Beckford's Backlash May See Him Banished

Leicester lost 1-0 at Peterborough this afternoon in a match that will be remembered by City fans for one incident. In the second minute of injury time, Jermaine Beckford chased back to his own goal line in an attempt to win back the ball. He remonstrated with his defenders, clearly frustrated by the situation in the match. Moments later, Richie Wellens won a free kick on the edge of Peterborough's box. It was the final chance for the Foxes to salvage a point from the match. Beckford stood in the centre circle, apparently refusing to go forward for the free kick. It was a move that infuriated the manager as well as the thousands of fans who travelled to Peterborough, and spend their hard earned cash contributing towards the player's wages.

Many will feel that Beckford's actions were unforgiveable and that he should never be allowed to wear the shirt again. Given Pearson's record in dealing with St. Ledger and Mills this season, it would not be a surprise to see Beckford omitted from the squad for the match against Doncaster on Easter Saturday. For the record, Paul Taylor scored a fabulous goal with a long distance strike on the hour mark to win the game for the home side. Leicester have secured 1 point out a possible 12 in their last 4 games on the road. Contrast that with 13 points out of a possible 15 from their last 5 home games. It is easy to see where the play-off charge has come unstuck.

Forest's Fight Frustrates Foxes

Leicester recorded only their third 0-0 league draw of the season against local rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. The result leaves City 4 points away from a play-off place and, although this result seems like a missed opportunity, Leicester are edging steadily towards the top 6. With the next 5 league games against teams below City in the table, the Foxes must find a way to win 3 successive games in order to put themselves in the frame before their final two matches against West Ham and Leeds. The squad looks thin, with Bamba forced to play a central midfield role against Forest. However, King's appearance on the bench, along with Wellens expected return this weekend, provides Leicester with a much needed boost. With 8 games already completed in March and a trip to Peterborough on Saturday, the more options Pearson has at his disposal, the better.

The manager was upbeat and confident in his post-match interview, discussing the 6 point gap to 4th place and pointing to a fixture list which sees many of the top 6 playing against each other before the end of the season. Let's hope the players share his optimism and can record their first away victory for 5 weeks at Peterborough on Saturday. With 13 points from a possible 15 at home, victories on the road could yet be crucial.

Home Form Keeps Foxes in the Hunt

Leicester secured their 4th successive home league win with a 2-1 victory over Hull City at the King Power Stadium this afternoon. The result leaves City 5 points adrift of a play-off place and keeps their season alive. The teams above Leicester are doing everything they can to keep City in the hunt for 6th place. With a home game against local rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night and a trip to 18th placed Peterborough a week today, Leicester now have a great opportunity to put pressure on the teams above them. If the Foxes can secure victories in their next two fixtures, their play-off charge will be well and truly back on track. At this stage of the season, it is all about a momentum and it's the perfect time to put 3 successive league victories together for the first time this term.

City conceded an early goal to old boy Matt Fryatt, who ran on to a perfectly weighted through ball and clipped a shot past a reticent Kasper Schmeichal. Two superb goals in the space of a minute turned the game on its head and credit must go to Pearson for the formation and tactics. Dyer, who put in an outstanding performance, cut in from the right to fire the equaliser into the bottom corner. Moments later, Ben Marshall smashed a 25-yard shot into the net. Marhsall was brilliant throughout, playing just behind Beckford, but with the freedom to roam. Nugent played wide left and supported Beckford at every opportunity. The fluidity of Leicester's attacking play caused problems for the meanest defence in the league throughout the afternoon. Danns was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle 12 minutes into the second half but Hull rarely threatened Leicester's goal and City were good value for the victory.

No Defence For Recent Away Run

Tonight's 3-3 draw at Blackpool epitomised Leicester City's performances on the road over the last two months. City have conceded 19 goals in 8 away games since the start of February, with 14 coming in the last 4 games. This will be hard to accept for a manager who was known as a no-nonsense centre half and who built a very solid defensive unit during his last spell in charge of the Foxes. The manager has been scathing in his criticism of the defence in recent weeks and has shuffled the pack regularly. As yet, he has been unable to find a successful formula. If Pearson is still in charge over the summer, defenders will certainly be top of the shopping list.

The most frustrating aspect is that, going forward, Leicester look like an excellent side. Beckford now has 14 goals this season and is starting to fulfill his potential, forging a great partnership with Nugent. Marshall is an exciting prospect - a wonder goal at Chelsea on Sunday and a fabulous cross with his first touch tonight, which lead to Beckford's second goal. Danns looks dynamic in the centre of midfield and Drinkwater's performances so far are promising. The nucleus of a good team is emerging and Pearson will get it right. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater, by starting all over again with new management and a new squad, would be an unmitigated disaster.

Thai Small Fry at Roman's Empire

Leicester City put on a brave show at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, eventually losing 5-2 to their big spending Premier League opponents. The Foxes never recovered from conceding two goals in the opening 20 minutes and, when Torres added a third in the 67th minute, Leicester could have been facing a rout. To their credit, City persevered and were rewarded with two late goals. Danns, who was comfortably Leicester's best player, ran at the Chelsea defence and fired against the post. Beckford was alert to smash home the reboud. Ben Marshall doubled Leicester's tally with 12 minutes remaining on the clock, scoring a 30 yard thunderbolt into the top corner, a goal that any of Chelsea's stars would have been delighted to score. Unfortunately, Torres second of the game was sandwiched between these two Leicester goals and kept Chelsea's two goal cushion. This prevented City from putting their hosts under any real, sustained pressure.

You only had to examine the substitutes bench to see the gulf in class between the two squads. On Chelsea's bench; Drogba, Malouda, Lampard, Essien, Ferreira, Luis and Hilario. Leicester's bench was made up of; Smith, Peltier, Kennedy, Schlupp, Hopper, Howard and Marshall. In Championship terms, Leicester have spent big money this season. By Chelsea's standards, the Thai investment looks like a drop in the blue ocean. Leicester's owners will have to open a few more Duty Free outlets before they can dream about Leicester City competing in the Premiership. The big question now is, if Leicester fail to reach the play-offs this season, will the Thais have the stomach to keep pouring their cash into a bottomless pit. Furthermore, will they continue to trust Pearson as the man to fulfill their ambition...

Super Sub Schlupp overshadows Beckford's Brace

Jermaine Beckford scored two important goals to help secure victory for Leicester City against Birmingham City this evening. Leicester were 1-0  down after the visitors were awarded a dubious penalty in the 20th minute. The officials had a poor game all round and serious questions must be asked about promoting referees from the lower leagues at such a crucial stage of the Championship season. Beckford scored the equaliser less than 15 minutes later and Leicester were on top for the remainder of the game. Jeff Schlupp came off the bench in the second half and gave the Foxes the lead 10 minutes from time. A second goal from Beckford secured all 3 points in injury time.

Leicester have won 5 and drawn 1 of their last 6 games at home and are back within 6 points of a play-off place. The victory just about keeps the league season alive and will give the team confidence leading into Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup Quarter Final. What price two trips to Wembley before the season is over? At this stage, Leicester fans would settle for 1. A few more league victories, notably against play-off rivals Blackpool and Hull in the next two games, and the Foxes may get greedy.

Royal Sobriety Performance

This afternoon's 3-1 defeat to the Royals was arguably Leicester's most disappointing performance of the season. Foxes fans have clocked up 500 miles in 4 days this week, with trips to Bristol City and Reading. They have seen their team clock up 6 goals against, put 0 points on the board and turn in two weak, lacklustre performances. The league season is effectively over and next Sunday's trip to Chelsea offers the players a last chance to give the fans something to cheer about this season. After that cup tie, Pearson must turn his attention to recruiting new players for the next campaign and introduce some of the Academy players to the first team squad. Calls for Pearson to be sacked are ludicrous. Leicester have swapped their manager year in year out for a decade and must strive for continuity if they are to have any hope of achieving anything in the next few seasons.

As for today's game, goals from Leigertwood, Church and Roberts gave the home side a 3-0 lead before Danns pulled back a consolation for Leicester in the 90th minute. City were thoroughly outplayed , particularly in the first half. Howard and Bamba replaced Beckford and Kennedy at half-time and, although Leicester were marginally better in the second period, they never looked like getting anything out of the game. Pearson was clearly angry in his post match interview on BBC Radio Leicester and fans can expect a few team changes for Tuesday night's home game against Birmingham.

2 steps forward, 3 steps back...

Two away 3-2 defeats in the space of three weeks, against lower ranked opposition, may well cost Leicester dear in the season's final analysis. Trips to Watford and Bristol City should have offered the Foxes the opportunity to close the gap on the teams sitting in the play-off places. Instead, City are still seven points adrift of sixth place and running out of opportunities to close the gap. A trip to 3rd placed Reading, who have won their last seven Championship fixtures, is a difficult proposition this Saturday. However, as well as the 3-2 disappointments, Leicester have put in impressive away performances at Southampton, Norwich and Derby of late. City fans know to expect the unexpected and another win is certainly not beyond them.

Leicester March On!

Leicester secured their first back to back league wins for a calendar year, with a 2-0 home victory over local rivals Coventry City this afternoon. The result means that Leicester have won 7 and drawn 1 of their last 10 games in all competitions, a clear sign that City still have a small chance of achieving 6th place this season. If they can repeat that form in the next ten league games, Leicester will be sitting on 70 points with 3 games of the season remaining. Over the previous 5 seasons, the average points tally for the team finishing in 6th place has been 72.8 points. With a staggering 7 further Championship fixtures this month, Leicester's 'March' towards the play-offs will either strengthen or unravel by the time they visit Peterborough on the 31st. With away trips to 3rd place Reading and 4th place Blackpool in that period, sandwiching an FA Cup Quarter Final Tie at Birmingham or Chelsea, it will not be an easy task.

Today's game should have been a straightforward victory, although Leicester made it difficult for themselves. Danns missed a 7th minute penalty before Nugent nudged the home side in front just 4 minutes later. Leicester squandered a host of chances during the remainder of the first half, against a poor Coventry team, and should have been more comfortable at the break. Beckford finally extended the lead on the hour mark before City conceded a penalty less than 20 minutes from time. Schmeichel pulled off a brilliant save to deny the visitors and kept a well deserved clean sheet. Konchesky was sent off for Leicester late on and the Foxes may well consider an appeal, particularly with 8 games in the next 28 days. Leicester close the gap on their play off rivals to 7 points and, with a visit to 21st placed Bristol City on Tuesday night, they will be hoping to reduce that defecit even further...