Stoke City 1 Leicester City 0
Posted on: Wed 10 Oct 2007
Vincent Pericard's return to action saw him the score the decisive goal as the Potters reserves extended their unbeaten run to the season to six games.
The Frenchman clinically fired home from 20-yards five minutes from the end to wrap up an impressive individual performance.
First team coach Mark O'Connor fielded a mixed side ahead of the match featuring the likes of Pericard, Jon Parkin, Peter Sweeney and Demar Phillips.
it was the visitors started brightly though and they should have been ahead in the opening minute of play.
Foxes first team regular Jonathan Hayes powered forward, beating two defenders before rounding keeper Russel Hoult, but then comically fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
Barely three minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty.
Levi Porter played a clever through ball to Dutch midfielder Sergio Hellings who was tripped in the box by captain Marlon Broomes.
But City keeper Hoult was on hand to brilliantly parry Ricky Sappleton's penalty, before clearing it away from danger.
The Potters created their first chance mid way through the first half but Parkin glanced his header wide following a great cross from Peter Sweeney.
Pericard, making his first start since his release from jail, went even closer for the Potters minutes later but his header was cleared off the line.
Both sides continued to create chances as the first half drew to a close, with Sweeney and Demar Phillips going closest for the hosts.
The second half restarted and former West Brom keeper Hoult produced two brilliant saves, thwarting Porter twice after being set free.
Pericard almost gave O'Connor's side the lead after neatly controlling and swivelling, but his driven effort flew inches past the post.
Sappleton should have made it 1-0 for the visitors in the 63rd minute, but after latching on to a clever cross, he nodded the ball over the bar from 4-yards.
Jamaican international Phillips set off on a number of dazzling runs down the left flank, but no one was on hand to divert his teasing balls across the box in to the back of the net.
Gambian trialist Seyfo Soley brilliantly cleared the danger after Porter burst through, while Broomes calmly swept up following a dangerous Hellings centre.
With the game looking likely to end in a draw, Pericard brilliantly controlled on the edge of the area before slipping the ball past the outstretched Leicester keeper to put the Potters ahead.
The Foxes could have levelled in the final few minutes with Porter again bursting through on goal, however Hoult reacted brilliantly to block his low shot, and then gather the ball from under the strikers feet.
CITY: Hoult; De Laet, Soley, Broomes, Hazley; D. Phillips, Wedderburn (J. Phillips 30), Thorley, Sweeney; Parkin, Pericard (Grocott 87). Subs: St. Louis-Hamilton, Keys, Owens.
LEICESTER: Henderson; Kaebi (Beswick 59), Hayes, Kenton, Rowe-Turner; Maybury, Hellings, Garner, Porter; McKay, Sappleton (Chambers, 76). Subs: Pentney, Djeziri, Cox.
