A ten-man Town second string were unlucky not to take all three points from their 1-1 home draw with Leicester City. The Blues numbers were reduced just before half-time when Aidan Collins was harshly sent off by referee Lee who also gave the visitors a highly dubious second half penalty.

Both young sides contained few familiar names but it was Darren Bent, the best known of the Town players, who would make an early impression. The striker headed in from a corner but the referee disallowed the goal for a push.

Bent was involved in a front three with Dean Bowditch and Sam Morrow and on 9 Morrow hit a shot over the bar after a fine interchange of passes with Bowditch.

Referee Lee got his yellow card out for the first time in the 14th minute after Aidan Collins had mis-timed a tackle on Trevor Benjamin on the left of the Town half. While it was clearly a foul a card was probably not deserved, and not long after Nabil Abidallah went into the book for a similarly innocuous challenge.

Just after the half hour Matt Bloomfield, back after his latest injury, struck a shot which Matthew Heath deflected on to his own bar. Dean Bowditch came close when half volleying a Darren Bent cross from the right a minute later, Bowditch not making a clean contact on the ball.

On 41 referee Lee again showed his keenness to show yellow cards. Benjamin was tackled by Collins in virtually the same area of the pitch as earlier in the game, but this time clearly making contact with the ball. However, the referee, well behind play, adjudged the tackle a foul and predictably pulled out a yellow and then a red card.

Collins can count himself very unlucky with neither offence really worth a yellow card, particularly not the second which was a fine tackle. With three men in attack and one defender sent off it was little surprise when right-back Scott Mitchell replaced Sam Morrow, Chris Hogg moving inside to Collins' central defence spot.

After the break Nicolas Priet headed over earlier on for the visitors before the cards started flowing again, Tommy Wright becoming Leicester's first player in the book.

As the half wore on Town took control. Abidallah, Bloomfield and Murray in midfield were frequently finding Bowditch and Bent in decent positions but neither of the striking pair could make the most of their possession.

On 62 Bent was put through on the left and went past the advancing keeper. With Bowditch free in the middle and screaming for the ball, Bent hit a weak shot which was cleared by a defender. This was typical of a night when the striker's current lack of confidence was very evident.

With Town dominant but failing to take chances, it was little surprise that the opposition went ahead and no shock that Mr Lee had some role to play. Trevor Benjamin broke into the penalty box just to the right of centre through a crowd of Town players. Just as he appeared to have lost control of the ball he went to ground, the referee awarding a penalty.

Gerard Nash was adjudged to have made the tackle and received a yellow card while Nabil Abidallah led the protests. Benjamin got up to stroke the spotkick home.

On 77 Adem Atay and Scott Barron replaced Nabil Abidallah and Matt Bloomfield, Atay making an immediate impact on the game with a swift break down the right. The sub went past his man before laying back a low cross for Dean Bowditch who stabbed in from two yards out at the second attempt deservedly putting Town on terms.

Before the end Darren Bent had the ball in the net once more, but after receiving the ball when in an offside position, and Dean Bowditch mis-controlled a flick from Bent when through on goal.

There was also time for another yellow card, Leicester's Ahmed Deen booked for taking a shot after the whistle had gone for an offside. Referee Lee showed five yellows and one red in a match where there were no serious fouls nor any untoward incidents of note. Clearly he was under the impression fans had come to watch him in action and not the players.

Ten man Town passed the ball around very sharply in the second half and at times it was easy to forget which side was short a player. Darren Bent looks a bit out of sorts and badly in need of a goal while Bowditch's goal will keep him in Joe Royle's mind when he comes to pick his side for the trip to the Hawthorns.

Town: Price, Hogg, Okay, Murray, Collins, Nash, Abidallah (Atay 77), Bloomfield (Barron), Bent, Bowditch, Morrow (Mitchell 42).

Photo: Action Images

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