LCFC

Foxes Vs Saints

2011-08-27T18:56:00.003+01:00

Leicester Vs Southampton

3-2

A Game of Two Halves

So today was the day that ended our poor form at home. The foxes walked away the victorious side with a 3-2 win. This for the fans was most definitely a game of two halves. The Foxes form and approach to the game was as changeable as the weather.
Leicester started the afternoon in blistering fashion; Andy King was the instigator after finding himself in space. He sent in a delightful pass which Vassell gleefully nudged past the keeper Kelvin Davis to set the tempo of the game.
The young Jeffery Schlupp then made his appearance after Dave Nugent went off after 6 minutes (Hamstring Injury). Even following this departure the Foxes showed their intention when the second goal should of arrived after Matt Mills rose high to meet a Neil Danns' corner ball, only to be denied by an excellent Davis save.
Half way through the first half the second goal did arrive, Jeff Schlupp had been a constant threat up front, he held the ball up outstandingly before lining up Wellens who struck a 25 Yard curler which struck the inside of the post.
This was not to be an easy afternoon; once again a positional error with the defence allowed Dan Harding to nod home an Adam Lallana’s cross. Were we to go and allow another two goal lead to be taken from us?
Leicester was certainly intent on finishing the first half as they started. And once again that pressure paid off. Another corner came and so did another goal albeit from the head of Richard Lambert. 3-1 at half time, what an afternoon this was turning out to be.
Second half, wow what a difference. As the old saying goes ‘If it is not broke, then why change it’. The first half had been played using an effective 4-4-2 formation with Schlupp and Vassell up front working effectively. WHY did they decide to change what had been going so well. Schlupp had been pushed out on the right wing and the midfield did not even know who was supposed to be tracking who. We went from dominating the first half to being continually pushed back under a barrage of crosses and shots from the Saints.
The Saints pressure paid off as once again another Lallana cross found the head of David Connolly.
The arrival of Paul Gallagher (75) and Yuki Abe (86) failed to reproduce the flair and entertaining football that had been so evident in the first half. The team still failed to regain the composure and assertiveness that had earlier been on show. The defence were failing to clear the ball, the midfield was being pulled from pillar to post, the only thing Southampton were failing to do was score.
For Leicester the second half belonged to one man, Kasper Schmeichel. Salvo after Salvo is how it appeared to be for the Foxes defence. Even in the dying moments Schmeichel denied Lambert after he took a point blank shot at goal.
What had started out as a fantastic afternoon’s football turned into a survival match.
Leicester held on to the three points which were greatly needed for the fans and to show our intention this season. As I mentioned previously, if we are to show our desire and our intent this season then we had to ensure a win occurred today. The team did do that.
A two week international break now follows and I am sure the team will be better for starting the break with a win under their belts.

Goals:
Leicester: Darius Vassell (3’), Richard Wellens (22’) and Richard Lambert (og 45’)
Southampton: Dan Harding (28’) and David Connolly (53’)

Man of the Match for Me: Kasper Schmeichel

Attendance: A very poor 23,808

Richard Tullis
@Rich_Tullis

Leicester City Vs Southampton

2011-08-25T22:36:00.003+01:00

Leicester Vs Southampton

Foxes and Saints

Leicester entertain the crowds at home for the third time this season (League Games), hopefully it will be a case of third time lucky. Southampton arrive following an impressive start to their League campaign. Leicester on the other hand are looking for their first home win.

This will be the 77^th time (All competitions) the teams have competed against each other, and the first time since March 2008. The 2007/2008 season witnessed three encounters between the clubs, two league matches and one FA Cup match. Southampton won all three. Leicester’s last victory over Southampton was 14 October 2006. Leicester won in front of a home crowd 3-2. Iain Hume (35, 62) and Richard Stearman (65) with goals, Leicester’s highest goal scorer against Southampton is a Mr Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey with a total of 4 goals.

The first encounter between the two clubs was Saturday 29^th January 1898, it was an FA cup match at the Saints ground. They won 2-1 on that day. The first time we hosted the Saints was again in an FA Cup match, it was Saturday 14^th January 1911, and The Foxes won that game 3-1.

The Foxes are leading the way with victories when playing at home. Saturday will be the 40^th time we have hosted Southampton in all competitions. Of the previous 39 home encounters Leicester are leading the way, they have won 19 times, drawn on 9 and lost 11 times.

71 goals have been scored by the Foxes when hosting the Saints, averaging 1.82 goals a game. Southampton has only managed 1.33 goals per game when they visit.

The highest aggregate score was 8, Southampton 4 – 4 Leicester City this was 14^th January 1967

The highest Leicester score was 5, Southampton 1 – 5 Leicester City this was 14^th October 1967

The highest Southampton score was 6, Southampton 6 – 0 Leicester City this was 23^rd October 1948

Head to Head stats all competitions:

League – Leicester wins = 17 Southampton wins = 27, Draws = 24

FA Cup – Leicester wins = 3 Southampton wins =3, Draws = 1

League Cup – Leicester wins = 1, Southampton wins = 0, Draws = 0

Richard Tullis

@Rich_Tullis

Bury Vs Leicester

2011-08-23T22:32:00.000+01:00

Bury V Leicester

So Leicester City makes the trip north this week to visit 'The Shakers' in the Carling Cup second round.

Leicester makes the trip following an eventful weekend which concluded in a 2-2 draw with Forest. Whereas Bury host the Foxes following a 2-0 away win to Wycombe.

Leicester and Bury have faced each other only once in the League Cup and that was again at Gigg Lane on the 23^rd August 2005 (Round 1). Leicester walked away the winning side following a 3-0 win.

Goals from Joe Hamill (37), Richard Stearman (40) and a 61^st minute penalty from Joey Gudjonsson ensured safe passage to the second round.

Leicester and Bury have played each other on 57 different occasions (all competitions) with the first encounter being Christmas Day in 1894.

The teams have amassed 188 goals over the years together with Leicester scoring 97 to the Bury total of 91. This gives an average of over three goals for every game played. And Leicester’s average at Gigg Lanes is just over 1.5 goals per match.

The last time Bury managed to gain a win over the Foxes was in the old English Div.2 in 1956; Bury won that day 3-1. Every encounter since has been a Leicester win.

Head to Head stats all competitions:

League Cup – Leicester wins =1 Bury wins =0

FA Cup – Leicester wins = 3 Bury wins =1

League – Leicester wins = 23, Bury wins = 19, Draws = 10

Nottingham Forest Vs Leicester City

2011-08-20T22:35:00.000+01:00

Nottingham Forest Vs Leicester City

The battle that still has not been won

Saturday’s away fixture sees the two old adversaries’ line up face to face for the first time this season. For Leicester an away win is essential following two home defeats in succession. Points collected on the road would be a welcoming boost for the team who carry so much expectation on their shoulders

Leicester and Nottingham have faced each other on no less than 98 occasions. And Nottingham themselves are no doubt our biggest derby match. When we host them at the King Power Stadium on the 17^th March 2012 it will be the 100^th occasion.

The first meeting of the teams dates back to Saturday 9^th February 1901 it was in the English FA cup and Nottingham walked away the victories team following a 5 – 1 mauling of Leicester, The first half had ended with the score sitting at 0 – 0.

Head to head there is very little between these two sides. In league games Leicester and Nottingham are tied on 38 victories each, the teams have seen the score tied on 20 occasions during their league encounters. Even down to the home and away ties they cannot be separated with both teams holding at 27 home wins each.

During the League cup we are tied at 1 win and 1 draw each. The FA Cups only encounter goes to Nottingham. This was the match I mentioned earlier which was also their very first encounter together.

During their time together there has been some tremendous goals scored, from the 298 goals scored between them Leicester have scored 141 to Nottingham’s 157. History has witnessed results such as Nottingham 12- 0 Leicester on 21 April 1909. Quite remarkable as this was once again a 0 – 0 score line at half time.

On this seasons early form I would have said Leicester have the advantage, we have played one away match with one win, whereas Nottingham have played one home match and only managed a draw. The teams are only separated by a single point in the league standings.

There are many more stats available between these two sides but due to the game taking place tomorrow I thought it best to just show a brief history. For the return encounter in March I shall present a more in depth view of these two teams.

Richard Tullis

@Rich_Tullis

Leicester Vs Reading Result

2011-08-13T22:34:00.000+01:00

Leicester Vs Reading

0 - 2

The foxes are defeated by the Hunt

So the first home game of the season has been and gone. It certainly did not follow the script that had been written by so many supporters, I for one had envisaged a comfortable win in front of a fantastic attendance. Unfortunately I was wrong on both accounts.

On route to the stadium the news came through that at a certain Mr Jeff Schlupp was in the starting eleven, I should of realised things were not going to go to plan when a fan outside was asked by Radio Leicester “What do you think to Jeff Schlupp starting” when the reply “Who is Jeff Schlupp” was given I thought ‘Fantastic, great start to the season’

Following the pre show entertainment the teams emerged. What was the starting formation? 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or an obscure diamond, I could hear fans questioning each other. I don’t think the team quite knew themselves as we had to change the formation after 25 minutes or so. We are the home team and we have to change to how Reading is playing!

The players themselves looked new and unfamiliar with each other’s playing style; passes were being over hit or being played too hard to their mate’s feet causing a first touch to be off balance.

As the game progressed the old familiarities of watching Leicester last season started to re emerge, a few long balls started to appear and more often than not failing to find the lone target of David Nugent. Schlupp started to play upfront with Nugent, this made Richie Wellens occupy the wing position, although more often than not he we find himself drifting back to centre. The void he was leaving was allowing Konchesky to run down the wing from his left back position and cross a few balls in.

Reading certainly had the run of the first half, was a Sven wonder talk to change the fortunes of the Foxes?

Whatever was said certainly had an impact and with the arrival of Andy King the team certainly started the second half well. But still to no avail would a goal appear.

On the 64^th minute, disaster struck. An Ian Harte corner was delivered into the box, as though from nowhere an unmarked Owen Hunt waltzed into the box and delivered a superb glancing header at the near post.

From that point you could see the life drain from the team, this was not supposed to happen, we are Leicester City we are invincible this season. Well as history has shown we have not beaten Reading since 2002 when we host the first meeting between the two teams.

One man still held the belief of the fans, the expectation of the team and the desire to do better. That man was Kasper Schmeichel. He tore from his box issuing his war cry to the slumped men who appeared to have given up already. This was from a man who was not even the captain of the team. The gratitude of the fans was made evident by the rapturous applause he was receiving.

The old Faithfull’s also arrived in the second in the form of Gallagher and Waghorn, but still the elusive goal failed to appear.

Reading sealed their win when Hal Robson-Kanu emphatically glanced the ball past Schmeichel.

As the final whistle blew the most sickening noise emanated from the stadium. The boos, what kind of fan can stand there and boo when next week they will be cheering the same eleven men. I personally don’t see the point in this act. The team will themselves know they did not perform and they did not fill the crowds want and desire. Why make them feel as though the fans also hate them. We don’t hate them, they are our hero’s. We place our hopes and desires in them to achieve the dreams we all aspire to. We cannot win every game, we are not invincible, but we are a team with a dream and a vision to reach the Premiership.

For me the day was summed up with the announcement of the attendance, 23,399. How can the first home game of the new season, with a new team, a newly named stadium and a new dream only draw a crowd of 23,399? Friends I spoke to had visions of 26,000 to 27,900 fans being in attendance. Where were the fellow foxes?

Wednesday sees the arrival of Bristol City, will this be the home win we desire. Or will the hunted striker Maynard snare the Foxes.

Sven-Göran Eriksson summed up our missing link when he said “We needed a new striker at 15:00”. Will he arrive this week, or will we still be hunting for the one with the killer instinct.

Man of the match for me was Kasper Schmeichel.

Richard Tullis

@Rich_Tullis

Leicester Vs Reading

2011-08-12T22:33:00.000+01:00

Leicester Vs Reading

The fox changes his fur but still hunts the same

Saturdays sees the first home game (Championship) of the new 2011/2012 season. Much hope and expectation is resting on the Foxes this year.

The first Championship team to grace the newly laid pitch at the King Power Stadium will be Mr Brian James McDermott’s Reading.

Leicester and Reading have met on seventeen different occasions, with the first being back on Saturday 28th January 1928. Leicester walk away the victorious team on that day with a 1-0 away win. It would take Reading an incredible 76 years to claim their first victory against Leicester. This occurred on Saturday 11th December 2004, Leicester was the hoists on this occasion, but goals from Steven Sidwell and Ivar Ingimarsson ensured a 2-0 defeat of Leicester.

Fast forward to the 2010/2011 season and for the first time ever Reading managed to complete the double over Leicester. Firstly at the Walkers on 28^th August 2010 when Reading walked away with a winning 2-1 score line. Ironically it was a certain Matthew Mills who scored the winning goal in the 86^th minute. The return leg witnessed a miserable 3-1 loss to Leicester at the Madejski Stadium.

Head to head in the league the teams are pretty evenly balanced with both teams claiming five victories each, and four draws. Over the seventeen meetings (all competitions) the teams have managed to amass a total of 41 goals (Avg. 2.4 Goals a game) 23 of those goals belong to Leicester while Reading has a total of 18. Goals are pretty much guaranteed between these teams, only once in their history has there been a goalless draw (26th February 2005).

Martyn Waghorn is the top Leicester scorer against Reading with two goals to his name. Both his goals against Reading came in the 2009/2010 campaign. Leicester were 1-0 winners at the Madejski Stadium and then lost 2-1 at home that season.

So far the Foxes have had a great start to the season with a 1-0 victory over local rivals Coventry and a 4-1 Carling Cup win over Rotherham.

Reading only managed a 2-2 draw with Millwall on the opening day and their cup game was cancelled due to safety concerns.

As the last two matches for Leicester have shown the record books and stats are to be rewritten this year. It took 8 years for us to win at Coventry and we had previously never beaten Rotherham in a cup game. This time around we hope to amend the fact that we have not managed to beat Reading since 2002 when we host the first encounter between these teams.

I for one will be there Saturday to cheer my team on, and to watch what hopefully will become the creation of the King Power Fortress.

@Rich_Tullis

Rotherham Vs Leicester City

2011-08-09T22:35:00.000+01:00

Rotherham United V Leicester

So the Foxes make the trip to visit the Millers on Tuesday evening in the first round of the Carling Cup (League Cup).

With Leicester currently sitting 8^th in the Championship and Rotherham sitting 6^th in League 2, these two teams have meet on several occasions. Although Leicester has a fantastic league record against Rotherham United our actual league cup record against them is not quite as rewarding.

The teams have met on three occasions during league cup games, and on each occasion Rotherham has been the victorious team. The last encounter was in 1979 when the Millers sent us out of round 1 with a 5 -1 winning aggregate. At Filbert Street they walked away with a 2-1 win before finishing us of on the return leg 3-0.

Our last league game encounter in 2004 ended with both teams taking one win each. Ironically both teams won when away from home.

History is certainly against the Foxes tomorrow, although as Saturdays games showed we are in a new dawn for Leicester. It took the Foxes eight years to win away to Coventry.

Rotherham United V Leicester City Head to Head League Cup Record

14.08.1979 R1-2 Rotherham United 3 – 0 Leicester City (5-1)

11.08.1979 R1-1 Leicester City 1 – 2 Rotherham United

26.10.1960 R2 Leicester City 1 – 2 Rotherham United

Rotherham United V Leicester City League Cup Matches at

Leicester City Rotherham United

Leicester City Wins 0 0

Rotherham United Wins 2 1

Draws 0 0

Leicester City Goals 2 0

Rotherham United Goals 4 3

Leicester Vs Real Madrid

2011-07-30T22:31:00.000+01:00

A Real Treat.

So Saturday finally arrived and with it the long anticipated appearance of nine times European Champions League winners Real Madrid. This was to become the inaugural event of the newly named King Power Stadium.

The atmosphere outside the stadium was electric; the streets were aligned with supporters standing up to four men deep to wait the arrival of the team, but it was not our team they were waiting for. It was the team valued at over 1/2 Billion pounds.

The owners had pulled out all of the stops to provide the entertainment, even down to the free fun fair rides for the children. Was the game to provide the same amount of entertainment?

Once inside the stadium I made my way to my seat, as I did the first sight was the sun lapping against the new Desso Grass master System pitch, which look truly stunning, and to think it is not even finished yet.

The in-stadium entertainment continued as the 32,188 fans began to fill the stadium.

As each of the LCFC players were announced the stadium erupt with a unified cheer for each player, however this was echoed by boo’s for each of the visiting players.

Leicester started with City playing a 4-3-3 formation with Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, Bamba, Konchesky, Wellens, Abe, Danns, Gallagher, Nugent and Vassell. During the first half the team certainly took the match to Real Madrid with Leicester showing great resilience in anything that was put before them.

On 22 minutes Schmeichel showed what we had been missing in goal when he raced out to make himself big in front of Fabio Coentrao and to make a save that was truly stunning.

Half way through the first half Cristiano Ronaldo emerged down the West Stand touch line going through his warm up schedule. Suddenly boo’s emerged from the ground, eventually the round of applause he received drowned out the sound of those making the unnecessary noise. Are these the same people who not an hour ago were lining the streets in hope of catching a glimpse of the same player. I think those disrespectful fans were those who turned up to OUR stadium in Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool tops. This was a game for the people of Leicester and the fans of Leicester City FC. I know supporters who could not attend due to it being a sell out. I know I would rather see them there in their LCFC shirt than the non LCFC supporters who came for no reason at all other than to say ‘I was there’.

After 43 minutes of entertaining football the old worries of last season emerged with a defensive error leading to Karim Benzema dispossessing Matt Mills and then playing the ball to Jose Callejon, who rolled the ball into the unoccupied goal. This was an undeserved goal as Leicester had more than proven the desire and want on that pitch.

The second half witnessed the arrival St.Ledger, King and Johnson with Mills, Wellens and Gallagher making way for them respectively.

The next goal arrived after the hour mark; this showed the class of Real Madrid as following a LCFC corner they counter attacked with Benzema getting on the score sheet following an assist from the goal post.

We then saw the arrival of Waghorn, Howard and Dyer with quarter of an hour to play.

Fans started to stream from the stadium with ten minutes of play remaining, why do they do this? I would not leave that stadium even if we were losing 5 -0, and the reason for this is because we may just score that one goal, and the euphoria you feel when that goal goes in.

Those fans than continued to leave can no longer in years to come say I was there when Dyer scored his goal against Real Madrid. The goal that was created by a Waghorn corner, a Sol Bamba flick on and the mesmerizing volley by Dyer.

The score after 90 minutes proved that this game had not been the anticipated rout of Leicester. There was no 4-0 or 5-1 score line.

Leicester proved themselves on that pitch. They played like warriors; they were a team that can achieve great things this season, more importantly it was our team, our own players, our own foxes.

Richard Tullis

@Rich_Tullis