Leicester see off Spurs with world class finishing

Leicester City 2:1 Tottenham Hotspur

A superb display from City, and two brilliant strikes from Vardy and Mahrez, earned a 2-1 victory against Spurs at the KPS on Tuesday night…

Claude Puel made two changes to his starting line-up, with Chilwell in for Fuchs – on paternity leave – and Okazaki replacing Gray.
It was high-tempo stuff right from the start. with City pressing forward early on before Tottenham settled. Schmeichel dithered over a back-pass but just managed to clear with Kane almost robbing him of the ball.
Vardy chased a through ball but Lloris raced out to sweep up and Ndidi then connected well with a shot, but the Spurs keeper was comfortably behind it.
Morgan went close with a header from a corner but it was cleared from near the goal-line, and Tottenham then threatened when Rose found room down the left, but his low cross into the six yard box was well blocked by Morgan.
City took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 13th minute. Albrighton’s looping cross from the left was chased by Vardy, who allowed it to drop over his shoulder before deftly flicking it over Lloris. Having suffered taunts from the Spurs fans about his wife’s appearance in the Australian jungle, he then went over to celebrate in the visitor’s corner.

Tottenham came close to levelling in the 17th minute when Kane sent Sissoko in on goal, but Schmeichel blocked the shot with his legs and Iborra cleared as the loose ball looped towards the net.
As Spurs pressed forward again Kane twisted and turned in the area, making room for a shot, but his attempted curler into the top corner went high and wide.
Ndidi then attempted another shot from the edge of the area, but missed the left hand post by a few yards.
In the 32nd minute Kane set up Alli for a gilt-edged chance, but his shot from 16 yards lacked pace and Schmeichel saved.
At the other end, Morgan headed over from a Mahrez free kick and Rose blocked a low Vardy cross from the left.
With half-time approaching, City’s recent habit of conceding just before the break hung over the ground, but City did better than holding the lead, they doubled it.
Mahrez cut in from the right wing and accelerated towards the penalty area, before placing a beautiful shot into the top left hand corner.

Tottenham dominated posession in the second half, but City looked dangerous on the break.
Kane swept a shot across goal that went well wide, before Okazaki got too much on a header from a fine Albrighton cross and sent it over the bar.
Spurs continued to create, and miss chances. Sanchez headed well wide under no pressure and then Eriksen then produced a woeful shot with the goal at his mercy inside the six yard box.
But a nervy end to the game was ensured when Spurs finally found the net in the 78th minute. Lamela threaded a ball through to Kane who lashed a right-footer into the top right hand corner from 8 yards.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for City now and Claude Puel introduced the fresh legs of Choudhury for Okazaki.
Spurs turned up the pressure and Aurier delivered a superb cross from the right but Llorente blazed it over at the far post.
Hearts were in mouths late into added time when Rose went down in the area after an Ndidi challenge, but referee Anthony Taylor waved play-on, to huge relief.
Soon after that he blew for time and a huge roar celebrated a fine result.
It had been a fantastic team performance, but a special mention has to go to Iborra who made City tick with his Man of the Match display in midfield.

Claude Puel summed up the win that took City up to 9th place: “I would say it is the best performance so far. There are encouraging signs going forward. The goals were fantastic, but not just the goals. The quality with the ball was good as well. It was difficult against a good team to keep this result but I think the team worked hard for each other with solidarity and desire and it was a fantastic game for us.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mahrez (Gray 77), Ndidi, Iborra, Albrighton, Okazaki (Choudhury 83), Vardy (Slimani 88).
Substitutes: King, Hamer, Dragovic, Amartey.
Tottenham: Lloris, Dier, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Aurier, Sissoko (Son Heung-min 57), Dembélé (Llorente 69), Eriksen (Lamela 77), Rose, Kane, Alli.
Substitutes: Trippier, Vorm, Foyth, Davies.

Referee: A Taylor. Attendance: 31,950.

ALL PHOTOS: Simon Kimber. 

___________________________________________________

This Christmas we are offering a FOX subscription package that makes an ideal gift for any Leicester City fan…

For £17 you will get a 2017-18 subscription to The FOX.

The Summer Special and issues no 205 and 206 will be gift wrapped and sent in mid-December, and the recipient will then be posted the rest of the issues until the end of the season.

Also included will be a set of 21 cards celebrating City’s European Campaign of 2016-17.

And a Fanatical Frank Christmas Card.

To avoid a Christmas of tension and disappointment order one now.
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Leicester held by Hammers as bright start fades

West Ham United 1:1 Leicester City

City failed to build on a good start at the London Stadium on Friday night, allowing West Ham back into the game for a 1-1 draw…

Claude Puel named an unchanged side for this Friday night trip to East London, and after a opening spell that was bogged down in midfield, they took an eighth minute lead against David Moyes’ side.
Ndidi emerged from the midfield morass to feed Vardy in down the left and his low cross was missed by Ogbonna allowing Albrighton to slide in with an improvised finish from 12 yards.

This did nothing to improve the mood of the home fans, nor did the fact that City had the lion’s share of the ball for much of the first half, though few chances were created by the new brand of possession football.
There was a good shout for a penalty in the 22nd minute when Albrighton was bounced out of a challenge by Masuaku as he bore down on goal, but Martin Atkinson waved his appeals away.
Vardy then had a decent chance smothered with a timely block from Arnautovic. The resulting corner was headed out as far as Fuchs who had time to line up a shot but sent it high and wide.
As half-time approached, West Ham got a foothold in the game and threatened with a series of set-pieces.
Schmeichel did well to beat away an Ogbonna header from a free-kick, and then punched a Lanzini free-kick clear of danger.
City threatened on the break a couple of times, but Mahrez delievered a tame shot straight into Hart’s grasp, and a shot from Vardy went a yard wide of the far post.
West Ham applied some pressure late in the half, and from a Lanzini corner Kouyate muscled his way through a crowd on the six yard line to head the ball home via Simpson’s shoulder.

Although City still had more possession early in the second half, their passing in the final third was poor and West Ham gradually grew in confidence.
Masuaka cut in from the left and fired in a shot which Schmeichel smothered.
It was a poor spectacle at this stage with the game settling into a stalemate and several lengthy stoppages for injuries.
Puel brought Chilwell on for Mahrez in the 70th minute, but City didn’t improve.
The closest either side came to scoring was an Ayew overhead kick following a scramble from a corner, but it cleared the crossbar.
Both sides had to settle for a point from a forgettable game.

Claude Puel summed up:  “Our first half performance gives us confidence for the future because we showed good quality with the ball, we moved it well and found good space but we couldn’t score a second goal, but the way we played was promising for the future, but after that it was frustration.”

West Ham: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyaté, Obiang, Arnautovic (Ayew 69), Lanzini, Masuaku (Sakho 90), Carroll.
Substitutes: Adrián, Noble, Fernandes, Quina, Rice.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Albrighton, Ndidi, Iborra, Gray (Slimani 90), Mahrez (Chilwell 70), Vardy.
Substitutes: Iheanacho, King, Hamer, Dragovic, Okazaki.
Referee: M Atkinson. Attendance: 56,897.

____________________________________________________________

This Christmas we are offering a FOX subscription package that makes an ideal gift for any Leicester City fan…

For £17 you will get a 2017-18 subscription to The FOX.

The Summer Special and issues no 205 and 206 will be gift wrapped and sent in mid-December, and the recipient will then be posted the rest of the issues until the end of the season.

Also included will be a set of 21 cards celebrating City’s European Campaign of 2016-17.

And a Fanatical Frank Christmas Card.

To avoid a Christmas of tension and disappointment order one now.
You can pay online via Paypal HERE.

Or send a cheque for £17.00 to:

The FOX,
22 Cosby Road,
Littlethorpe,
LEICESTER
LE19 2HF

Get a FOX Christmas gift subscription for the Leicester fan in your life…

This Christmas we are offering a FOX subscription package that makes an ideal gift for any Leicester City fan…

For £17 you will get a 2017-18 subscription to The FOX.

The Summer Special and issues no 205 and 206 will be gift wrapped and sent in mid-December, and the recipient will then be posted the rest of the issues until the end of the season.

Also included will be a set of 21 cards celebrating City’s European Campaign of 2016-17.

And a Fanatical Frank Christmas Card.

To avoid a Christmas of tension and disappointment order one now.
You can pay online via Paypal HERE.

Or send a cheque for £17.00 to:

The FOX,
22 Cosby Road,
Littlethorpe,
LEICESTER
LE19 2HF

 

Leicester succumb to Man City masterclass

Leicester City 0:2 Manchester City

Leicester could do nothing to prevent Manchester City racking up their 10th consecutive Premier League victory, prompting Claude Puel to call them “The best team in Europe”.

Puel made one change to his side, with Albrighton in for Okazaki, and they almost breached City’s defence in the third minute.
Iborra threaded a ball through to Vardy who was in on goal before Kompany brought him crashing down. With the crowd baying for what looked like an obvious red card, referee Graham Scott produced a yellow.
Leicester were giving a good account of themselves before City settled into their stride and Mahrez beat Delph down the right, before delivering a hard and low cross that Kompany blocked, the ball going uncomfortably close to the near post.

By the 20th minute City were gaining control and Sané, a constant threat down the left, cut a ball back for Silva who forced a good save from Schmeichel.
City then lost Stones on the half hour when he pulled a hamstring while pursuing Gray down the left. But this didn’t stop their relentless ramping up of the pressure.
When Leicester did get hold of the ball it was soon given away, but Morgan and Maguire both produced good blocks to cut out the final pass in the area.
A low cross from Sané was blocked by Schmeichel, and Silva fired an effort over.
Just when it looked as though Leicester might survive to half-time, Man City spirited their way through the defence with a sublime move. Sterling played a through ball to Silva who timed a perfect run to stay onside and square for Jesus to tap the ball home from close in.

Half time guest Esteban Cambiasso earned a rousing reception, adding to his legend with the words: “I was at Leicester for one year, but I will be a supporter all my life”,
before Leicester set about the tall order of getting back into the game in the second half.
Their best chance came in the 49th minute when Maguire latched onto a poor punch from Ederson and struck the right hand post through a crowded area, but 25 seconds later they found themsleves two down.
From the rebound City poured forward at pace,  Sané  set up De Bruyne on the edge of the area and he made himself some space before launching a rocket into the top corner.

The game was gone and the damage limitation exercise kicked in now. A stretched home defence did pretty well, snuffing out several intricate moves in the penalty area.
Leicester created a couple of chances on the break, but on both occasions Vardy was frustrated by the linesman’s flag.
Iheanacho, Okazaki and Slimani were thrown into the fray, but nothing could disrupt the Man City flow and the visiting fans were “Ole-ing” as their side enjoyed almost total possession.
The stands began to empty as Leicester chased shadows for the last quarter of an hour, and there was nothing to do but acknowledge that this Manchester City side is one of the greatest we have seen in English football.

Claude Puel pointed out that it could have been a different afternoon: “The first move for us and the foul from Vincent Kompany, I think it’s a red. This action can change the feel of the game.”
But in honestly it looked as though City had another gear to spare.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Mahrez (Slimani 83), Ndidi, Iborra (Okazaki 83), Gray, Albrighton (Iheanacho 67), Vardy. Substitutes: Chilwell, King, Hamer, Dragovic.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones (Mangala 31), Kompany, Delph, De Bruyne (Gündogan 89), Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling (Bernardo Silva 84), Jesus, Sané. Substitutes: Bravo, Danilo, Agüero, Y Touré.
Referee: G Scott. Attendance: 31,908.

ALL PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

——————————————————————

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Leicester have to be content with a point at Stoke

Stoke City 2:2 Leicester City

City took the lead twice at the Bet365 Stadium in Saturday’s early kick off, but were denied three points by a Peter Crouch header…

Claude Puel made one enforced change to his line-up, with Chilwell injured and Okazaki regaining his starting place.
There was a pre-match Remembrance Day parade featuring a ball used by soldiers during the Battle of the Somme.

The game kicked off, or at least the ref blew his whistle. In a strange opening few minutes Stoke sat very deep, while City passed the ball amongst themselves.
The first chance came in the 11th minute  when Gray beat Zouma on the left and delivered a low cross which Vardy met at the near post, but Wimmer was on hand to block his effort.
Stoke then ventured upfield but Shaqiri pulled his shot well wide.
In the 20th minute Gray, faced with two defenders, chipped a nine iron over them to the far post, but it just eluded Okazaki, who picked up a knock from Butland.
There was another injury two minutes later when referee Bobby Madley pulled a calf muscle and was replaced by our old friend Jon Moss.
The game opened up after this and Stoke should have gone ahead in the 28th minute. The home side broke upfield and Choupo-Moting ran clear and side-stepped Maguire but sent his shot too close to Schmeichel who got down smartly to turn it away.
City then enjoyed their best spell of the game and took a 33rd minute lead. Following  a series of corners, the final one bore fruit. Mahrez delivered from the right, Maguire rose to nod it back across goal and Iborra pounced to blast a shot that Butland got a glove to, but couldn’t keep out.
Three minutes later Mahrez burst down the left, but hesitated in delivering a cross to Vardy, screaming for the ball in the middle, and Zouma snuffed the threat out.
From the resulting corner City almost replicated their goal, this time Gray sent it over from the left, Maguire nodded down again , but Iborra’s shot was blocked.

City were on fire now, Gray beat Zouma down the left and his low cross was met with a header into the ground from Okazaki 6 yards, but Butland showed fine reactions to palm it over.
Moments later Gray delivered a cross from the right, but Iborra headed over, unmarked, from ten yards out.
This fantastic passage of play then ended with a Stoke goal. City’s defence were caught on the hop, and a fine ball from Choupo-Moting sent Shaqiri down the right channel to curl a precise shot round Schmeichel.
City pushed forward again, looking to regain the lead, and a cross from Okazaki was acrobatically vollied narrowly over his own bar by Diouf.
Stoke ended the half well, with Schmichel having to guide a 20 yarder from Shaqiri round the post, but City were left rueing those missed chances during a purple patch that could have put the game to bed.

Stoke had the first chance after the break, when Schmeichel did well to hold on to an Allen cross that deflected goalwards.
Mahrez then fired in a 30 yard shot that moved deceptively in the air, leaving Butland grateful to help it over the bar.
Mahrez then jinked through a crowded area before sending a low shot across goal that went just the wrong side of the far post.
Claude Puel made his first change on the hour bringing Iheanacho on for Okazaki, and City regained the lead within a minute.
Ndidi fed Mahrez down the right, and he accelerated away from the challenge of  Pieters before cutting in towards goal and firing a snap shot home across Butland with the defence expecting a cross.

Iborra then limped out of the action to be replaced by King.
Stoke ramped up the pressure in search of an equaliser and Zouma fired a fierce shot straight at Schmeichel.
The home side levelled matters in the 73rd minute when substitute Crouch barged past Fuchs to meet a Shaqiri corner with a thumping header.
City should have regained the lead five minutes later when Iheanacho sent Vardy into the area. Vardy’s dummy sent Shawcross into the car park, but he then screwed his shot wide of the right hand post.
Stoke were on top for a spell and Puel brought Albrighton on for Gray with ten minutes remaining. But City still looked dangerous on the break – Iheanacho had the ball in the net in the 87th minute, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
There was one heart-stopping moment in time-added-on when Zouma’s close range header from a corner was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel, but both teams had to be content with a point from a game that had started slowly, but then turned into a hugely entertaining encounter.

Claude Puel commented: “I am happy with the attitude of my players, because it was a very good game, with intensity, with passion, with fight and it was very interesting. We had a lot of chances today, it’s difficult to accept just one point, but we also saw Kasper save well at the end so then OK, we take a point. We can make the situation better, the first and second goal we can prevent this. I think it’s an encouraging game for us for the future.”

Stoke: Butland, Zouma, Shawcross, Wimmer, Diouf (Berahino 86), Fletcher, Allen, Pieters, Shaqiri, Sobhi Crouch 69), Choupo-Moting. Substitutes: Jesé, Afellay, Martins Indi, Adam, Grant.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Mahrez, Iborra (King 66), Ndidi, Gray (Albrighton 80), Okazaki (Iheanacho 58),Vardy.
Substitutes: Hamer, Dragovic, Amartey, Slimani.
Referee: R Madley (J Moss). Attendance: 29,602.

ALL PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

——————————————————————

You can now subscribe to The FOX – The Leicester City fanzine for the 2017/18 season…

You can either print and post the above subscriptions form or pay online via Paypal below.

2017/18 Subs + cards – £20.90

2017/18 Subs – £16.95

Europe – £27.00

Rest of World – £33.00 

Many thanks for your continued support.