Fighting Foxes Banish Bolton

Leicester City 5 - 3 Bolton Wanderers 

Leicester edged a pulsating and thrilling contest at the King Power Stadium this afternoon in their final game of 2013. Some excellent finishing, as well as plenty of kamikaze defending made for a fabulous spectacle, if not a brilliant advert for the quality of Championship football. Not many games boast a scoreline of 3-3 at half time. Danny Drinkwater gave Leicester the lead in the 5th minute, firing an excellent shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Just ten minutes later, Brazilian midfielder Moritz poked home a left footed shot from near the penalty spot to equalise. Former Leicester striker Jermaine Beckford gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute, firing clinically into the bottom corner from deep in the penalty area. 

To Leicester's credit, they responded well and man of the match Lloyd Dyer delivered an outstanding cross to pick out Anthony Knockaert at the far post, the diminutive Frenchman scoring a rare headed goal to make the score 2-2 with just 37 minutes on the clock. Again, Bolton bounced back within minutes, Moritz scoring his second of the game and it looked as though the visitors would go into the break ahead in the game. Crucially, Leicester found a way to draw level again before half-time, Paul Konchesky's shot deflecting past the hapless Lonergan. After the interval, Leicester began to exercise more control over the game and seemed tor get stronger as the game went on. In the 65th minute, Anthony Knockaert's free-kick struck the bar and Moore should have put the rebound away. City were dominating at that stage and it seemed like a matter of time before they took the lead again. In fairness to Kasper Schmeichel, the Dane made a superb save in the 70th minute to keep the scores level and deny Davies - it was Bolton's best chance of the half.

In the 73rd minute, Lonergan brought down Vardy in the box, only for David Nugent to miss the resulting penalty. Again, City persevered and just one minute later, Lloyd Dyer flew down the left flank, cut into the box and fired a superb finish into the bottom corner of the net - it was an outstanding individual goal. There was still time for substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher to cap off an incredible match with his first goal for the club. Moore hit a clearance to the edge of Bolton's box, King flicked it on and Taylor-Fletcher fired home in the 89th minute. Manager Nigel Pearson may have some concerns about his team's defending today but he will be delighted with how many chances his side put away, as well as the fact that so many different players found the back of the net. With Vardy suspended on New Year's Day after picking up his fifth booking of the season this afternoon, someone else is going to get their opportunity in the starting line-up.

So, the Foxes finish the year top of the Championship table, with 22 wins from their 44 league games this calendar year. In the context of this season, City sit on 48 points from 23 games, 4 clear of their closest rivals at the halfway stage. At this point last season, Cardiff City had 47 points from 23 games and went on to win the league by 8 points. January will be critical for City, both in terms of maintaining their form but also in keeping the squad together during the transfer window. If rumours are to be believed, Leicester may even strengthen their squad, with Algerian midfielder Mahrez set to join in a three and a half year deal. After last season's collapse in form throughout February and March, the arrival of a new player or two could give the squad a crucial impetus. Watch this space.

We win in the dark...

Leicester City 1 - 0 Reading

Even a first half power cut could not prevent Leicester City from securing another 1-0 victory this afternoon and moving to the top of the championship table. Supporters left the ground in almost complete darkness after the floodlights were powered by the emergency generator for most of the game. In gloomy light, Anthony Knockaert was fouled in the box in the 20th minute, giving David Nugent yet another opportunity from the penalty spot - he didn't disappoint. City had many opportunities to extend their lead and make the victory a comfortable one. In total, of the 21 shots at goal, only 7 were on target and, other than the penalty, most of these efforts were tame. A new striker may well be top of the shopping list in the January transfer window.

Whilst City played well in the first half, their second half display was simply gritty and resilient. They did enough to hold out for their second consecutive 1-0 victory. These are the types of games that, in the second half of last season, Leicester were unable to find a way to win. With Burnley slipping up at Middlesborough and QPR not playing until tonight, Leicester are currently sitting at the top of the tree. Bolton visit the King Power Stadium on Sunday for Leicester's final match of 2013 and their 23rd league match of the season - the halfway point. A 15th league victory would be a remarkable achievement and set the Foxes on the right course to a very happy 2014.

Foxes' Festive Fixtures off to Flier!

QPR 0 - 1 Leicester City

Jamie Vardy's ruthless finish in the 41st minute was enough to give Leicester all 3 points at Loftus Road this afternoon. The result moves City joint top of the Championship table and inflicts upon QPR their first home defeat of the season. Remarkably, it is Leicester's 6th away league win of the season - as many as they managed in the whole of last season. Importantly, it is both Leicester's first win and first clean sheet in December after a recent dip in form.

Leicester rode their luck at times today. QPR dominated possession and created lots of chances in the first half. They squandered all of them. By contrast, Leicester had one clear cut chance before the break and they took it. Just before the break, Schmeichel's goal-kick travelled deep into the opposition half of the field and Nugent flicked the ball on. Vardy chested the ball past the defender and rifled home a stunning shot with his right foot into the bottom corner of the net. In fairness, Leicester were stronger after the interval and created the best chances in the second half. Dyer should have scored twice and James' deflected shot rattled the bar.

Indeed, a second goal would have taken Leicester to the top of the table on goals scored. However, all associated with Leicester City will settle for a return of 42 points from 21 games. Maintain that form over the second half of the season and the Premier League beckons.

Man City Ease Past Foxes

Leicester City 1 - 3 Manchester City

Manchester City progressed into the semi-final of the League Cup with a comfortable victory over the Foxes. The match was over as a contest before half-time with the premiership outfit taking a 2-0 lead. Kolarov smashed home a superb 25 yard free kick in just the 9th minute and left the home side looking like the proverbial rabbits in headlights. In truth, Pellegrini's side could have scored a hatful during the remainder of the first half. It took until the 41st minute for them to double their lead, Dzeko heading home Milner's cross. City defenders were picked off during the build up to that goal and Nigel Pearson was right to express his disappointment at the defending during that move - City certainly contributed to their own demise. 

The second half was a different affair and many might argue that Leicester were the better team after the break. However, poor defending allowed Dzeko to score his second of the night. The defence switched off as Milner ran to the by-line to receive a throw-in. He slid the ball into Dzeko who finished into the bottom corner. It left the Foxes with too much to do. That said, the introduction of James at half time certainly enabled Leicester to retain more possession and to provide more of an attacking threat. Indeed, Lloyd Dyer managed to score a consolation goal 13 minutes from time after a good move down the left flank. At least City competed in the second half and they certainly didn't disgrace themselves.

Foxes and Clarets Share Spoils

Leicester City 1 - 1 Burnley

Leicester remain third in the Championship table, just one point off leaders Burnley, after the two clubs shared the points at the King Power Stadium this afternoon. Leicester dominated the opening exchanges and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute. The nature of the goal was fortunate - Vardy adjudged to have been fouled in the box. Nugent buried the resulting spot-kick. Despite many opportunities to extend their lead, City failed to do so and it was to cost them. Burnley came back into the game in the second half and equalised just 90 seconds after the break, Ings capitalising on some poor defending to volley the ball into the bottom corner. 

It was a decent result for Leicester against the league leaders and prevented the Foxes from slipping to a third straight defeat. This is particularly important in light of the fixtures still to come this week. Next up, the small matter of Manchester City on Tuesday night.

FA Cup 3rd Round Draw

Leicester face a tough trip to Stoke in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. The match is likely to take place on 4th January. The draw in full:

Barnsley v Hartlepool or Coventry

Yeovil v Leyton Orient

Liverpool v Oldham or Mansfield

Nottingham Forest v West Ham

Bristol City v Watford

Southend v Millwall

Middlesbrough v Hull

West Brom v Crystal Palace

Kidderminster v Peterborough

Doncaster v Stevenage

Stoke v Leicester

Southampton v Burnley

Newcastle v Cardiff

Rochdale v Leeds

Wigan v MK Dons

Charlton v Wrexham or Oxford

Manchester United v Swansea

Port Vale v Plymouth

Norwich v Fulham

Aston Villa v Sheffield United

Macclesfield v Sheffield Wednesday

Sunderland v Carlisle

Bolton v Blackpool

Blackburn v Manchester City

Everton v QPR

Brighton v Reading

Arsenal v Tottenham

Birmingham v Bristol Rovers or Crawley

Grimsby v Huddersfield

Ipswich v Preston

Derby v Chelsea

Bournemouth v Fleetwood or Burton

Scavenging Seagulls Frustrate Foxes

Brighton 3 - 1 Leicester City

Leicester suffered their first back to back defeats of the season at the Amex Stadium this afternoon. The result sees the Foxes slip to third place in the table, just one point behind Burnley and QPR. The Foxes face both of those teams in their next two Championship fixtures. Sandwiched in between those  games, the small matter of Manchester City's visit in the Capital One Cup. It would be fair to say that the next three games could go a long way towards defining Leicester City's season. 

Leicester never found second gear today. They found themselves behind in the 9th minute, Lopez finding Barnes at the far post after a poor Schmeichel clearance. In the 28th minute, Brighton doubled their advantage as Craig Conway chested down a cross-field ball and fired an excellent shot into the bottom corner from outside of the box. Just after the hour mark, King's headed goal from a Knockaert free kick gave City hope. However, a clumsy challenge from Morgan, less than fifteen minutes from time, gifted the home side a penalty and killed off Leicester's challenge. Barnes slotted home the spot kick for his second of the game.

Wednesday's Wickham Wangles Winner

Sheffield Wednesday 2 - 1 Leicester City

A Connor Wickham brace won Sheffield Wednesday all 3 points against Leicester at Hillsborough this evening. It had been a promising start for the Foxes, who took the lead after just 3 minutes. Anthony Knockaert's trickery left the Owls defenders on their heels - the Frenchman dribbling into the box from the right corner of the pitch and firing a powerful shot high into the net. The lead lasted for just 6 minutes. A high ball into the Leicester box wasn't dealt with by Wasilewski and Wickham managed to cut inside and curl a shot into the far corner. 15 minutes later, Wickham scored again from an almost identical position. This time, it seemed as though the Owls striker was just trying to cross the ball - it snuck into the net at the far post. 

Leicester huffed and puffed but didn't do enough to earn the equaliser that they were looking for. Having boasted a 27 point advantage over managerless Sheffield Wednesday before kick-off, the result will be extremely disappointing for City manager Nigel Pearson. The Owls had managed just 1 victory in their previous 16 league games before tonight's fixture. It is the kind of match that Leicester would have expected at least a point from, particularly when you consider that they were 1-0 up so early. The Foxes travel to Brighton on Saturday and will need to bounce back. One of the many strengths that Leicester have displayed this season is the ability to respond well to a disappointing defeat - they will need to do so again on Saturday to underline their promotion credentials.