession, but no goals.
Only with ten minutes remaining was Schmeichel truly tested when he produced a fantastic reaction save to tip away an effort from Hogg.
The newly resident Peregrine Falcon, who had predicted both City goals by making a deposit on the Koppites below, disappeared from view after the break, so we were unlikely to find the net anyway.
This wasn’t a hugely entertaining evening for those who had braved the chill, but it was a professional job, with as clean sheet and a goal each for our new strike partnership.
A win against Millwall could see City into the play-off frame for the first time under Sven…

City: Schmeichel; Peltier, St. Ledger, Bamba, Konchesky, Johnson; Abe (Fernandes 66), Wellens; King, Nugent (Dyer 88), Beckford (Vassell 75). Unused Subs: Pantsil, Weale.
Watford: Loach, Doyley, Mariappa, Mirfin,Dickinson, Deeney, Eustace, Hogg, Kightly (Buaben 20), Iwelumo (Yeates 82), Garner (Sordell 83). Unused Subs: Gilmartin, Bennett.

Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffs). Attendance: 20,304.

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…

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

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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 Draw Hornets Sting

Leicester City 4:2 Watford

City treated a sparse Walkers Stadium crowd, to a fantastic second half display against Watford on Saturday, perhaps adding to the frustration that they won’t be involved in the play-offs this May…

There were two changes from the defeat at Forest with Van Aanholt recalled to the defence and Yakubu and Kamara both withdrawn, Vassell playing as a lone striker. 
The opening half hour saw a soporific, almost practice game tone, with both clubs having drifted out of contention for a play-off place.
Gallagher had forced a save from Loach from a free-kick, but that was about all, before Watford took a 28th minute lead. Slack work from Naughton saw him robbed in midfield by Sordell, who charged forward and cut inside Vitor, before curling a fine shot into the top right hand corner.
The visitors could have gone two up ten minutes later when Sordell headed over from a Vitor cross, but instead it was City who found the net five minutes before the break. Bruma strode forward in midfield and had time to line up a shot from almost 40 yards which beat Loach just inside the right hand post.
Sadly for City this didn’t mean that they went in level at the break. Neat footwork and a cool finish from Sordell saw the visitors retake the lead in the 41st minute.
Whatever Sven told his players at half time, it worked as City moved up a gear to completely turn the game round. 
In the 62nd minute Yakubu, on for the injured Wellens, emerged from a three way collision involving Loach and Mariappa, with the ball at his feet. His carefully weighed first time effort found the net from an acute angle to level the game.
City took the lead for the first time in the 71st minute when Bruma produced another fine goal from disatnce. This was not as far out as his first, being a mere 30 yarder, but was better struck, arrowing past Loach into the top left hand corner.
Two minutes later the home fans were celebrating again as City wrapped up the three points. Yakubu nodded a ball through for King to contest with the keeper and followed up to profit from the loose ball, which he dinked over the grounded Loach and King and into an empty net.
The last big round of applause of th eafternoon came deep into injury time when Tunchev came on as sub after an agonisingly long injury lay-off… hopefully he will be able to make a longer contribution in the near furture.
Sven admitted: “We owed our fans something like that because they are excellent home and away. But I’m extremely proud and pleased with the players. They were perfect mentally, physically and technically. I have had a meeting with the owners before the game today and we have got started. There will probably be many meetings and, unfortunately, we can probably forget the Premier League this season. But we are going to start to look at what we need.”

Leicester: Weale, Vitor, Naughton, Mee, Van Aanholt, Bruma (Dyer 89), King, Abe, Wellens (Yakubu 45), Gallagher, Vassell (Tunchev 89). Subs Not Used: Berner,Moreno, Howard, Smith.  
Watford: Loach, Doyley, Taylor (Bennett 88), Mariappa, Hodson, Eustace, Cowie, Mingoia (Drinkwater 82), Graham, Deeney, Weimann (Sordell 16). Subs Not Used: Massey, Thompson, Gilmartin, Buckley.

Referee: Anthony Bates (Staffs). Attendance:21,473.

City Feel Sting in Hornet’s Tail

Watford 3:2 Leicester City

City suffered a needless 3-2 reverse at Vicarage Road on Saturday, due to a combination of defensive errors and wasted chances… 

An unchanged City looked very hesitant in the opening stages of this game, played out in pouring rain.
Watford had already had a couple of far post chances before they took a 15th minute lead. A Mutch corner from the right found Eustace in a crowded penalty area, but he had time to prod the ball past Weale.
Seven minutes later it got worse for City when a ball forward saw Buckley outrunning City’s backline; Weale came out to challenge but missed and Buckley had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.  
City almost went 3-0 down when Davies blocked a Graham effort, in what must have been their worst performance since Eriksson took the reins.
Wellens forced Loach into a good save but City had little else to show for their efforts at the half time whistle.

Things could only get better in the second half, and they did.
City took control of the game and had pulled a goal back within five minutes of the restart.
Taylor handled a Naughton cross near the byeline and under th enoses of the 2,200 City fans. Their instant and unanimous “HANDBALL!” shout may have helped convince referee Kevin Wright to point to the spot.
Gallagher did the job from 12 yards, blasting his spot-kick into top right hand corner.
Gallagher should have levelled soon after this but fired his shot too close to Loach when sent clear on goal, and again when he got his head to a cross close in but sent it straight at the Hornet’s keeper.
Then Howard, on for Bednar, also headed straight at Loach when well placed.
In the 69th minute Gallagher finally got his second. City won a free-kick 22 yards out and Gallagher lifted it over the wall into the bottom left hand corner with Loach, caught a little out of position, being glared at by his defence.
The rest of the game saw some end to end stuff, with defences getting stretched. Doyley was foiled by a brave Weale save, while Abe sent an acrobatical overhead kick over the bar.
It was Watford who dug deepest and summoned up a winner in the 85th minute. A swinging cross from Mutch was headed beyond Weale from close in the spark some joyous celebrations among the home fans.
City couldn’t find a way through in five minutes time-added-on and were beaten by a side who wanted it more, and took their chances…

Watford: Loach, Doyley, Taylor, Taylor, Mariappa, Eustace, McGinn (Sordell 79 (Massey 88)), Cowie, Mutch, Buckley (Deeney 56), Graham. Subs Not Used: Gilmartin, Bennett, Jenkins, Hodson.
Leicester: Weale, Davies, Hobbs, Naughton, King (Oakley 63), Abe, Wellens, Cunningham, Gallagher, Vassell (Waghorn 77), Bednar (Howard 58). Subs Not Used: Dyer, Logan, Vitor, Morrison.
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire). Attendance: 14,449.

City Draw Hornets’ Sting

Leicester City 4:1 Watford

City took a big stride towards the play-offs at Filbert Way on Saturday, comfortably beating Watford 4-1 with goals from Martyn Waghorn, Paul Gallagher, Jay Spearing and James Vaughan despite playing the second half with ten men…

Nigel Pearson stuck with a winning formula, picking the same side for a third game running.
The opening half hour saw an even contest with Gallagher going close a couple of times; Weale saving well from Lansbury and Graham sending a shot narrowly wide.
But City got a fortunate break in the 35th minute when DeMerit was judged to have brought Wellens down in the area, when it looked as though the Watford man had reached the ball first.
Waghorn took the spot kick and confidently stroked the ball to Loach’s left.
Five minutes later City doubled their lead when a shot from Howard was blocked and the ball looped up high in the air before being volleyed sweetly into the bottom left hand corner by Gallagher from 18 yards out.
There was more drama in time added on when Howard was guilty of a clumsy challenge on Jenkins. He was unfortunate to get a straight red card, perhaps partly due to the fact that the foul had taken place in the away fans corner, and they reacted strongly having already been wound up by a battle with the stewards.
So City faced a whole second half with ten men and Vaughan replaced Gallagher.
However, City didn’t seem to need eleven men and they stretched their lead just six minutes into the second half.
A weak clearance went to Spearing who had time to chest the ball down and then volley it past Loach for his first City goal, before setting off on a delighted celebratory run.
In the 67th minute City’s other young on-loan Merseysider also got on to the scoresheet for the first time. Vaughan’s pace and persistence saw him beat Mariappa to the ball before slotting it past Loach to wrap up the three points.
The Hornets’ only consolation came in the 77th minute when Taylor nodded in at the far post from a corner, but it had been City’s afternoon.
Although Blackpool won and are still in the race for a play-off place, City’s fate is in their own hands, and they are looking very assured at present.
Nigel Pearson remained cautious: “We are not quite there yet, but we are in a decent position. We’ve worked hard to be in this good position and now we’ve got to make sure we see that through.”

Leicester: Weale, Brown, Berner, Hobbs, Morrison, King, Wellens (Adams 58), Spearing, Gallagher (Vaughan 46), Howard, Waghorn (Kermorgant 65). Subs Not Used: Logan, Solano, Bruce, N’Guessan.
Watford: Loach, Demerit (Taylor 56), Mariappa, Harley, Bennett, Hodson (Helguson 50), Eustace, Lansbury, Cowie (Bryan 69), Jenkins, Graham. Subs Not Used: Lee, Hoskins, McGinn, Noble. 

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co Durham). Attendance: 24,765.

Guide to the Championship

Here is the FOX Guide to the Championship from the 2007 Summer Special…

Can you name all 24 clubs?