Kettering Town 1 Leicester City 1

[Nottingham Fox]

Finished all square.

Moussa with the goal for us.

According to Stringer, Michael Ball was MOTM.

 

[Motown Fox]

FT are reporting a twenty man brawl after a bad tackle on Schlupp :icon_conf

yes it seems like Foxestalk has a bit more info on the game

 

[Motown Fox]

OS report on the game now posted

 

[Motown Fox]

Nearly 1,000 members of the Blue Army made the Tuesday-night trip to Elgoods Brewery Arena to see a strong City XI held by non-league Kettering Town.

Sven-Goran Eriksson watched from the stands as coach Mike Stowell took a team packed with first team experience, adding important match minutes to fitness levels ahead of the start of the new season.



While more of a workout than a match from which a result was important, City had to come from behind thanks to a fine first-half strike from Poppies forward Jean-Paul Marna.

But Franck Moussa produced a neat finish to a high-class Foxes move soon after to give City parity in a decent contest.

The latest of Sven-Goran Eriksson's new signings, defender John Pantsil, was due to make his debut against the Poppies.



But as the Ghanaian full-back's work permit was only cleared hours before kick-off, Pantsil was saved for Saturday's visit of Real Madrid.

It was still a strong Foxes team on show, though, with right-back Liam Moore the only non-senior professional selected from the start.

After Chris Weale and Sean St. Ledger had communicated enough to avoid a disastrous collision in the opening minute, City set about taking control

.

Lloyd Dyer was at his direct, explosive best down one flank in tandem with Martyn Waghorn on the other, while Matt Oakley and the versatile Michael Ball added experience to midfield.

Dyer nearly made the breakthrough on eight minutes from Oakley's measured pass, Kettering keeper Laurie Walker blocking well from eight yards.

But it was the home side that took the lead in spectacular style six minutes later - Jean-Paul Marna striding into space inside the City half before unleashing a fine drive out of Weale's reach.

The visitors continued to boss proceedings though and were swiftly level on 18 minutes.



St. Ledger picked out Waghorn with a swinging ball to the left flank and the powerful forward burst beyond Craig Dobson down the left.

The cross was beautifully measured and the arriving Moussa timed his jump well to guide his header past Walker.

Walker had to keep his side on terms soon after when he stretched to tip a stunning Steve Howard volley onto the crossbar, the big striker having pulled off to connect crisply with another Waghorn cross.

It had been a competitive first half, but things stepped up a gear after half-time and Howard reacted angrily to a strong challenge from Steven Meechan on the newly-introduced Jeff Schlupp.



But while City were not short on enterprising football, goalmouth incident - an off-target header from Alexandar Tunchev aside - was missing a little.

Moses Ashikodi gave Weale a scare when his high, looping lob bounced off the top of the crossbar on 68 minutes.

But Moussa retaliated on 74, striking a volley into the deck that bounced up and forced Walker to tip over.

Playing up the Rockingham Road hill in the second half, Kettering relied on counter-attacks in the main, especially as City's fresh legs began to push them back late-on.

But no further goals meant a share of the spoils.

City (4-3-3): Weale; Moore, Tunchev, St. Ledger, Berner (Schlupp 46); Moussa, Oakley (c), Ball; Dyer (N'Guessan 76), Howard (Kermorgant 76), Waghorn (Norburn 76).

Subs not used: Byrne, Parkes, Smith.

Attendance: 1,567 (957 away)

only 600ish from Kettering then

 

[Nottingham Fox]

610 Kettering fans
957 Leicester fans

 

[glyn]

We haven't won in three now? Doomed.

 

[homer]

Season's as good as over....

 

[Nottingham Fox]

yes it seems like Foxestalk has a bit more info on the game

 

[Motown Fox]

Moreno not given any game time so I guess he will be on his way shortly as Ball was asked to play in the holding role before he moved to his usual role.

I imagine as he got most peoples vote as MOTM that Sven will offer him a contract as he has shown he can play in different positions and Sven needs this sort of player even if they may spend a lot of time on the bench.

 

[Blue Maniac]

Good workout that. Liam Moore looked good first half, hooked in some decent looking crosses. Tunch, as has been mentioned before, is clearly now right-footed, which makes me think he's not as happy with his left leg as he would like to be. Dyer was Dyer. Waghorn appeared to have left his first touch at home; he was shocking. Kettering looked like a good, solid side. Got some good players. Playing like that they'll have a decent season.

 

[Motown Fox]

Photos now on the OS

 

[Filthy Rich]

According to Stringer, Michael Ball was MOTM.

That's what I thought. He looked different class, played with a smile on his face and looked like he was really enjoying himself. I reckon we could have a real bargain.

 

[Blue Maniac]

That's what I thought. He looked different class, played with a smile on his face and looked like he was really enjoying himself. I reckon we could have a real bargain.

He also looks about a stone lighter than he did against Sirius a couple of weeks back. Seems to fit in. Could be a very good signing.

 

[silkman]

Weale beaten from long distance eh? Now that's a surprise...

 

[Lako42]

Weale beaten from long distance eh? Now that's a surprise...

Leicester not closing players down to stop long shots coming in eh? now there's a surprise...

 

[Leesoh]

The "brawl" was, quite frankly, embarrassing and unnecessary.

Yes, it was a late challenge.

Yes, the Kettering player took Schlupp, not the ball.

But the ref gave the free kick, everything appeared to be under control, until Howard sprinted 20-30 yards to attack the Kettering man. I was surprised Howard wasn't sent off.

As my mate commented, it was the fastest she'd seen him move since he joined City.

 

[Blue Maniac]

As my mate commented, it was the fastest she'd seen him move since he joined City.

Eh? It took him about a minute to get there. It felt like I was watching a slow motion replay.

 

[Leesoh]

Eh? It took him about a minute to get there. It felt like I was watching a slow motion replay.

For Howard, that was pretty quick.

 

[Blue Maniac]

For Howard, that was pretty quick.

Ture.