Leicester City 1 - 0 Nottm Forest

[Steven]

Leicester 1-0 Nottm Forest : King (59).

A winter wonderland. :icon_bigg

 

[glyn]

Quality performance. Such a shame we couldn't have scored the two or three we deserved

 

[bocadillo]

Quality performance. Such a shame we couldn't have scored the two or three we deserved

Hard to believe that F!"£$t ever wanted more than a draw.

 

[SwedeFox]

Get in there boys //sunny Mexico

 

[Micky]

you beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

thought abe was outstanding.

bednar very average.

wellens very good also. defence rock solid.

i love you all!

 

[Matt_B]

Bednar looked good as well, like a faster Howard.

 

[bocadillo]

Get in there boys //sunny Mexico

You managed to catch the plane then?

 

[Micky]

Bednar looked good as well, like a faster Howard.

thought his distribution was poor though

 

[lcfc forever]

Brill result,thought Vassel excellent. and kingy what can you say,dont ever sell

 

[Micky]

there are so many forest nob ends on facebook who were spouting shit before the game and now they've all gone quiet. fecking hilarious!

 

[Micky]

I thought vassell was dissapointing, thought his run for the goal was a worldy though!

 

[SwedeFox]

You managed to catch the plane then?

Yes, quite comfortably as well. A bit jetlagged now though - it's only 15.50 here so I have to stay up a few hours more.

 

[Joe_Fox]

ooooooooh yeah, nice, Watched it on a frustrating stream so missed the goal but saw the rest. Thought we passed it very well and it was mostly one touch stuff. Gallagher was solid, won a lot in the air and rarely wasted possession. Abe also won a lot in the air considering his height. Wellens bossed it completely. Good energy from Vassell, Bednar was ok but a bit crap really. Weale did very well with the (cheating twat) Earnshaw chance. 1-0 flattered them.

Up to 14th and just 5 points off the playoffs and within 2 of Forest. Good performance, not great, just good. There were a few miss placed passes from Hobbs for example which tarnished it a bit. Good to get another win over local rivals and good to see pace throughout the team. King gets the goal again and would possibly deserve man of the match had it not been for Wellens resolute, solid and inventive performance. Some of his dribbling into the box reminded me of a certain Neil Lennon and surely one of his shouts must have been a penalty.

On another day it could have been 4-0. A decent game and just glad that snow only started to fall in the last 15 mins or so!

One other note, despite the feed being pretty shoddy, I could hear the Leicester fans singing more than the Forest ones which is the first time for ages at a home match. Good to hear, literally.

 

[Graz]

Good performance, good win!

Defence looked fantastic. Very impressed by Cunningham, and Abe anchoring in front of them.

Not convinced by Bednar, although he can get around more than Howard. Hopefully he'll be good when he settles in.

Vassell looked a different player in the second half! Don't know what Sven said to him at the break, but he came out with a lot more energy and enthusiasm

 

[gregs_y2k]

Great result! pretty even first half but we completely bossed the second.

Bednar's first touch was slightly off but I thought he put himself about well. Vassell is looking fitter and very dangerous when he runs at the defence.

Could have been 3 or 4 in the end (clearance off the line, definite penalty on Vassell in my opinion and a super save from their keeper from howard) usually i'd be biting my nails toward the end with Leicester defending a 1-0 lead but we completely shut them out and if anyone was going to score it was us.

 

[Steven]

From the OS. :icon_wink

Leicester City vs Nottm Forest 1 - 0

Leicester City claimed a well-deserved 1-0 victory over local rivals Nottingham Forest at Walkers Stadium with that man, Andy King, again the hero , as he scored his eighth league goal of the season. Before the game, departing Chairman, Milan Mandaric waved goodbye to the Foxes faithful and he will have been delighted to see City on top in the East Midlands derby after bossing possession for large periods. The Foxes had chances to double their lead in the second half, but found Forest keeper Lee Camp in fine form. However one goal was enough and sees City move within two points of tonight's opponents as the march towards the play-offs continues.

Leicester City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson made one change to his starting line-up bringing in recent loan-signing, Roman Bednar for his Foxes debut. The West Brom striker replaced Steve Howard, who dropped to the bench. Andy King was named as skipper for the game after shrugging off the injury he sustained in City's last npower Championship contest with Bristol City.

Club captain Matt Oakley returned to the substitutes bench in place of Bruno Berner. The visitors also made a single change as boss Billy Davies brought in winger Paul Anderson for Robert Earnshaw. Recent loan additions Aaron Ramsey and Marcus Tudgay were named amongst the substitutes.

Roman Bednar started the game in lively fashion for City, dropping deep and linking up play well in the early exchanges. In the fourth minute, a clever Richie Wellens through ball almost found Bednar as he burst toward goal, but it ran through to Forest keeper, Lee Camp.

Forest's in-form midfielder, Lewis McGugan, created himself some space on the edge of the City box after six minutes, but his powerful effort was well blocked by the Foxes defence.

After 16 minutes, both teams were struggling to settle into their passing game, but Forest were starting to look lively going forward. Guy Moussi almost found Dele Adebola with a clipped through ball, but City managed to clear the danger.

Three minutes later the best chance of the half fell to Adebola after some good work down the right-flank by Gareth McCleary, but he the big striker couldn't direct his effort on target.

After 23 minutes City were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the area after Andy King was felled following a clever through ball by Paul Gallagher. Gallagher stepped up to shoot, but his strike was blocked by the Forest wall.

Two minutes later the Foxes were awarded another free-kick. This time Greg Cunningham whipped an a dangerous left-footed delivery, and after a bit of a scramble, the ball ended up at the feet of Roman Bednar, whose well-hit half-volley was blocked by the Forest defence as it headed for the back of the net.

With half an hour played, the energetic Bednar earned another City free-kick, just inside their opponent's half, but Wellens kick was cleared comfortably.

Two minutes later, that man Bednar won another free-kick as the Forest defenders struggled to deal with his power and pace. But Paul Gallagher's scuffed delivery didn't lead to anything.

After 36 minutes, Forest made the first change of the game bringing on Robert Earnshaw for the injured Adebola in attack.

Moments later the Foxes were awarded yet another presentable free-kick and this time they went close, as Greg Cunningham's delivery almost embarrassed Forest stopper Lee Camp who flapped at the ball conceeding a corner. Camp soon made up for the error by claiming Paul Gallagher's inswinger.

Chris Weale was called into action in the 39th minute when Robert Earnshaw found himself clean through on goal, but the City number one came out and narrowed the angle blocking the ball well with his feet.

The Foxes had an appeal for a penalty turned down moments later when Richie Wellens was caught in the area, but referee Oliver waved away the protests.

In the 43rd minute City almost made the breakthrough when Darius Vassell slid onto a loose ball inside the six-yard box. The former England striker made connection at full stretch, beating Camp to the punch, but his effort was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

Ryan Bertrand went into the referee's book in first-half stoppage time for a mis-timed challenge on Vassell. Cuningham whipped in another teaser and the ball eventualy fell at the feet of Paul Gallagher who slammed a left-footed strike just wide of the post.

Half-time Leicester City 0-0 Nottingham Forest

City started the second half in positive mood as Wellens burst through into the area but lost his footing at the crucial moment and Yuki Abe drilled a long-range effort over the bar inside the first two minutes.

In the 51st minute City went close after some good work from Darius Vassell on the edge of the box, whose delicate pass fell nicely into the path of Andy King, but the Foxes skipper's left-footed strike was well saved by Lee Camp. Seconds later, and has the home side maintained the pressure, Vassell appeared to be dragged to the ground inside the area, but the referee was having none of it and waved play on.

On 58 minutes, Roman Bednar was inches away from making contact with a fine Wellens delivery from the left-wing.

Goal City 1-0 Forest - Andy King

30 seconds later City had the lead after a fine individual run from Darius Vassell who held off three players on his way into the area before his shot fell into the path of Andy King, who drilled the ball into an empty net with keeper Camp out of position.

The Foxes almost doubled their advantage in the 61st minute following another confident run and pass by Vassell who fed Gallagher inside the area, but the City man's shot just dragged wide of the post.

In the 65th minute the hard-working Bednar won another free-kick deep inside the Forest half. The ball was payed short to Vassell who dribbled out wide before forcing a corner, which was cleared by the visitors.

Three minutes later, Forest made their third and final change bringing on striker Nathan Tyson for midfielder, Lewis McGugan.

In the 71st minute, Andy King almost settled matters after a fine piece of individual skill, picking the ball up on the halfway line and setting off on a mazy run before curling a right-footed strike just wide of the post with Camp beaten all ends up.

Three minutes later, Billy Davies' men won a corner on the right. The ball was drilled in at a dangerous height but well cleared by the head of substitute Lloyd Dyer, who had replaced the impressive Darius Vassell minutes earlier.

Forest then sprung Chris Weale into action with a powerful strike from sub, Nathan Tyson but the City stopper was well postioned and got a strong fist on the ball to tip it to safety.

In the 80th minute, Curtis Davies let fly with a speculative long-range strike, but the ball sailed over the bar. Steve Howard then came on for debutant Bednar who had worked his socks off during his first game for the club.

As the snow came down, City continued to press for another goal as Yuki Abe and Richie Wellens continued to prompt and link-up play in the middle of the park.

Forest only really looked dangerous on the break, with the pace of Tyson and Earnshaw up front always a threat, but the City defence appeared to be handling them well.

Lee Camp kept the visitors in the game after a spectacular point-blank save from a Steve Howard strike in the 87th minute. The chance came after a good passing move involving Wellens and King. The Welshman found Howard in the box, who made a good connection with his right foot but was denied by Camp's agility.

With a minute left of the 90, Martyn Waghorn was brought on for Paul Gallagher as City continued to press for a second goal.

The fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage time but City continued to look comfortable in possession.

City managed to keep their East Midlands rivals camped in their half as the seconds ticked down with substitute Martyn Waghorn keeping the pressure up, and were well-deserved winners when the referee blew the final whistle.

Full-time - City 1-0 Forest

City: Weale, Naughton, Cunningham, Davies, Hobbs, Abe, Wellens, King (c), Gallagher, Vassell, Bednar
Subs: Logan, Morrison, Oakley, Dyer (For Vassell '71), Fryatt, Waghorn (For Gallagher '89), Howard (For Bednar '80)

Forest: Camp (c), Gunter, Bertrand, Chambers, Morgan, Anderson, McGugan, McCleary, Cohen, Moussi, Adebola
Subs: Smith, Majewski, Wilson, Ramsey (For Cohen '60), Earnshaw (For Adebola '36), Tyson (For McGugan '68), Tudgay

Bookings: Cohen, Bertrand (Forest)

Referee: M Oliver
Attendance: 24, 659

 

[Micky]

There were no bad performances tonight but as I said I thought Abe was outstanding. He wins so much second ball and his passing is brilliant. He often gives an instinctive one touch pass out of a tight situation and sets the ball rolling. A massively valuable player but then again on tonights showing, so are the whole team.

 

[Micky]

Good night god bless all! x

 

[Orifice]

Good stuff, a good team performance.

The more the game went on the more in control we were, they were ropey.
Good work The Sven.

I noticed that the bench was full of players that were automatic first choice starters last season - The Sven is taking over and it aint bad so far.

 

[Filthy Rich]

Also fantastic to hear a post match interview with a manager who answers the questions fully and intelligently. Unlike his 3 predecessors !