Rushden match thread

[bocadillo]

Bell 58

Ding ****ing Dong!!

 

[pds]

boom boom

 

[Steven]

From the OS.

Rushden 2-0 Leicester City

A youthful Leicester City line up fell 2-0 to Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park on Wednesday evening.

Craig Levein gave new signing Peter Gilbert his debut on the night - for what was the Foxes' second game in the space of three days.

But the Welsh under 21's debut will be short lived after he limped out of the contest in the 57th minute.

Alan Sheehan and Richard Stearman were handed the centre-half roles, allowing Jay Smedley and Gilbert to take up the full-back positions.

City's first real effort of the game came in the 17th minute. Sheehan struck a 20-yard free-kick goalwards with power, but an outstretched boot in the Rushden wall made the block.

A fine save from Conrad Logan prevented the home side from taking the lead in the 24th minute. The pacey Moses Ashikodi was through on goal, but the Irishman spread himself well to make the save.

Ashikodi thought he had put the Diamonds ahead three minutes later, but his effort from 12-yards was ruled out for handball.

Rushden took the lead in the 40th minute of the contest. Greg Pearson's shot from the edge of the area was deflected into the path of dangerman Ashikodi who made no mistake from close range.

David Bell almost doubled the Diamonds' advantage a minute into the second half. The tricky midfielder cut through the Leicester defence, but his shot from the edge of the area struck the base of the post and fell to safety.

City came close to drawing level with 48 minutes on the clock. Chris O'Grady did well down the left, but Louis Dodds was just beaten to the near post and Rushden cleared.

New man Gilbert was replaced on the 57th minute after the man worryingly went down after a heavy challenge.

Rushden made it 2-0 in the 58th minute. The industrious Bell, who had been a real thorn in the side of the young visitor throughout the game, blasted a free-kick from 20-yards through the City wall and past the helpless Logan.

Tommy Wright nearly got one back for Leicester in the closing stages, but his 25-yard effort drifted just over the bar.

O'Grady also came close in the last minute, but his shot from close range was well saved by Jamie Young.

City now travel Oxford on Saturday to play their final pre-season fixture of the campaign.

City: Logan, Smedley, Gilbert (Muggleton 57), Stearman (c), Sheehan, Wykes (Franklin 76), Graham, Wright, O'Grady, Dodds, Porter.
Subs: Lycett, Pentley, Norvall.

Rushden: Young, Gier (c) (Dempster 46), Hawkins, Kelly, Allen, Gulliver (Grainger 46), Ashikodi, Pearson (Woodman 46), Chillingworth (Tomlin 76), Bell, Burgess (Kennedy 32).
Subs: Jackson, Okuonghae.

Att: 2,032 (away 353)

 

[Hazzman]

Gilbert another injury.

 

[Graz]

Gilbert limped out of the contest!

 

[fcukcov]

Gilbert another injury.

do u know that for certain hazzman?

 

[Steven]

do u know that for certain hazzman?

Not for certain.

But the Welsh under 21's debut will be short lived after he limped out of the contest in the 57th minute.

 

[fcukcov]

Not for certain.

Has he played any pre season for Plymouth? Could be a bit stiff/unfit?!

 

[Hazzman]

Just an assumption. 57 minutes seems early for stiffness.

 

[Jedi]

moses ashikodi is the bloke who got sacked from Millwall for trying to Knife another player in the club canteen.
should be a good signing:icon_lol:

That's gotta hurt! Better in the club canteen than between the kidneys...

 

[Steven]

Just an assumption. 57 minutes seems early for stiffness.

Could be that foot again. :icon_sad:

 

[Hazzman]

Or Wrist.

 

[EBFox]

Gilbert went down under a fairly weak challenge.

He should be fit because he's just come back from Argyle's pre-season tour of Sweden. This looks like adding to the list of pre-season injuries. Who have we got as cover now for left back?

EB - just back from the game

 

[fcukcov]

Gilbert went down under a fairly weak challenge.

He should be fit because he's just come back from Argyle's pre-season tour of Sweden. This looks like adding to the list of pre-season injuries. Who have we got as cover now for left back?

EB - just back from the game

What was your general opinion tonight then EB?

 

[fcukcov]

Just been on pop up that gilberts injury is not too serious. be back soon.

 

[Steven]

From the OS.

Black Hopeful On Gilbert

Kenny Black has revealed some positive news regarding the injury sustained by Peter Gilbert in City's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Rushden & Diamonds on Wednesday evening.

The Welsh under 21 international was helped off the pitch just before the hour mark after an innocuous looking incident on the edge of the Leicester penalty area.

But Foxes coach Black is hopeful that the left-back will soon be back on the training ground with his new team-mates.

Speaking after the game, he said: "Peter was clearing the ball and as he has turned he has felt his thigh. He was a little bit tight but he seems okay now and he is going to go in for treatment in the morning. The early indication is that he has got a pulled thigh muscle. Taking him off was just a precaution.

"He needs games at the moment - that will allow us to instil into him how we want him to play.

"The last couple of weeks have been difficult for him because the transfer has been off and on. He will now be looking forward to putting that behind him and battling for a place in the first team."

Leicester fielded a young side for the friendly clash, and their senior opponents proved just too strong for them on the night.

He added: "We felt that after Monday night's game against Inter Milan it would be asking too much out of the first team lads to play again just 48 hours later.

"But the fixture gave us the chance to have a look at a lot of the fringe players.

"We actually played some of our best football when we went 2-0 down.

"We are obviously disappointed to concede the two goals, but we will try and not let it dent our confidence too much."

Leicester will now regroup ahead of Saturday's game against Oxford - the club's final pre-season friendly of the summer.

Black said: "That game gives us the last real opportunity to look at things before the big kick off.

"We have done a lot of work on the training ground and we have to make sure that we peak a week on Saturday - not at Oxford."

 

[Joe_Fox]

Why are we getting so many injuries lately? Have all the other clubs got together and conspired against us, telling players to go in heavy at the earliest oppourtunity?

 

[EBFox]

What was your general opinion tonight then EB?

Stearman OK, nothing more, sensible giving him the armband. Sheehan didn't really show - not to me at any rate. I can see why CL is not too impressed with Tommy Wright - he did little to impose himself on the game, although he and O'Grady did try, but Rushden were harder and had more of their starting XI on show than we did.

Gilbert looked composed - little got past him, but clearly not the finished article.

Of the others little to comment, and perhaps they may well not break through. Logan in goal caught the eye, but then I was sat directly behind the goal. He made a couple of good saves and I have to ask why we have bought 2 'keepers this season when he is around.

EB:icon_eek:

 

[Durham Fox]

Stearman OK, nothing more, sensible giving him the armband. Sheehan didn't really show - not to me at any rate. I can see why CL is not too impressed with Tommy Wright - he did little to impose himself on the game, although he and O'Grady did try, but Rushden were harder and had more of their starting XI on show than we did.

Gilbert looked composed - little got past him, but clearly not the finished article.

Of the others little to comment, and perhaps they may well not break through. Logan in goal caught the eye, but then I was sat directly behind the goal. He made a couple of good saves and I have to ask why we have bought 2 'keepers this season when he is around.

EB:icon_eek:

Don't be fooled EB. I have followed the ressies/youth for a while and Logan's performances are usually littered with errors. Won't make the grade IMO. Awful kicking too.

 

[Leigh]

I can't imagine Sheehan would shine when he was apparently playing at CB? Needs must of course but I doubt that's his best position.