Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Leicester City 6-0 Town
Saturday, 17th Nov 2012 17:07

Town fell to their second successive hammering on the road as Mick McCarthy’s men were thoroughly outclassed by Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. David Nugent took his record to 11 goals in 11 games against the Blues with two early goals, the first a penalty, with Lloyd Dyer, Anthony Knockaert, Martyn Waghorn and Marko Futacs netting the rest.

New loanee Bradley Orr made his Town debut and Lee Martin returned to the side with Tommy Smith dropping to the bench and Luke Chambers switching to centre-half.

Martin was back after his one-match ban in place of Richie Wellens, who returned to the Foxes last week at the end of his one-month loan, but wasn’t in Nigel Pearson’s 18.

Arran Lee-Barrett was back on the Town bench in the absence of Scott Loach, who missed out with the thigh injury he sustained at Walsham in the Suffolk Premier Cup in midweek.

Neither side threatened in a quiet opening but on eight the home side went in front via a penalty after a mix-up at the back between Higginbotham and Henderson. The full-back left a through ball from Andy King for the keeper who hesitantly came off his line and dived at Dyer’s feet, tripping him as the winger sneaked in between the Town pair.

Inevitably it was David Nugent who stepped up to take the spotkick and the striker slammed the ball into the roof of the net. Remarkably, it was the one-time England striker’s 10th goal in 11 matches against the Blues.

It had been all Leicester since the goal, Aaron Cresswell having blocked an Andy King strike on 10, and on 17 Nugent made it 2-0 with his second of the game.

Strike partner Waghorn cut in from the right and hit a left-foot shot which Henderson could only palm out and Nugent walked the rebound in off his midriff for his 11th in 11 against Town.

The Blues finally threatened in the 20th minute but Martin’s shot from just inside the area was blocked by Wes Morgan. But it was the Foxes dominating possession and creating most of the danger, Cresswell cutting out a Dyer cross from a quick Leicester break from a corner.

On 27 it was 3-0. Dyer brought the ball in from the left and with Luke Chambers standing off him, hit a shot across Henderson and into the net.

Double-scorer Nugent, who had been suffering with an injury coming into the game, made way in the 31st minute, Jamie Vardy taking over.


Henderson saved Knockaert’s low shot from the edge of the area on 35, then from the corner Cresswell blocked from Dyer with the game still one-way traffic.

Edwards failed to find Murphy with a pass with Town in a rare promising position in the 37th minute, Morgan cutting out the Town skipper’s weak touch.

Leicester extended their lead further in the 44th minute. Dyer yet again got away down the Foxes left after being sent away by Waghorn and with several players having escaped behind the Town centre-halves, Knockaert diverted the low cross past Henderson ahead of Vardy, who otherwise would have done the same.

Referee Keith Stroud blew his whistle soon after to temporarily put the Blues players out of their misery, although facing the unenviable prospect of a well-deserved half-time dressing down from Mick McCarthy.

It had been a woeful half with Town never really recovering from conceding the early penalty, which was a result of miscommunication.

From there Leicester looked every bit the confident side challenging at the right end of the table that they are, while any self-belief Town had gained from the victory over Burnley seemed to have drained away.

As they waited for the players to return, the 990 travelling Town support tucked away up in a remote corner of the King Power Stadium will have been worried about what the second half might bring.

Chambers headed a Cresswell freekick from the left wide in the 49th minute, but Leicester were soon on top and threatening again. Dyer, who was giving Orr a Blues debut to forget, again got away down the Foxes left and whipped over a ball which Waghorn headed against Henderson’s left post.

But the former Sunderland man didn’t have to wait too long for a goal. In the 53rd minute he was fed by King and as the England U21 international broke into the area, he swept his first goal of the season across Henderson and into the net to make it 5-0.

Luke Hyam and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaced Guirane N’Daw and Daryl Murphy as the game moved towards the hour mark and the Blues had a short spell where they began to threaten.

Martin and Emmanuel-Thomas both had strikes blocked, then Cresswell sent over a low ball which was scrambled behind for a corner. On 64 Emmanuel-Thomas blasted a 25-yard freekick into an advancing member of the Leicester wall. However, Kasper Schmeichel will rarely have enjoyed a quieter afternoon.

Normal service was soon resumed though, with Dyer scampering away on the left of the Town area before hitting a low shot which Henderson gathered.

Schmeichel was finally forced into a save in the 71st minute when Edwards crossed from the right and Emmanuel-Thomas scuffed his shot goalwards, giving the keeper little serious trouble.

At the other end, Henderson was out quickly to prevent a sixth, blocking at Vardy’s feet after the former Fleetwood man had been played in by King. Soon after, the Welsh midfielder, one of the Foxes’ star performers, turned a shot into Henderson’s arms from a Ben Marshall cross from the right.

Former Fox DJ Campbell was replaced by Michael Chopra for the final 11 minutes, the home fans jeering their former player off the field.

On 82 Leicester sub Futacs made it 6-0, left winger Dyer again the man creating the goal. Four minutes later, Chopra had the ball in the net for the Blues but having strayed offside.

Town should have pulled a goal back in the 88th minute when Edwards sent over a deep cross from the right and Emmanuel-Thomas volleyed across goal, but too high for Chopra to divert into the net. Moments later, Nigel Reo-Coker was booked for a foul on Marshall. The sub hit a cleverly thought out freekick just over.

As the game moved into injury time there was further chaos in the Town defence as hesitation between Chambers, Higginbotham and Henderson almost let in Futacs, the on-loan Stoke man eventually touching the ball away from the Hungarian striker.

Not long after, the final whistle went with manager McCarthy ensuring that his squad went over to applaud the Town support and shaking hands with all his team, and some of the Leicester players, as they left the field.

Another thoroughly dispiriting afternoon for travelling Blues fans, who had already endured the 6-0 defeat at Blackpool and the recent 5-0 loss at Crystal Palace.

While those scorelines may have been harsh on Town, there was little flattering about this hammering with the Foxes having dominated from start to finish.

The Blues have probably only been worse against Sheffield Wednesday this season and for the most part the home side looked like they were in a different league.

After the optimism after last week’s victory over Burnley this was very much a return to earth with the size of the job Mick McCarthy has ahead of him once again all too evident.

Town: Henderson, Orr, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell, Edwards (c), N'Daw (Hyam 58), Reo-Coker, Martin, Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 58), Campbell (Chopra 79). Subs: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Smith, Mohsni.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Drinkwater, Morgan (c), Whitbread, King, Dyer, Waghorn (Futacs 75), Schlupp, Knockaert (Marshall 65), Nugent (Vardy 31). Subs: Logan, James, Moore, Lingard. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 20,779 (Town: 990)


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



jamesmostevens added 17:48 - Nov 17
It must be very frustrating for Aaron Lee-Barrett to watch these performances. If Loach isn't fit, ALB should start with Henderson on the bench. If he is fit, goodbye Henderson.
I would also expect some players to spend a bit of time with the reserves now while MM works with the players who do make an effort. How bad can Jack Ainsley be that he doesn't merit a place in a team that has conceded so many?
However, 6 in 4 is a stat all of us would have taken when MM took over, we just forgot to read the small print. A win next week could still take us out of the bottom 3. That's not clutching at straws but a real possibility as we take on a team below us and Barnsley face one of the top 2.
I wonder what today's score would have been had Jewell still had the backing of Evans or if Hutchings was still caretaker.
0

TractorCam added 17:49 - Nov 17
Why do we stick with Henderson? He doesn't care about the club or the fans, he doesn't care how much goals goes past him, he's just happy to be playing games and getting paid, send him back!
0

darren added 17:51 - Nov 17
someone please correct me but didnt we have 6 loans playing when we only allowed 5 ?
0

jamesmostevens added 17:55 - Nov 17
I always thought that the 10 point deduction did for Portsmouth last season, but after 17 goals conceded in 9 games, I now know the real reason.
0

warbeat78 added 18:01 - Nov 17
@Darren
Murhy and ndaw dont count becuase not from english league
0

casanovacrow added 18:01 - Nov 17
Disgusted.
Henderson was poor, send him back we don't need him. Higginbotham and Chambers were a right mess. Orr seemed to let players walk past at will. Can see us trying to send Murph back, he's offered us little threat up top. Overall we seemed like we were on tranquilizers.
0

runaround added 18:01 - Nov 17
embarrasingly poor performance today. None of the starting 11 seemed up for it and it was clear from very early on that it would be a case of how many we lost by rather than whether or not we'd lose. loanees were all poor today and I would seriously consider sending most of them back. I would rather lose with players who want to play for the club than those who are only here to get fit. Fans were brilliant today, we deserve so much better than what we're getting
0

h32 added 18:02 - Nov 17
Speechless - but this result again underlines the mess that Keane and Jewell have left for any decent Manager to try and sort out.

Problem is that too many loan players at any Club just doesn't work - and will not work - but this is all McCarthy has, short to medium term anyway, to work with, and try to improve things.
Although they say otherwise - most loan players really do not care, other than for there own benefit.

We need to have as many of 'our own players' in the team as we can muster, longer term anyway - and debatable - maybe short time !!
In the short to medium term - Mick McCarthy has a HUGE problem to sort, and a mountain to climb.

If anyone can sort it, he can, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME - definitely not for the easily disappointed or faint hearted.
Let's hope he hasn't under estimated the task he has taken on, and get's pi##ed off being for doing so.

Goals against now - embarrassing for any Club.

Dig in deep Mick - the road is long - but we have faith in you. COYB.
0

hughesuk123 added 18:05 - Nov 17
well one word for that today......................................... CRAP.....................................
0

darren added 18:08 - Nov 17
were awful today no excusing that mick got a massive task ahead of him but i have faith he will sort us out damn hard night for me as i live in leicester only plus point tonight it took me 15 minutes to get home
0

Gilesy added 18:08 - Nov 17
Were any of those slagging Henderson off actually at the game?
0

h32 added 18:15 - Nov 17
..... should read 'get's pi##ed off BEFORE doing so' - apologies for the mistake - just an age thing !!
0

Edmunds5 added 18:18 - Nov 17
The thing is whilst they're not our players and are on short term deals they will never have the motivation to do well at our club, if we stay up whats in it for them? some of them wont even have that power because they'll be leaving around January time so why would they care?, Mick Mccarthys teams are battling ones and when you have so many players who are not of our own they will not be drilled to battle. We may get a few points at home because of the fact we're at home, the crowd almost demands some kind of performance and so they will put in a bit more effort. The teams we've been hammered by (Blackpool, Palace, Leicester) all have pace, power and organisation, players like Ince, Zaha, Dyer. We dont have any of these type, a half hearted JET is the nearest thing. We have a team set up to have 2 solid banks of four and two up front, but we're not at all solid so we have no foundation, what chance have we got? still 6 points from 4 games on paper isnt a bad start so lets try and be positive.
0

62WasBest added 18:21 - Nov 17
Henderson - you may be a Hammer but you're not supposed to the be the one that (regularly) gets the hammering.
Big job ahead. Lot of work needed just to stay up. I wonder who in this squad can really, genuinely say they are up for it. Few, I fancy.
0

h32 added 18:25 - Nov 17
Edmunds5 - agree with you totally.
0

warbeat78 added 18:29 - Nov 17
Henderson not playing next game apparently got a repetitive strain injury!,,.
0

algarvefan added 18:34 - Nov 17
I just don't understand MM decision to bugger about with a defence that did well last week against Burnley. Why do newly signed players have to go straight into the team, when they have had no time to forge an understanding with their new team mates??

We all knew Mick had a hell of a task on his hands but lets sort out the keeper and the defence first and stop f'ing about with it. Send Henderson back and get Loach back in next week.

If we win the majority of our home games at least we should be safe????
0

StochesStotasBlewe added 18:55 - Nov 17
h32/Edmunds5. Very good posts & sums up perfectly my thoughts.
0

SickParrot added 19:14 - Nov 17
I cannot believe that we have got walloped again. Following last Saturday's gritty display, when we closed down quickly all over the pitch, every Town player gave 100% and we looked pretty solid defensively, I actually thought that we would now be more difficult to beat. Silly me!
There seems to be a pattern here. We have won 3 league games this season and each win has been followed by a thrashing: Beat Watford 1-0 and lost next game 6-0; beat Birmingham 1-0 and lost next game 5-0; beat Burnley 2-1 last week and lost today 6-0.
I was not at the game today, so I do not know whether this latest thrashing is because of a lack of ability, lack of effort, or a lack of understanding. However, I remain of the opinion that having so many loan and short-term contract players in the side cannot be good for team spirit or understanding and is not condusive the siege mentality required in a relagation battle. It is not McCarthy's fault that we have so many loan players and I can understand why he has picked most of them - he has gone for players that he knows and experience. As he has delivered 6 points from 4 games he may be right. However, we have been thrashed in 2 of those games. There is no doubt that it will be difficult to avoid relegation and it will only be achieved if we achieve a much greater level of consistency and regular gritty performances like last week. Personally, I would rather see a team comprised mostly of our own assets supplemented only by loan players who we could sign permanently in the January window and who are significantly better players than our own assets.
The short term objective must be to remain in touch with the team 4th from bottom when the transfer window opens when Mick can bring in his own permanent players.
0

Plums added 19:21 - Nov 17
How many times today did these misfits just give the ball away in attacking positions which led to us being under pressure or conceding? The players are good enough but they don't give a monkeys. Send the majority of the journeymen loanees back. In fact, I'd be tempted to drop them off at their home clubs one after the other tonight while we've got the coach on the road.
0

Legend added 19:57 - Nov 17
This is by far the worst bunch of ITFC players ever!!
I would honestly get rid of the lot of them and start from scratch!
No leaders, no passion, no desire, no skill, no respect, no willingness, no guts.
Most of them care more about their next twitter update than wearing the ITFC shirt with pride!
Most of them mouth off about what they are going to do and how many goals they are going to score etc, yet when it comes down to it they bottle it play like a pub team!
Massive respect to the fans who went up today, you deserve so much better.
MM has a massive job on his hands, a far bigger job than jewell and keane had when they arrived.
It really is a complete shower of brown stuff
What next? Posh next Saturday? A walk in the park for us surely?
Yeah right!
This bunch of jokers would struggle against whitton utd.
0

martleshamitfc added 20:02 - Nov 17
Without blaming Henderson, at least if we send him back to West Ham, it will free up another loan player ie a creative midfielder , and we can bring back Scott Loach or ALB who will give 100% effort.
0

petermorris added 20:28 - Nov 17
Hey Clegg! Get your Old Etonian 'fag' Archbishop Welby to say a prayer for us!!!!!!
0

blueherts added 20:59 - Nov 17
Henderson go now
Orr needs to get fit
Centre backs went awol
Two cms were shocking couldn't pass and caught
Martin ,apart from running what does he add
Hyam smith loach must start next game

Win home games and all is fine!
MICK WILL SORT

0

ITFC_Frosty78 added 21:17 - Nov 17
id like to see chops start
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024