Leicester comeback earns a point at Anfield

Liverpool 2:2 Leicester City

City fought back from two bad penalty decisions to earn a point at Anfield on New Years’ Day…

Nigel Pearson made four changes to the side that won at Hull, with De Laet, Drinkwater, Hammond and Vardy in for Konchesky, Nugent, Cambiasso and Ulloa, and they nearly went a goal ahead in the second minute.
After Mahrez had been brought down by Moreno the Algerian international took the free-kick, and with everyone anticipating a cross he almost caught Mignolet out with a near post shot that struck the post.
In a very encouraging start for City great work from Schlupp down the left then set Mahrez up but he skied his shot into the Kop.

However, the first set-back of the game came in the 17th minute when referee Mike Jones handed Liverpool the lead.
A cross from the left from Sterling struck the sliding figure of Morgan full in the face. This was judged to be handball despite Morgan’s vehement protests and Gerrard put Liverpool ahead from 12 yards, despite Hamer guessing right.

City continued to try and take the game to their hosts and Mahrez was unlucky when his deflected free-kick went narrowly over the bar.
Drinkwater then had to retire injured, replaced by Nugent, in the 37th minute.
Five minutes before the break Liverpool were awarded a second penalty. After a challenge on Coutinho the ball shot up and made contact with Simpson’s arm. Despite him having no chance to get it out of the way Jones pointed to the spot again and Gerrard sent Hamer the wrong way to give City an impossible looking task.
But Nigel Pearson’s side kept plugging away, and their reward arrived in the 58th minute when Vardy set up Nugent for a superb scissor-kick finish that gave Mignolet no chance from the edge of the area.
Within two minutes there were manic scenes in the away end as City levelled the game, Schlupp finding the bottom right hand corner from 18 yards.

City were still looking to push forward in search of a winner but Liverpool were creating chances of their own and Hamer saved well from a Lucas effort.
City then had to soak up some late pressure, Borini fired over when well placed, and Hamer saved from Sterling and Coutinho.
There was a late scare when a Morgan challenge on Borini brought loud appeals for a penlalty at the Kop end, but Mike Jones declined the chance to point to the spot a third time.
City held out for a very well-earned point that continued the revival and gave their supporters some hope for 2015.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Toure, Sakho, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas (Markovic 72), Moreno (Lambert 85), Coutinho, Sterling, Lallana (Borini 55). Subs Not Used: Ward, Lovren, Manquillo, Ojo.
Leicester: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, De Laet, James, Hammond (Cambiasso 67), Mahrez, Drinkwater (Nugent 37), Schlupp, Vardy (Ulloa 75). Subs Not Used: Lawrence, Moore, Knockaert, Smith.

Referee: Mike Jones. Attendance: 44,720.

ALL PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

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We are going to extend this subs offer into early January.…

You will receive all the issues that have come out by mid-December this season: The Summer Special 2014; FOX 191 and FOX 192, will be posted by return of post.
You will also receive a set of 20 cigarette cards from last season’s title win. 

Also included will be a set of 12 Leicester City postcards and 5 full colour 8″ x 10″ prints).
The recipient will then receive the rest of the season’s issues as they are published in 2015…

All this Leicester City related fun and games for just £15…

Click HERE or on the blue bauble to pay online via Paypal.
Please remember to let us know the name you want on the gift tag and the delivery address if it is different from your Paypal address.

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Leicester end 2014 with a long-awaited win at Hull

Hull City 0:1 Leicester City

A Riyad Mahrez goal was enough to gain City their first victory since September against Hull at the KC Stadium on Sunday…

Nigel Pearson made two changes to his side, Cambiasso and James returning to the midfield in place of King and Drinkwater, for a basement battle that Hull boss Steve Bruce claimed was “bigger than the FA Cup final.”
Hull created the chances in a busy opening spell for Hamer who saved efforts from Aluko, Brady and Ramirez.
The lively Schlupp then had the ball in the net after winning a tussle with Livermore, but the ref ruled that he had impeded the defender.
However, just after the half hour McGregor was picking the ball out of his net again as City took the lead.
Nugent fed the ball to Mahrez  who lined up a precise left-footed curler beyond the reach of the keeper and just inside the left hand post. This was lifeline for City, and the first task was to reach half-time with the lead. Mahrez forced a good save from McGregor before Elmohamady scooped the ball over from close in when it looked easier to score.
So City reached half-time with their precious lead intact.
Bruce brought  Jelavic on for Ramirez for the second half, and it wasn’t long before City made their own change up front, with Wood replacing Ulloa. The New Zealander soon bore down upon goal, but was denied by a Davies challenge.
Although Wood then went close with another effort Hull were beginning to apply some pressure and Pearson switched things round with 20 minutes remaining: Cambiasso and Mahrez coming off for De Laet and Drinkwater.
As City conceded ground to a home side desperately seeking an equaliser it made for a horribly nervy end to the game.
Firstly Livermore struck the right hand upright with a shot, before Morgan blocked his effort from the rebound.
Then it was hearts in mouths again as Hernandez headed against the same post before the ball was scrambled clear.
City were then reduced to ten men when Konchesky clashed with Elmohamady when on a yellow, but matters were evened up soon afterwards when Quinn ended a promising break involving Wood and Nugent with his hand and was dismissed for preventing a goalscoring opportunity.
City held fast during 5 minutes of time added on and the final whistle heralded their first victory since September.

While no one could claim that City aren’t still in serious trouble it was, at least, a first step in the right direction…

Hull: McGregor, Rosenior, Bruce, Davies, Meyler (Ince 62), Brady, Livermore, Aluko (Hernandez, 62), Ramirez (Jelavic 46), Elmohamady, Quinn. Subs Not Used: Harper, Figueroa, Maguire, Sagbo.
Leicester: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski Morgan, Konchesky, Cambiasso (Drinkwater 71), James, Mahrez (De Laet 71), Nugent, Schlupp, Ulloa (Wood 55). Subs Not Used: Hammond, Moore, Knockaert, Smith.

Referee: P Dowd. Attendance: 23,809.

——————————————————————————————————————–

We are going to extend this subs offer into early January.…

You will receive all the issues that have come out by mid-December this season: The Summer Special 2014; FOX 191 and FOX 192, will be posted by return of post.
You will also receive a set of 20 cigarette cards from last season’s title win. 

Also included will be a set of 12 Leicester City postcards and 5 full colour 8″ x 10″ prints).
The recipient will then receive the rest of the season’s issues as they are published in 2015…

All this Leicester City related fun and games for just £15…

Click HERE or on the blue bauble to pay online via Paypal.
Please remember to let us know the name you want on the gift tag and the delivery address if it is different from your Paypal address.

or send a cheque for £15 to:

The FOX, PO Box No 2, Cosby, Leicester, LE9 1ZZ

Please remember to put a personal message if required…

 

No Boxing Day cheer for Leicester as Spurs take the points

Leicester City 1:2 Tottenham Hotspur

City’s win-less run extended to 13 games with a 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on Boxing Day…

Nigel Pearson made two changes to his side with Ulloa and Nugent replacing Cambiasso and Vardy.
But this new line-up found themselves a goal down with a minute on the clock. After a swift break down the left by Chadli he found Kane in the middle. The former-City striker easily eluded a flat-footed challenge from Morgan before beating Hamer from close in.
With City struggling to piece a decent move together Kane went close to doubling the lead for Spurs but sent his curling effort narrowly off target.
City’s first chance arrived in the 18th minute when good work from the lively Schlupp set Ulloa up. The Argentinian flicked the ball up before launching a fine half-volley that was just a little too close to Lloris, who tipped it over the bar.
It was a more even contest now and the action swung from end to end.
Hamer pulled off a good save from a well-struck Chadli shot, and then Morgan blocked an Eriksen effort; before Drinkwater robbed Stambouli of possession but delivered a wildly off-target shot when well placed.
Schlupp then burst through the Spurs defence again but his shot didn’t trouble Llori.
Roared on by another full-house, City cranked up the pressure towards the break. Drinkwater teed up Ulloa with a chance but Lloris forced him wide and he sliced his shot into the side-netting. Lloris then got down well to block a low shot from Mahrez.
City’s best chance of the half saw Mahrez crossing for Ulloa who sent a firm header crashing against the woodwork.
Kane then sent a header skimming the right hand post in the last action of the half.

Although City went down the tunnel trailing by a goal, they soon set that right in the second half.
Mahrez beat Bentaleb down the right and found Ulloa at the near post. The Argentinian stabbed the ball home before gleefully celebrating his seventh goal of the season.
City went close to taking the lead in the 52nd minute when Mahrez lifted a 20 yard free-kick over the wall, but struck the bar.
However, City were to shoot themselves in the foot once again in the 71st minute. Substitute James conceded a free-kick out on the left, bringing Kane down. The two-man wall turned its back on Eriksen’s shot which then beat Hamer at his near post.
Pearson brought Vardy on for Nugent and he soon forced a save from Lloris. His next effort landed on the roof of the net, and then he was brought down in the area by Vertonghen for what looked like a nailed on penalty, but the ref didn’t agree.
With time almost up City had a golden opportunity to equalise when a Mahrez cross found Morgan in space at the far post, but he lost all composure and ended up sitting on the ball.
Time ran out for City, who had played very well in spells, but had overall fallen short of Premier League standard, and been the architects of their own downfall.
The miserable run extended to thirteen games without a win… For how long will this be allowed to continue?

Leicester: Hamer, Konchesky (Knockaert 83), Wasilewski, Morgan, Simpson, Schlupp, King (James 46), Drinkwater, Mahrez, Ulloa, Nugent (Vardy 75). Subs Not Used: De Laet, Hammond, Cambiasso, Smith.
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Vertonghen, Lamela, Kane (Paulinho 84), Fazio, Chadli (Soldado 63), Eriksen, Stambouli (Mason 46), Bentaleb. Subs Not Used: Chiriches, Vorm, Townsend, Davies.
Referee: N Swarbrick. Attendance: 31,870.

Leicester gift points to West Ham

West Ham United 2:0 Leicester City

City’s win-less run stretched to twelves games with a 2-0 defeat against West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday…

Nigel Pearson named an unchanged side against an in-form West Ham and Sam Allardyce’s side applied some early pressure.
Sakho went close in the 6th minute, but then City had a decent spell of their own with Schlupp and Vardy causing the Hammers defence some problems. Carroll should have put the home side ahead in the 23rd minute but wasted a chance after being well teed up by Downing.
However, a minute later he was given a gift-wrapped Christmas present from Konchesky. The City left back set him up perfectly with a careless back-pass and he beat the advancing Hamer with a neat finish.
City kept at it and Mahrez forced a good save from Adrian, but the only other statistic up to the break was a booking for Vardy after a foul on Song.
Eleven minutes after the break it was all over as Downing produced a fantasic finish that gave Hamer no chance.
Pearson responded with a triple substitution, bringing on Ulloa, Knockaert and Nugent for Konchesky, Cambiasso and Vardy, but by now they were struggling to get a touch of the ball as the Hammers had their tails up.
Nugent provided one decent piece of play when a couple of feints took him past two defenders, but he fluffed his shot.

He then forced Adrian into a great save from a close-range volley, and once again City had to accept defeat.

The Premier League season that we had looked forward to so much, has now turned into a disaster.

West Ham: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins (Collins 69), Cresswell, Kouyate, Nolan (Amalfitano 86), Song, Downing, Sakho (Valencia 79), Carroll. Subs Not Used: Jaaskelainen, Zarate, O’Brien, Cole.
Leicester: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky (Knockaert 61), Cambiasso (Ulloa 61), Mahrez, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp; Vardy (Nugent 61). Subs Not Used: De Laet, Hammond, James, Smith.  Referee: M Atkinson. Attendance: 34,977.

ALL PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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It’s not too late to give The FOX as a Christmas present to the Leicester City fan in your life thanks to our new offer…

They will receive all the issues that have come out by mid-December this season: The Summer Special 2014; FOX 191 and FOX 192, will be posted in time for Christmas and will be gift-wrapped. You will also receive a set of 20 cigarette cards from last season’s title win. 

Also included will be a set of 12 Leicester City postcards and 5 full colour 8″ x 10″ prints).
The recipient will then receive the rest of the season’s issues as they are published in 2015…

All this Leicester City related fun and games for just £15…

Click HERE or on the blue bauble to pay online via Paypal.
Please remember to let us know the name you want on the gift tag and the delivery address if it is different from your Paypal address.

or send a cheque for £15 to:

The FOX, PO Box No 2, Cosby, Leicester, LE9 1ZZ

Please remember to put a personal message if required…

Leicester defeated by Champions

Leicester City 0:1 Manchester City

Leicester put in a decent performance against Champions Manchester City on Saturday, but yet another defeat left an air of resignation hanging over the KPS…Nigel Pearson made four changes to his starting line-up with Hamer, Morgan, Drinkwater and King in for Schmeichel, Moore, James and Ulloa.
Manuel Pellegrini had to change his plans when Dzeko injured himself during the pre-match warm-up.
Leicester started brightly with a couple of explosive runs from Vardy – one saw his cross for Schlupp cut out by Kompany;  and then he burst into the Man City penalty area though Mangala did enough to ensure he fired wide of the right hand post.
Cambiasso then missed the target after an error from Mangala before the visitor’s defence settled in.
After a fierce Toure shot was blocked by  Simpson, Leicester were inches away from taking the lead when a long range free-kick from Cambiasso whistled past the right hand post with Hart beaten.
Hamer’s first serious action came after half an hour  when he came off his line well to get a fist to a Silva free-kick. It fell for Pozo 20 yards out but Hamer had recovered his ground to comfortably field his first time shot.
Hamer then got down well to parry a low Toure effort, but could do nothing about the Champions opening goal five minutes before the break.

As Man City broke upfield, Nasri crossed for Lampard, who was completely unmarked in the middle and only had to place the ball past Hamer for the lead.
After all the effort of the first half, a defensive mistake had cost Leicester dear again.

The second half was broken up by endless free-kicks with the ref reluctant to allow any contact.
Silva missed the target from a decent chance, while up the other end a Mangala challenge on Vardy brought penalty appeals more in hope than expectation.
Ulloa, Powell and Knockaert were all introduced into the action, but Man City were content to sit on their lead and attack on the break.
Ulloa managed a shot on the turn, and Knockaert fired a free-kick was into the wall, but Hart had very little to do.
Ulloa sent an effort over the bar after a Morgan nod down the game was up.

Leicester were in no way embarrassed by their illustrious opponents, but another poor piece of defending ensured that they got nothing for their efforts and they remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Director of Football Terry Robinson did not survive the weekend, leaving the club on Sunday evening. We await further developments, though it is difficult to see any course of action that could preserve our long-awaited and hard fought for place in the top flight.

Leicester: Hamer, Konchesky, Drinkwater (Knockaert 79), Morgan, Vardy (Powell 72), King, Schlupp (Ulloa 64), Simpson, Cambiasso, Mahrez, Wasilewski. Subs Not Used: Hammond, James, Moore, Smith.
Man City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany (Demichelis 77), Fernando, Nasri, Lampard (Milner 60), Mangala, Silva, Clichy, Toure, Pozo (Navas 73) . Subs Not Used: Kolarov, Caballero, Fernandinho. 

Referee: J Moss. Attendance: 31,643.

ALL PHOTOS: SIMON KIMBER

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You can give The FOX as a Christmas present to the Leicester City fan in your life this year thanks to our new offer…

They will receive all the issues that have come out by mid-December this season: The Summer Special 2014; FOX 191 and FOX 192, will be posted in time for Christmas and will be gift-wrapped. You will also receive a set of 20 cigarette cards from last season’s title win. 

Also included will be a set of 12 Leicester City postcards and 5 full colour 8″ x 10″ prints).
The recipient will then receive the rest of the season’s issues as they are published in 2015…

 

All this Leicester City related fun and games for just £15…

Click HERE or on the blue bauble to pay online via Paypal.
Please remember to let us know the name you want on the gift tag and the delivery address if it is different from your Paypal address.

or send a cheque for £15 to:

The FOX, PO Box No 2, Cosby, Leicester, LE9 1ZZ

Please remember to put a personal message if required…

 

Leicester’s agony continues with defeat at Villa

Aston Villa 2:1 Leicester City

City surrendered a lead for the third game running, losing 2-1 at Villa on Sunday evening…

Nigel Pearson made two changes to his side, with Simpson in for De Laet, and Moore replacing the suspended Morgan, with Schmeichel made skipper.
The first chance fell to City when Vardy found Ulloa in the middle, and the Argentinian teed up James, who fired well over.
Although Benteke went close at the other end, it was City who took a 13th minute lead.
A low shot from Mahrez was mishandled by Guzan, and Ulloa was in the right place at the right time for an easy tap-in at the Holte End.
Sadly, this lead lasted only five minutes as a Westwood free-kick was headed beyond Schmeichel by an unmarked Clark.
Mahrez then got himself into a good position, but shot straight at Guzan.
Agbonlahor had a shot blocked by Simpson and Benteke was denied by Moore as the game turned into something of a stalemate up to the break.

Westwood was stretchered off after a challenge from Vardy, and Ulloa picked up an injury that would end his game at the break.

Nugent came on for the second half and had an early chance, but couldn’t find the target.
Benteke then raced through in a one-on-one with Schmeichel who advanced swiftly enough to rush the Belgian into a hurried shot that went narrowly wide.  Soon after this Schmeichel reacted very well to save an Agbonlahor effort from close in.
Wood came on for Vardy in the 66th minute, and set up a chance for Nugent, whose goalbound effort was saved by Guzan.
But it was the home side who took the lead in the 71st minute. City were somewhat embarrassed for pace down the left, and Benteke crossed to the far post where Hutton, completely unmarked, had all the time in the world to place his shot past the exposed Schmeichel.
Things got worse for Leicester with ten minutes remaining when Konchesky was shown a red card after a clash with Hutton, who had appeared to be the main offender but only got a yellow.

City kept at their task, but Villa packed their defence and there were only half chances for Wood and Cambiasso.

City remain bottom, with no wins from the last ten games and are now in crisis…

Villa: Guzan, Okore, Clark, Cleverley (Grealish 62), Agbonlahor, Westwood (Richardson 44), Benteke, Hutton, Cissokho, Sanchez, N’Zogbia (Bacuna 76). Subs Not Used: Given, Herd, Lowton, Robinson.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky, James, Vardy (Wood 66), Schlupp (Albrighton 78), Simpson, Moore, Cambiasso, Ulloa (Nugent 46), Mahrez, Wasilewski. Subs Not Used: Hamer, Drinkwater, King, Powell.
Referee: C Pawson. Attendance: 27,692 .

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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You can give The FOX as a Christmas present to the Leicester City fan in your life this year thanks to our new offer…

They will receive all the issues that have come out by mid-December this season: The Summer Special 2014; FOX 191 and FOX 192, will be posted in time for Christmas and will be gift-wrapped.

The rest of the issues will then be posted out on publication day until the end of the season.

Included in the offer is a limited edition set of cigarette cards celebrating City’s 2013-14 Championship title.

 

Click HERE or on the blue bauble to pay online via Paypal.
Please remember to let us know the name you want on the gift tag and the delivery address if it is different from your Paypal address.