Post Match Coventry 0 Leicester 1

[Steven]

Peltier with the goal :icon_bigg

 

[Billyjof]

Great start after a bad start.

 

[Filthy Rich]

Sounded like the referee (Deadman) was dreadful. I remember the name from a game last year. I'm sure he had a shocker then as well.

 

[Jenks]

New line-up, usual heart in mouth game! Not the comprehensive 5-0 I dreamt about last night but happy with 1-0.

 

[Steven]

From the BBC

Coventry 0 - 1 Leicester

Big-spending Leicester got off to a winning start in their promotion challenge as Lee Peltier's goal earned them a victory at Coventry.

The Foxes had Darius Vassell dismissed early on for a tackle on Richard Keogh before Coventry's Carl Baker was sent off for a challenge on Richie Wellens.

The visitors were denied a goal when David Nugent's header hit the post before Peltier nodded Leicester ahead.

Coventry struggled to create chances as the assured Foxes closed out the game.

Leicester had signed 10 players in pre-season and seven started as manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's side looked to justify their tag as one of the main favourites for promotion.

But the adrenalin of the new season appeared to overwhelm striker Vassell, who gave referee Darren Deadman little choice in brandishing the first red card of the 2011-2012 Championship season for a studs first challenge on Keogh on the halfway line.

The dismissal allowed Coventry to push further up the pitch, while the there were signs of dissent within the Foxes ranks and a disjointed air about the visitors's play.

Coventry were patient and probing, with the home side almost taking advantage of their extra man when David Bell's strike was tipped over by keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Sky Blues had a grip of the game only for Baker's red card after 39 minutes to even out the numbers and change the complexion of the match.

Eriksson's side became more of a force on equal terms and Nugent got on the end of a Neil Danns cross only for his effort to ricochet off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of keeper Joe Murphy.

Nugent should have scored when he was found by a ball from left-back Paul Konchesky but the forward sent an eight-yard shot the wrong side of the post.

His blushes were saved when a right-wing cross from Wellens was expertly headed in after 52 minutes by Peltier on his league debut for Leicester.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

:icon_eek: Wow! We have actually just won at Coventry!

 

[Jeff]

Sounded like the referee (Deadman) was dreadful. I remember the name from a game last year. I'm sure he had a shocker then as well.

Were you listening to Stringer/Young?

He didn't sound too bad on the 5 live commentary.

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

It started with a win! Hopefully we can get another striker in before the window closes and after today I think our discipline needs sorting out. So many bookings as a result of arguing or other unsportsmanly behaviour. Have a word Sven.

 

[Cate Fox]

Were you listening to Stringer/Young?

He didn't sound too bad on the 5 live commentary.

I enjoyed the 5 live commentary - none of the screaming that you get from Stringer when the ball is on the halfway line.

 

[Scarby]

just checked my ###### account and I didnt press place bet for the Nugent first goalscorer!! so saved a tenner.

I did however win a few quid on a Leicester win

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Great start, was always going to be difficult what with a local derby and our our tag of big spending favourites. Result means we are off to a flyer, but more importantly we kept a clean sheet and showed the character after going down to ten men so early on, that shows we have the mentailty and attitude we aint going to be flat track bullies. We can mix it up when needed. Think we will see a lot of 1-0 away victories this season. Well done Sven and the boys.

 

[Filthy Rich]

Were you listening to Stringer/Young?

He didn't sound too bad on the 5 live commentary.

Yes, I was listening to the gruesome twosome! Do you mean to say they are biased?

 

[Chryatis]

Great result :icon_razz

Especially after the sending off.

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

Yes, I was listening to the gruesome twosome! Do you mean to say they are biased?

I'm sure they are having listened to 5Live today. Still, rather that than having a Derby fan as local radio commentator...

 

[Filthy Rich]

Yes, I was listening to the gruesome twosome! Do you mean to say they are biased?

Seriously speaking, inconsistency seemed to be the problem, for example when Gallagher was booked and then Murphy kicked the ball away in the last minute and no action was taken. There appeared to be many similar instances.

I quite like a biased commentary. After all, I am biased towards Leicester when I'm actually at the game!

 

[FryattFox]

That'll do.

 

[lanxfox jnr]

Absolutely brilliant cant remember the last game where i lost my voice really good atmospher, the everybody dance now song was crap though. Referee was abysmal mad bad decisions for both teams. Looked good defensively and midfield was good also but upfront is in desperate need of a goalscorer. Really enjoyed the day and we just need to win the fa cup so cov cant say f all! COME ON YOU BLUES!

 

[Motown Fox]

MatchReport on the OS

A second-half header from debutant Lee Peltier got City's npower Championship season off to a winning start in a peppery M69 derby.

One of seven new signings in Sven-Goran Eriksson's opening-day team selection, the summer arrival from Huddersfield Town rose to glance home Richie Wellens' 53rd-minute free-kick, sending 6,264 travelling supporters into raptures at the Ricoh Arena.

It came at a crucial time in a game which saw both sides reduced to 10 men before the break - Darius Vassell dismissed for the Foxes for a challenge on Richard Keogh and Carl Baker for Coventry for something equally reckless on Richie Wellens.

And it did justice to the control Eriksson's men had over proceedings at the home of their nearest rivals - Gelson Fernandes and Wellens outstanding at the heart of the Foxes midfield.

But it was the discipline showed by Eriksson side that will have most impressed the travelling Blue Army - both during the minutes between Vassell's departure and Bakers' indiscretion, and in closing out a game they may have let slip in previous seasons.

Eriksson named seven of his summer signings in the season's first starting eleven, handing one of them - defender Matt Mills - the captain's armband on his debut.



Coventry's line-up also included some new blood, with goalkeeper Joe Murphy, defender Cyrus Christie and midfielder Gael Bigirimana all making their Sky Blues bows.

There was a change to the Coventry style of recent seasons too, with Andy Thorn's men playing some neat passing football in the opening exchanges, matching up to the Foxes in what looked set to be an entertaining contest.

But the chances of those early indications following through took a blow on 11 minutes when City were reduced to 10.

Stretching to reach a challenge with Coventry defender Keogh after the ball had bounced off him, Vassell was a fraction late and judged to have his studs raised. The clattering noise of the impact didn't help, and Darren Deadman's red card confirmed the outcome.



Eleven minutes into the new season, it could have been a huge blow to City's confidence, but Eriksson succeeded in steadying the ship, rearranging his midfield to hold things together and aided immeasurably by the industry of the superb Fernandes.

A driven cross from Chris Hussey that flashed through the goalmouth aside, City were relatively untroubled and were close to countering on 22 minutes when David Nugent's excellent turn and cross was nearly converted by Neil Danns.

Thanks to some fine organisation in front of him, Kasper Schmeichel had been barely called upon, though he did have to help a fierce drive from David Bell on its way over the bar on 37 minutes as the hosts tried to build momentum.

But the wind was taken out of their sails just two minutes later as Baker levelled the numbers up.



Wellens had done superbly to turn out of trouble deep in his own half near the left touchline, but was clattered by Baker seconds later as the former Stockport man flew into the challenge.

Wellens' discomfort was clear, but Baker felt he'd made the most of it, making his feelings clear to the Foxes midfielder after being given his marching orders.

But the game had been evened up and City almost took advantage immediately - Danns crossing dangerously from the right, Nugent muscling out Martin Cranie in the middle and the England international directing a fine header off the foot of the post.

Buoyed by their new-found numerical parity, City came out flying after half-time and should probably have gone in front six minutes into the second period - Nugent unable to get enough on a left-foot shot from Paul Konchesky's left-wing cross.



But the 6,000 fans behind the goal at that end didn't have to wait much longer for their opener, though they might have been surprised at the source.

The free-kick it came from was innocuous - Hussey handling needlessly as Nugent tried to get round him down the right - but Wellens' subsequent delivery was far more purposeful.

With Mills and Sol Bamba attracting most of the attention in the centre, it was the elusive Peltier that found space to meet the cross, guiding a terrific header across Murphy and inside the far post.

Coventry tried to respond quickly through their most potent attacking threat - former Everton youngster Lukas Jutkiewicz, who got just beyond Mills in the inside-left channel before seeing his angled shot comfortably saved by Schmeichel.



But with Fernandes dominant in the middle third, supported ably by Wellens and the retreated Danns, City looked relatively comfortable - Yuki Abe slotting in at right-back following the injury-induced withdrawal of goalscorer Peltier.

Fernandes' performance could have been rewarded with a goal on 70 minutes when the Swiss midfielder typically stripped Bell of possession on the edge of the box, but dragged his shot wide.

Clingan kept Schmeichel's gloves warm with a decent hit a couple of minutes later, but City continued to fashion the better chances - substitute Andy King working his was round two defenders before Murphy denied him 14 minutes from time.

Coventry City (4-3-1-2): Christie (Wood 79), Keogh, Cranie, Hussey; Bigirimana, Clingan (c), Baker; Bell; Jutkiewicz, McSheffrey (O'Donovan 79).

Subs not used: Dunn, McPake, Thomas.

Booked: Hussey, O'Donovan.

Sent off: Baker 39

Leicester City (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Peltier (King 60), Mills (c), Bamba, Konchesky; Fernandes, Abe, Wellens; Danns, Nugent (Gallagher 78), Vassell.

Subs not used: Weale, Dyer, St. Ledger.

Goals: Peltier 53

Booked: Wellens, Gallagher, Fernandes, Mills.

Sent off: Vassell 11

Attendance: 21,102 (6,264 away)

 

[SJN-Fox]

Peltier 1 - 2 weeks out according to Sven

 

[Billyjof]

the everybody dance now song was crap though!

What was this? must of missed it I'm intrigued.