Old Boys Haunt Foxes

Charlton Athletic 2 - 1 Leicester City

Former Leicester City players Michael Morrison and Yann Kermorgant both scored against their former club to give Charlton all three points at the Valley this afternoon. The match finished 2-1 to condemn the Foxes to their first defeat of the season. It was an unfortunate defeat for Leicester and manager Nigel Pearson will be unhappy about several key incidents that occurred during the match. Referee Darren Deadman had a very poor game, inexplicably sending off Matty James, incorrectly awarding a corner to Charlton which lead to one of their goals and failing to give the Foxes an obvious penalty. City now go into the International break, reflecting on a very respectable haul of 10 points from 5 games and 5th place in the league at this stage.

Despite their legitimate concerns about the referee's performance, Leicester did not play well - particularly in the first half. Just before the half hour mark, Morrison was left unmarked from a corner and headed home the opening goal. Charlton held onto the lead until half-time. Early in the second half, James was fouled in the box and Leicester should have been awarded a penalty. Instead, referee Deadman deemed the protest of Matty James a second bookable offence and sent him off. Incidentally, the first offence was a harsh booking after just 11 minutes. 

Leicester's misery was compounded just before the hour mark as Kermorgant headed home from a corner to double Charlton's advantage. Schmeichel believed he was fouled as the cross came over but again, the referee saw things differently. Drinkwater pulled a goal back for City just two minutes later, rifling the ball home from the edge of the box. It was scant consolation for Leicester who wanted to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions. Leicester will look carefully at the referee's report and are bound to appeal against the red card shown to Matty James. It would be fair to say that Nigel Pearson will not be pleased to see Deadman walking in to officiate another Leicester game in the near future. 

Hammond Joins, Marshall Departs

Winger Ben Marshall has joined Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee. Meanwhile, Southampton midfielder Dean Hammond has signed for Leicester on a two year deal. He joins King, James, Drinkwater and Danns, bringing the tally of central midfielders at the club to 5. Marshall's departure leaves just Dyer, Knockaert and Gallagher as natural wide players in midfield. This may reflect Pearson's shift towards narrower formations this season, with 3 central midfielders on the pitch in most matches. It would be also be true to say that Marshall has flattered to deceive in the last year or so, after an impressive start in his first few months with the Foxes. 

Capital One Cup - 3rd Round Draw

Leicester City will face Derby County at the King Power Stadium in the 3rd Round of the Capital One Cup. The match is likely to take place on Tuesday 24th September unless it is selected for television coverage. Manager Nigel Pearson will be delighted with a home tie, after long trips to Carlisle and Wycombe in the previous rounds.

Five Star Foxes Ease Through

Carlisle United 2 - 5 Leicester City

Leicester ran out 5-2 winners in their Capital Cup Second Round tie at Brunton Park this evening. With Saturday's league trip to Charlton in mind, manager Nigel Pearson made six changes to his starting line-up. Logan, Bakayogo, Miquel, Dyer, Knockaert and Danns all started the match, shaping up in a 4-4-2 formation. The number of changes involved might explain why the Foxes made such a slow start to the game. Indeed, City found themselves behind in the 16th minute when David Amoo struck a right-footed effort past Logan. As the first half progressed, Leicester got into their stride and Wood found the equalising goal in the 37th minute - a neat left-footed finish.

Just two minutes into the second half, captain for the night Lloyd Dyer thundered an excellent finish into the roof of the net to put City ahead. They didn't look back. Knockaert doubled City's lead in the 50th minute before Wood scored 2 goals in 3 minutes, either side of the hour mark, to complete his hat-trick - the first a penalty. 20 minutes from time, James Berrett pulled a goal back for the hosts, but it was too little, too late. City go into the hat for the 3rd Round draw - that match likely to take place on Tuesday 24th September.

Foxes Finish Beats Brum

Leicester City 3 - 2 Birmingham City 

Three goals in the final 12 minutes were enough to give Leicester all 3 points against Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium this afternoon. Up until that point, it had been a frustrating afternoon for the Foxes who had created a plethora of chances without managing to find the back of the net. By contrast, Birmingham created one good chance in the entire game and took it. Leicester lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Morgan missing from the side due to a back injury. Whitbread partnered the impressive Moore at centre-back, with De Laet and Schlupp (continuing to deputise for Konchesky) as full-backs. 

It was a bright start to the game for Leicester and the only criticism of the first half would be the poor finishing. Vardy, Wood, James and Drinkwater all had at least one opportunity to score for the Foxes in the first half. Instead, on 12 minutes, the visitors took the lead. Ferguson's excellent cross was met by a flying Matt Green on the edge of the 6 yard box. It was a clinical finish although Schmeichel may be disappointed that he didn't attempt to intercept the cross. Frustratingly, it remained 1-0 until half-time. A 3-1 lead for Leicester may have been a better reflection on the pattern of play.

Credit must go to Nigel Pearson for the changes that he made at half-time. Criticised so often last year for being slow to react, he switched to a 4-4-2 formation and replaced Wood and Drinkwater with Dyer and Knockaert. In the end, these changes paid off. To be fair, Birmingham had their best spell midway through the second half and seemed to win all of the 50-50 balls. To compound this, the referee had a poor second half and missed several clear free-kicks that should have been awarded to the home side. However, 12 minutes before the end of the match, the Leicester players finally found their shooting boots.

First, Dyer burst through and squared the ball to Vardy on the edge of the box. He fired a right-footed shot, with the help of a slight deflection, low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. It was a well deserved goal for a much maligned player who has looked fit, sharp and tenacious in the opening few games of the season. Just 4 minutes later, King, on his 250th appearance for Leicester fired into the same corner of the net from an almost identical position. To top it off, Nugent scored a penalty in the 90th minute after Dyer was felled in the box. The spot-kick was fired high and hard into the centre of the net. Birmingham got a consolation goal in injury time, Chris Burke curling a lovely, left-footed effort past Scmeichel's outstretched right hand. That goal deprived City of top spot in the division, although I am sure that Foxes fans will settle for 2nd place, unbeaten and a tally of 10 points from 4 games - a fabulous start.

Away Form Will Hold the Key

The focus of disappointment for most Leicester City fans at the end of last season was the team's decline from the middle of January. However, it was Leicester's away form across the course of the whole season that cost the Foxes a place in the automatic promotion places. Hull City, who were promoted in 2nd place, did not have as good a home record as Leicester. Both teams won 13, drew 4 and lost 6 but Leicester's goal difference was + 23 to Hull's + 13. Yes, a disappointing finish to the season, but City did enough at the King Power Stadium to secure 2nd place. 

It was away from home where City struggled, winning on just 6 occasions to Hull's 11 victories. Peterborough, relegated to League One at the end of the season, matched Leicester's away points tally of 25. Ultimately, this is where City came up short. So, on that basis, two wins from their first two away league matches this season, suggests that City might be more competitive this season. They must be more resilient when they are in front and more ambitious when they are level or behind. If they can get this right, and match last season's home form, they won't be far off second place in May.

Ram Raiders!

Derby County 0 - 1 Leicester City

A 37th minute own goal by Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant gave Leicester their second successive away league victory. Aside from their solitary season in League One, this is now City's best league start for 16 years. Credit must go to Nigel Pearson, criticised for his inflexible formation last season. The manager had started this season with a new look 3-5-2 formation. However, he put out a 4-3-3 formation at Derby today and his players delivered. When things got tight in the second half, City switched to a 4-4-2 and managed to hold on for victory.

Liam Moore was awarded man of the match, putting in an outstanding performance alongside captain Morgan. Schlupp played at left-back, adding to speculation that Konchesky is on his way out of the club. Up front, Nugent played in behind Vardy and Wood. Credit must go to Vardy too, who has started the season in good form. His clever back heel lead to the confusion in Derby's box that gave the Foxes a crucial, winning goal. It took the Foxes until October to register their second away league win last season - two from two at the start of this term will certainly breed confidence.

Stalemate at the King Power Stadium

Leicester City 0 - 0 Leeds Utd

Leicester and Leeds shared a dull and uninspiring 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium this afternoon in front of the Sky cameras. Both teams cancelled each other out and there were very few clear cut opportunities for either team to break the deadlock. Drinkwater had a shot deflected wide in the first half and Wood struck the post with a low left-footed shot in the second period. That was as close as the hosts came. Matt Smith headed wide for the visitors late in the second half. Neither goalkeeper was forced into a save during the entire match.

Vardy and Nugent started the game upfront for City but service to them was poor. At the back, Whitbread returned to the side in place of the injured St. Ledger. New loan signing Ignasi Miguel watched the game from the sidelines - the Spaniard is a centre back by trade but can also play on the left-hand side. With Pearson persisting with a 3-5-2 formation that requires wing-backs, I suspect that Konchesky's days are numbered as first choice down the left hand side. Miquel, or the other new signing, Bakayogo, are bound to force their way into the team sooner or later. Many City fans had reservations about Konchesky as a full-back - he is certainly no wing-back.

A solid start to the season for City and reasons to be optimistic that City will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Capital One Cup 2nd Round

Leicester City have been drawn away to Carlisle United in the Second Round of the Capital One Cup. The match will be played during the week commencing 26th August.

Leicester Leave It Late in League Cup

Wycombe Wanderers 1 - 2 Leicester City

Leicester progressed into the Second Round of the League Cup after a second successive 2-1 away victory. Manager Nigel Pearson persisted with the same 3-5-2 formation, with a couple of changes in personnel. David Nugent partnered Chris Wood upfront, while Danns made a rare appearance in the centre of midfield. Liam Moore replaced Whitbread, who took a heavy knock in the game at Middlesborough. Dyer replaced Konchesky as wing-back on the left hand side of the field and Knockaert returned to the squad with a place on the bench. The Frenchman did feature in the second half.

The Foxes took the lead in the 13th minute from the penalty spot - Andy King fouled in the box by Wycombe midfielder Stuart Lewis. Reluctant penalty taker David Nugent slotted the ball home. City's lead was short-lived as Jo Kuffour found the equaliser for the hosts in the 21st minute. It was a scrappy game and Leicester failed to impose themselves effectively on the opposition. However, they found a way to win without the need for extra time. Sean St. Ledger, who scores his share of goals as a defender, scrambled home the winner from a corner in the 95th minute. 

Foxes Find Winning Formula

Middlesborough 1 - 2 Leicester City

It would be fair to say that many Leicester fans were grumbling when they heard the team news this afternoon - Vardy upfront with Wood and no place in the squad for Anthony Knockaert. However, Nigel Pearson's team selection was completely vindicated as City won the game 2-1, coming from behind after a poor first half display. Sean St. Ledger was unlucky to score an own goal in the 36th minute after Jutkiewicz seemed to foul the Irish defender from behind to force the error. In the second half, the Foxes seemed like a different team and whatever the manager said at half-time seemed to do the trick. Perhaps some of the manager's critics would do well to note that the team selection, the 3-5-2 formation and the half-time team talk were all spot on this afternoon. 

On the hour mark, Danny Drinkwater fired an excellent shot in at the goalkeeper's near post. Just 7 minutes later, the much vilified Jamie Vardy raced through and curled an excellent right footed shot into the far corner to win the game for Leicester. It was a hugely encouraging start to the season for City and will go a long way to exorcising the demons from Vicarage Road in May. The only disappointing aspect this afternoon was a serious looking injury to Zak Whitbread. The centre-half was stretchered off after 18 minutes with his neck in a brace and suffering from concussion. Liam Moore deputised in Whitbread's absence and is bound to play against Wycombe in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

All Quiet on the Leicester Front - Season Preview

It has, for once, been a quiet close season for Leicester City. Just two players have departed - Wellens and Beckford, whilst only one player has joined the ranks - former Tranmere left-back Zoumana Bakayogo. What's more, manager Nigel Pearson remains in post - a decision which polarises opinion amongst City fans. For some, Leicester's mid-season collapse, causing them to slip out of an automatic promotion berth and barely scrape into a play-off place, was unforgivable. Others will point to the fact that, in Pearson's 3 full seasons in charge, he has lead the Foxes to the League One title and two top 6 Championship finishes. This season is bound to be the manager's toughest challenge of all. 

Against the backdrop of new Financial Fair Play regulations, Pearson cannot strengthen his squad much further, without finding a way to offload Erikkson's big earning signings. So, Pearson must find a way to succeed with the players who got City into a good position last season and then blew it. Perhaps the painful memory of that last minute defeat to Watford in the play-off semi-final will be motivation enough. Pearson must be ready with a plan b when things are not going well. He can't change the personnel and so must be more flexible with his formation. It is interesting to note that 3-5-2 has featured heavily in pre-season matches. Don't be surprised if that is how the Foxes line up, particularly away from home and possibly starting at Middlesborough this afternoon.