Leicester v Sheffield Wednesday Team News

As expected, Schlupp in for Konchesky. Kane keeps his place. Team in full:

Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan (c), Keane, Schlupp, Marshall, King, Drinkwater, Kane, Wood, Nugent.

Substitutes: Logan, St. Ledger, Wellens, Gallagher, Waghorn, Knockaert, Vardy.

Leicester v Sheffield Wednesday Preview

There is speculation in the newspapers today that if Leicester lose at home to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, then Nigel Pearson will lose his job. This is quite frankly ridiculous. Pearson came in half way through last season and the club finished in 9th place. This season, Pearson's first full season in charge, the club are on course to finish in 5th place. The manager has had to weed out and remove devisive characters in the squad. He has had to re-balance the squad from the mess that was left by his predecessor, cutting the wage bill in the process. He has brought in young, talented players like Wood, Morgan, De Laet, Keane, Drinkwater, James. If City finish in the play-off places, regardless of the eventual outcome, it represents progress from last season. Therefore, the manager has earned the right to continue in his job next season too.

If the Foxes fail to gain promotion in 2013/14, the owners should re-assess the situation then. A change of manager now could move City in the wrong direction. After all, Pearson is statistically one of the best managers Leicester have ever had. During his first spell in charge of the club, Pearson won 51.4% of matches. No other Leicester manager in history (minimum of 10 games in charge) has a better record. The second best record belonged to Frank O'Farrell who won 46.27% of matches between 1968 and 1971. Guess who is in third place in the all time list? Nigel Pearson - during this spell, with a win ratio of 45.33%. These statistics don't lie. Pearson is doing a good job. The only route to Premiership is based on stability, continuity and building good foundations. Looking for City's 15th manager this century is not the answer.

Konchesky is out of tomorrow's match against Sheffield Wednesday with a hamstring injury - expect St. Ledger or Schlupp, who returns from his trial at Manchester United, to deputise at left back. I wouldn't expect the Kane experiment to continue in midfield. He is likely to be on the bench with Marshall and Knockaert playing wide. The visitors have lost their last two matches and sit 20th in the Championship table.

Score prediction: 2-0

Keane to Cover up Dyer Performance

A Michael Keane header, in the 4th minute of injury time, rescued a precious point for Leicester City against Leeds Utd this evening. It was a poor performance from the Foxes, who were frustrated by a well organised Leeds side. Samuel Byram put the visitors 1-0 up from a corner in the 52nd minute, volleying home at the far post. It was poor defending and Schmeichel should probably have dealt with the cross. Schmeichel made amends in injury time, coming up for a series of corners and making a nuisance of himself. This allowed Michael Keane to steal in at the far post and nod home the equaliser.

Questions have to be asked about the tactical setup of the team this evening. Kane was played out of position at right midfield in the first half and looked out of his depth. Konchesky came off injured at half time and was replaced by Lloyd Dyer, who didn't look comfortable at left back. Meanwhile, Whitbread was on the bench, St. Ledger didn't make the squad, Moore is out on loan and Schlupp is on trial at Manchester United. All could have done a job at left back. It seems odd to only have one defensive option out of 7 substitutes, but even more odd not to use that player when a defender gets injured!

The silver lining for City is that they did rescue a point from the match, while Brighton only drew and Middlesborough lost. Forest have now moved into 7th place in the table. Having won only 1 of their last 6 league games, Leicester must beat Sheffield Wednesday at the King Power Stadium on Saturday to re-gain some momentum in their push to secure a play-off place.

Leicester v Leeds Team News

It could be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 with Wood, Kane and Nugent all starting:

Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan (c), Keane, Konchesky, Knockaert, King, Drinkwater, Kane, Wood, Nugent.

Substitutes: Logan, Whitbread, Wellens, Gallagher, Dyer, Waghorn, Marshall.

Leicester v Leeds Preview

Of Leicester's remaining 12 Championship fixtures, 7 are against teams currently in the top 10. This includes 4 matches against other teams in the top 6, with 3 of these away from home. Forget 2nd place, securing a play-off place will be a good achievement from here. Brighton and Middlesborough are breathing down Leicester's neck - both play bottom of the pile Bristol City this week. Leicester have two home games in 5 days and you would think that anything less than 4 points out of 6 will increase the pressure on the Foxes.

David Nugent may return from a neck injury after resuming training today. The big question will be whether Pearson plays 4-4-2 as he did against Blackburn, or whether he plays 4-3-3 with Wood, Kane and Nugent upfront as at Blackpool. I suspect it will be 4-4-2, with Nugent on the bench for the 2nd half if needed. Leeds are in decent form, with 7 points from their last 3 games. They haven't conceded a goal in any of them. This will be a tough test for City and I would expect the defensive qualities of both sides to prevail.

Prediction: 0-0

Away Day Blues

A David McGoldrick goal 5 minutes from full-time consigned Leicester to a 1-0 defeat at struggling Ipswich Town this afternoon. It is the Foxes 8th away league defeat of the season, a statistic that may cost them in the final analysis of the season. More worringly, City have lost 3 of their last 5 league games, which leaves them glancing nervously over their shoulders. In my view, the issue is no longer whether Leicester can chase down 2nd place, but whether they can cement a play-off place. At the end of January, City had an 11 point cushion over 7th place. Today, that gap is down to 3 points.

With 7th placed Middlesborough turning in an impressive 2-1 victory over league leaders Cardiff today, it is going to be a fight to stay in the top 6. While Leicester's away form may cost them automatic promotion, their excellent home form will need to continue in order to secure them a play-off place. Two home games this week will be a real test of their resolve. Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday come to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday and Saturday respectively. With a tough run-in looming, anything other than 6 points from these two games may see the gap to 7th place reduced even further.

Ipswich v Leicester Team News

As expected, an unchanged side:

Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan (c), Keane, Konchesky, Marshall, King, Drinkwater, Knockaert, Wood, Kane.

Substitutes: Logan, Whitbread, Wellens, Gallagher, Dyer, Waghorn, Vardy.

Record Losses

Leicester City Football Club have announced record losses of £29.7 million for the season 2011/12. This figure includes £27.7 million in wages - over £532,000 per week. In 2010/11, City spent £16.6 million on wages. The club's debt to the Thai owners has now risen to a total of £61.6 million.

Ipswich v Leicester Preview

Ipswich have failed to score in 12 Championship matches this season, including their last two - a worse record than any other side in the division. This calendar year, they have won just 2 of their 10 matches in all competitions. Leicester haven't conceded in their last two games, meaning they have managed an unrivalled 14 clean sheets this season. Indeed, the Foxes are the only team in the league to have conceded, on average, less than a goal per game. You might be forgiven for thinking that there is only one possible outcome tomorrow. However, Portman Road is one of those grounds that Foxes fans will hold few happy memories of.

David Nugent is a doubt still with a neck injury and I would be amazed if Nigel Pearson does anything other than send out the same 11 players who started the game against Blackburn on Tuesday night. It was the best performance that the Foxes have put in for some time and the manager will be hoping for a repeat performance tomorrow afternoon. Two loanees may make their debut for Ipswich. Reece Brown is on loan from Manchester United and Frank Nouble, who scored a hat-trick for the U21's this week, is on loan from Wolves.

Prediction: 0-2

Potential line-up:

                        Schmeichel

De Laet   Morgan (c)   Keane   Konchesky

 Marshall   King   Drinkwater   Knockaert

                        Wood   Kane

Stadium Purchase

The owners of Leicester City Football Club have completed the purchase of the King Power Stadium in a deal believed to be worth about £17 million. The stadium had been owned by an American pension fund manager. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vice Chairman of Leicester City Football Club, said: “It has always been part of our long-term vision to put the stadium back where it belongs, into the hands of the Football Club. Our plan is to bring long-term sustainable success to Leicester City Football Club. Purchasing the stadium was always a key element in this plan."

The next task will be to try and get more supporters through the turnstiles in the 32,000 seater stadium. Leicester are in 5th place in the Championship and are having a good season. However, their average gate is only 21,426. East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest are in 8th place and have an average gate of 22,721 this season. Derby are in 12th position and have managed an average gate of 23,101.