Leicester City vs Derby County
2 - 0
Date:
13/11/2010
Venue:
The Walkers Stadium
Attendance:
25,930
Referee:
S Tanner
Former Derby County striker, Steve Howard broke his old club's hearts with a second half penalty that sealed a well-deserved 2-0 victory for Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium this afternoon. Howard stepped up and confidently slammed the ball home in the 71st minute after Kyle Naughton had been fouled in the area by Derby's Kris Commons. Andy King had given the Foxes a first-half lead after running onto an excellent Richie Wellens pass and showing great composure to guide the ball home with his right foot as City dominated possession in the early exchanges.
Sven-Goran Eriksson had to make an enforced change to his starting eleven after the returning Miguel Vitor was injured during the warm-up. Jack Hobbs who had replaced the Portuguese defender for Wednesday's match against Sheffield United, again took his place. Eriksson made one other change to the Leicester City line-up, bringing in Steve Howard up front in place of Martyn Waghorn, with Howard also named as captain. For Derby County, former City man, Robbie Savage was named on the bench.
Paul Gallagher started the game in lively mood for City, whipping in a left-footed cross from the left, inside the first minute, but the ball was well claimed by Derby keeper, Frank Fielding.
On six minutes, Darius Vassell thought he had scored the first goal of his City career, but his well-placed right-footed effort was ruled out for offside.
Three minutes later, Curtis Davies went close with an acrobatic effort from a deep ball into the box, but the on-loan Villa man could only direct the ball over the bar. Then Andy King almost broke the deadlock after connecting with a diving header from a Richie Wellens free-kick, as City continued to dominate the opening exchanges.
City got the goal their early performance deserved on 13 minutes when Andy King got on the end of a well-measured Richie Wellens through-ball. The young midfielder was in acres of space and composed himself well before slotting the ball past Fielding in goal.
In the eighteenth minute, Kris Commons had Derby's first chance of the game when he turned well on the edge of the box and got a shot away. Chris Weale was equal to the effort and easily brought the ball into his chest.
Greg Cunningham and Paul Gallagher were tormenting the visitors down the left wing, with Cunningham overlapping and delivering a good cross into the box on 20 minutes, which was met by Andy King's head. Unfortunately the Welshman couldn't get enough power on his effort.
Gallagher then played Darius Vassell through on the left. The former England international turned inside onto his right-foot, but his shot was blocked and span away for a corner to City.
On 25 minutes, that man Andy King had another chance to score when Greg Cunningham got to the by-line and drilled the ball across into his path. City's number 10 was stretching to get there and couldn't quite get the required contact as the ball squirmed to safety.
Moments later, Paul Gallagher picked up the ball deep in his own half and stormed forward with intent. After skipping past a couple of Derby challenges, the City winger slammed a long-range right-footed effort just over the bar.
Just before the half hour mark, Foxes left-back, Greg Cunningham required treatment for a head injury but was able to return to the action.
As Derby began to get a foothold in the game, Jack Hobbs was called upon to make a telling interception following a dangerous looking Tomasz Cywka cross. The City defender did well to clear the ball to safety with Rams attackers in space behind him.
In the 35th minute, Kris Commons had a sighter from long-range, but his left-footed strike bounced just wide of Chris Weale's goal.
Derby created their first real opening three minutes later, when Kris Commons found Luke Moore with a nicely weighted through-ball. Moore knocked the ball onto his left-foot, but overhit his effort and the ball flew off target and away to safety.
On 40 minutes, the Rams went close again when Tomasz Cywka found some space inside the box, but he miss-hit his efort and the ball flew wide.
As the clock ticked down towards half-time, City settled back into the game, finding the ever-available Steve Howard, whose strength and hold-up play was taking pressure off the rest of the team.
Into first-half stoppage time, the Foxes were awarded a free-kick on the right-wing after Kyle Naughton was foulded, but Gallagher's delivery led to nothing.
Moments later, the home side were awarded another free-kick, this time on the left flank, when Greg Cunningham was clattered by Cywka. Gallgher whipped in a powerful low free-kick, but it was bundled away by the Derby defence. Seconds later the half-time whistle blew and the Foxes went into the interval one goal to the good.
Half-time: City 1-0 Derby
City started the second half brightly with Darius Vassell looking dangerous down the right-wing, whipping in a good cross which was met by the head of Steve Howard, but the ball went harmlessly off-target. Seconds later the same two men combined again, as Vassell found Howard inside the area, but City's number nine couldn't beat Fielding with his stike.
Leicester continued to apply the pressure and Derby centre-back Dean Leacock was the first player to go into the book after dragging down Darius Vassell.
The home side continued to press, with Richie Wellens finding an overlapping Kyle Naughton on the right-wing, after 55 miutes, but the move broke down despite Curtis Davies bombing forward to support the attack.
Yuki Abe became the first Foxes player to go into the referee's book when he mis-timed a challenge on 57 minutes and received a yellow card.
The Rams had a great chance to level matters just past the hour mark, when Paul Green's header from inside the six yard box flashed narrowly wide of Chris Weale's goal, following some good work on the wing by Luke Moore. Weale looked in commanding form between the sticks and claimed a looping ball into the box with solid catch.
Seconds later Lloyd Dyer came on for City, replacing Vassell, and Richie Wellens picked up a booking for a mis-timed challenge just inside the Foxes' half.
On 66 minutes Lloyd Dyer almost doubled City's advantage following a pacey run, cutting inside from the right-wing and eluding two defenders, but his left-footed shot was well saved by Fielding in goal. Dyer had another great chance just seconds later when he threw himself at a Gallagher cross but couldn't direct his effort on target.
Nigel Clough responded to City's dominance by bringing striker Shefki Kuqi on for winger Stephen Pearson on 68 minutes.
In the 70th minute the Foxes were awarded a penalty when Kyle Naughton was brought down in the box. The referee had no hesitation and awarded the spot-kick instantly. Steve Howard stepped up and drilled the ball past Fielding and into the net to give City a 2-0 lead, scoring against his former club in the process. Kris Commons was the man that brought down Dyer and he became the second Derby player to go into the referee's book, for the challenge.
On 76 minutes, Rams captain, Shaun Barker saw yellow for a late challenge on Richie Wellens, who limped off for treatment. Barker was then taken off by Nigel Clough, who brought on Russell Anderson to replace him in defence.
In the 83rd minute, City broke with pace as Wellens found Dyer on the right. The speedy winger cut inside before playing the ball out wide to Kyle Naughton, but the on-loan Sheffield United full-back saw his cross blocked at the near post. Moments later, Derby winger, Tomas Cywka was substituted with Conor Doyle joining the action.
With just over three minutes remaining, City combined well to create an opening for Paul Gallagher. An early Richie Wellens ball forward fell into the path of Andy King. The Welshmen fed Howard who looped in a deep cross, but Gallagher's header couldn't find Wellens who had continued his run into the box. Then, a minute later, Gallagher went close with a bouncing left-footed drive that went just wide of the target.
On 89 minutes City goalscorer Steve Howard was taken of to a hero's reception from the Foxes faithful, with Martyn Waghorn coming on to replace him.
Into stoppage time, Gallagher had another long-range effort, this time on his right-foot, but his low strike was slowed down by a deflection, allowing Fielding to tip it to safety. Derby offered little as the clock ticked down and the Foxes held on for another important victory.
City: Weale, Hobbs, Gallagher, Howard (c), King, Naughton, Wellens, Abe, Davies, Cunningham, Vassell.
Subs: Dyer (63, for Vassell), Fryatt, Logan, Waghorn (89, for Howard), Berner, Moussa, Morrison.
Derby: Fielding, Brayford, Green, Barker (c), Leacock, Commons, Pearson, Bailey, Cywka, Moxey, Moore.
Subs: Bywater, Savage, Kuqi (68, for Pearson), Deeney, Anderson (78, for Barker), Pringle, Doyle (83, for Cywka).
Referee: S J Tanner
Bookings: Abe, Wellens (City), Leacock, Commons, Barker (Derby)
Attendance: 25, 930.
