Palace Secure Play-Off Spot

Crystal Palace earned a point at Millwall this evening, meaning that Leicester can no longer catch them in the chase for a play-off place. This is a huge blow, as Palace face a Peterborough side desperate for victory on Saturday. This was City's most likely route back into the top 6. It is inconceivable to think that Bolton will fail to win their final home game against a Blackpool side who have nothing to play for. However, Leicester must win their game and hope for the most unlikely of miracles!

Peterborough Hold the Key

I wrote yesterday about the importance of Bolton's trip to Cardiff this afternoon. Indeed, Bolton drew 1-1 with the Welsh side, meaning that if the Trotters fail to beat Blackpool on the final day, a victory for Leicester at Nottingham Forest next weekend would see the Foxes into a play-off place. This is unlikely, given that Blackpool won this afternoon and secured their Championship status for another season. Blackpool will have nothing to play for on the final day and Bolton are bound to secure the 3 points and finish above Leicester.

However, of more interest will be Peterborough's game at Crystal Palace, if Palace fail to win at Millwall in mid-week. Peterborough will go into the final game thinking they need to win, in order to have a chance of staying in the Championship. If they pull off the victory and the Foxes manage to beat Forest, Leicester will be in the play-off places on goal difference. It is all still to play for and given the unpredictable nature of the Championship, few would predict the outcome of next weekend's games. Nigel Pearson will simply be relieved if his side still have something to play for on the final day.

Hornets Provide Sting in the Tail

Leicester City 1 - 2 Watford

This wasn't a 'must win' game but it was certainly a case of 'must not lose' for the Foxes. Defeat means that the Foxes must now win at Nottingham Forest next weekend for the first time in 40 years. Even if they manage that unlikely feat, Nigel Pearson's side are also relying on Bolton slipping up in both of their final two games. It is conceivable that Bolton will lose at Cardiff tomorrow but surely they will manage a home victory over Blackpool on the final day of the season. In truth, Leicester do not deserve the luck that such an unlikely set of results would afford them. With just 2 victories in 16 league games, Leicester's season did not fall apart tonight. It has been a steady demise since the start of February.

Leicester played well tonight against a skilful and organised Watford side. The visitors took the lead in the 41st minute when Deeney bundled home from a corner. Just two minutes later, Chalobah doubled Watford's lead with an incredible, fierce drive from 30 yards. The ball crashed against the underside of the crossbar and in. It was a remarkable goal and one that knocked the stuffing out of the Foxes. It had been a fairly even contest up to that point but City, as too often in recent matches, failed to take their chances. Wood, King and Morgan all missed decent opportunities in the first half.

City were spirited in the second half. Nugent, Kane and Marshall replaced Schlupp, Dyer and Knockaert respectively and Leicester had a good spell of pressure. In the 61st minute, Kane headed home Konchesky's cross to give the Foxes some hope. 8 minutes later, Leicester should have been awarded a penalty when Chris Wood was felled in the box. However, it wasn't to be their night - something we have said all too often in recent months. Watford held on to the victory and still have a slim chance of claiming 2nd place. Leicester's chances of claiming 6th spot are slimmer still. All eyes on Bolton's trip to Cardiff tomorrow. If Bolton fail to register a victory, there is still a tiny glimmer of hope for Leicester on the final day of the season. 

Palace Point Prolongs Play-Off Push

Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Leicester City

Twice Leicester City came from behind at Selhurst Park this afternoon to earn what could turn out to be a very valuable point. Danny Gabbidon put the Eagles ahead from Stephen Dobbie's free-kick before the half hour mark - it was the Welshman's first league goal for 8 years. Andy King's cool, curling finish 10 minutes later made the score 1-1 at the break. 20 minutes into the second half, Dobbie put Palace ahead again. This time the lead only lasted 6 minutes as Chris Wood notched his 20th goal of the season with a clinical finish.

City drop out of the play-off places, a point behind Bolton. However, Nottingham Forest dropped crucial points at home today, drawing 0-0 with second from bottom Barnsley. If Cardiff beat Bolton next weekend, 4 points from the remaining 2 games would be enough to secure a play-off place for Leicester. In this scenario, should the Foxes manage to beat Watford on Friday night, they would be going to Nottingham on the final day in search of a draw rather than a victory. In the final analysis, Forest may well rue today's results more than Leicester. All is still to play for and, be assured, it is going down to the wire!

Schlupp-up and away!

Leicester City 3 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Leicester clung on to a crucial 3 points at the King Power Stadium this evening and moved themselves back into the play-off places. It had been a disastrous start to the match - Morgan conceding a penalty in just the second minute. Ngog dispatched the spot-kick to give the visitors the lead. The Foxes showed real character to get back into the match and to be leading by half-time. In the 39th minute, Dyer was fouled in the box and Chris Wood put away the resulting penalty kick. Less than 2 minutes later, City were in front. Wood held the ball up well and played in Dyer, who crashed a shot against the underside of the bar to put Leicester ahead.

It was always going to be a tense second half given Leicester's recent form and the late goals they have conceded of late. 20 minutes from time, a poor defensive header from King allowed Pratley to fire home the equaliser. However, the Foxes showed real character to push forward in search of the winner. 12 minutes from time, Jeff Schlupp fired home a superb volley, from the edge of the box, into the bottom corner. The remainder of the match, including more than 7 minutes of injury time, was pure torture for City fans. Leicester might have conceded a couple of penalties, Bolton hit the bar and it seemed as though City had forgotten how to defend. However, they did see the game out to secure a crucial win.

Remarkably, with a full Championship programme, no other teams in the top 9 places managed to register a victory this evening. Crystal Palace, Leicester's next opponents, slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich. Win at Selhurst Park on Saturday and the Foxes will be in no worse than 5th place. It's a big 'if' but you'd be brave to bet against them.

Faltering Foxes Fail Again

Leicester City conceded another late goal to draw 2-2 with Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium last night. When Curtis Davies headed the ball into his own net in the 12th minute, Leicester must have felt that their luck was going to change. It was a promising performance from the Foxes but they will rue a host of chances that they squandered during the first half.  King, Keane, and Nugent all had excellent opportunities to extend the lead and put the game beyond doubt by half time.

Zigic equalised for the visitors just after the hour mark, after a well worked move down the right flank. With 15 minutes remaining, Schlupp powered a header home from close range and City looked destined for their first win since February. However, a rash challenge from David Nugent in the 90th minute gifted Birmingham City a penalty and Chris Burke beat Schmeichel from the spot. Replays showed that Nugent's challenge was outside of the box - it was a cruel blow for City.

Just 4 games remain and the Foxes must win 3, a highly unlikely scenario for a team who have won just 1 of their last 13 matches. Whilst it is easy to blame the manager, the truth is that key players have faltered at the crucial stage of the season. The strongest defence in the league hasn't kept a clean sheet for 9 games and the strikers have stopped finding the net. Chris Wood hasn't scored in his last 9 games and David Nugent hasn't netted in 12. These two factors combined have completely derailed Leicester's campaign - it won't be easy for Pearson to get them back on track.

Leicester Lament Late LuaLua Leveller

Brighton 1 - 1 Leicester City

Another last ditch goal cost Leicester City at Brighton's Amex Stadium this afternoon. In their last 8 games, they have conceded 5 goals in the last 5 minutes, dropping 7 crucial points in the process and failing to register a single victory during that run. Those 7 points would have put City in 4th place above Crystal Palace - so much for the best defence in the league. With 5 games remaining, City must win their 3 home games and register a point at Crystal Palace or Nottingham Forest to reach the 70 point mark. That may well be enough to secure a play-off place. It is a tall order but there is still some hope.

One reason for optimism was this afternoon's performance. Leicester were the better team, managing a staggering 19 efforts on goal, with 10 on target - a superb effort away from home against a team that is above them in the league. Matty James looked to have won the game for City in the 73rd minute, hitting a left footed shot in at the near post from close range. Frustratingly, the Foxes couldn't hold on and LuaLua's late goal stole a point for the Seagulls. It should be seen as a point gained rather than 2 points lost.

City now face 2 home games in 5 days - they must win them both. The club must do everything they can to get the Walkers Stadium full for Birmingham City's visit on Friday night. Birmingham are 13th with absolutely nothing left to play for this season. A win in that game could give City real momentum to take into the Bolton game just 5 days later. There were enough encouraging signs today to believe that Leicester can still find form and get the results that they need. After all, there is always one team that makes a late charge to grab 6th spot. Don't bet against that team being Leicester this season.

Brighton v Leicester Preview

Games don't get much bigger than this one. Lose it and City could find themselves 5 points adrift of a play-off place with just 5 games remaining. Win the game and Leicester fire themselves back into 6th place, possibly fifth, if Blackpool can beat Nottingham Forest. Draw today's game and any of Bolton, Middlesborough or Derby could find themselves right in the hunt for 6th place. It could be a defining weekend in Leicester's season.

Morgan will return to the starting line-up today, alongside Keane, De Laet and Konchesky. The rest of the side is difficult to predict as they have performed so badly in recent months. It would be no surprise to me to see some academy players in the squad - there is no such thing as a gamble when you have won just 1 of the last 11 league games. Brighton are unbeaten in their last 6 league games at the Amex Stadium. Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa is a big danger, having scored 7 goals in his last 6 starts for the Seagulls.

Rank Holiday Monday

Leicester slipped to a third successive league defeat at Oakwell this afternoon, as Barnsley ran out 2-0 winners. In truth, 5-0 may have been a fairer reflection of the game as the Tykes missed a penalty and had 2 goals ruled out for off-side. It was a dire, desperate performance from the Foxes, with some sections of the 2000 travelling Leicester fans jeering their team during the match. Leicester have now recorded just 1 win in their last 11 games, taking just 6 points from a possible 33. It would surprise nobody if Nigel Pearson lost his job before Saturday's crucial trip to Brighton.

Barnsley took the lead in just the 4th minute of the match. Michael Keane put the ball into his own net from a Scott Wiseman cross. O'Grady doubled the home side's advantage in the 40th minute, slotting home a cool finish. Konchesky condeded a penalty early in the second half after a clumsy challenge but Schmeichel kept out Scotland's spot kick. Schlupp did put the ball in the net for the Foxes but his effort was ruled out for offside. It was a toothless, lacklustre performance from the Foxes and even the most staunch Pearson supporters must surely be questioning his position. With 6 games left and at least 4 victories needed, a change could no longer be considered as a gamble.

Barnsley v Leicester Preview

Leicester may boast the best defensive record in the Championship but with club captain Wes Morgan suspended for this afternoon's game, the cupboard looks a little bare in defence. Strange then that Republic of Ireland international St. Ledger has been allowed to go on loan to Millwall, particularly as St. Ledger was chosen ahead of Whitbread to play at Cardiff the other week. Whitbread looks set to make his first start of 2013 today, partnering loanee Michael Keane at centre back. It will be interesting to see what formation Pearson chooses, I suspect it will be 4-4-2. Indeed, Whitbread in for Morgan could be the only change.

Barnsley are on a good run under new manager David Flitcroft and will be no pushover. Both Watford and Brighton lost their league games at Oakwell in March. The Tykes have won 5 of their last 6 home outings, although this has not been enough to stop them from slipping into the relegation zone. Make no mistake, Barnsley will be fighting for their lives this afternoon - Leicester City must do the same. The Foxes are outside of the play-off places for the first time since September and must show real strength of character to get back into the top 6. City must win at least 4 of the last 7 games to have any chance. Looking at the form guide, few would back them to achieve this.  No Championship team has picked up fewer points over the last 10 games. The Foxes need to turn a corner and fast!