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Leicester 3-0 Town
Saturday, 22nd Feb 2014 17:13

David Nugent’s inevitable goal was sandwiched between strikes from Jamie Vardy and Chris Wood as Championship leaders Leicester comfortably beat Town 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. Vardy opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Nugent added the second on 31 and Wood completed the scoring two minutes before the end.

As expected, Frank Nouble replaced injured top scorer David McGoldrick alongside Daryl Murphy up front, while Dean Gerken returned in goal, despite Scott Loach’s impressive display in last week’s 0-0 draw with Blackpool.

Jay Tabb took over in midfield from Luke Hyam, who is out for a fortnight with the hamstring injury he suffered in the early stages against the Seasiders. For Leicester, Jeff Schlupp replaced the suspended Paul Konchesky at left-back.

There was an early scare for Town, in their red and black away kit, when the wind caught a ball over the top but Tommy Smith got across to dispossess Vardy.

There was another worrying moment in the third minute when Gerken mishandled Luke Chambers’s header back to him but fortunately grabbed hold of the ball before it reached his goal and ahead of Vardy.

The table-topping home side were starting strongly and on four Gerken saved sharply down to his left after Wes Morgan had headed Matty James’s left-sided corner goalwards.

Vardy claimed Smith had felled him as he chased the ball in a promising area in the seventh minute but referee James Linington waved away his protests, the former Fleetwood man having gone to ground very easily.

Cole Skuse mis-hit Town’s first chance of the game wide in the 12th minute after Paul Green had caught James dallying in possession on the edge of his own area. The loose ball fell nicely to the former Bristol City man, who should have gone much closer to netting his first goal for the Blues.

Marcin Wasilewski got his name in referee Linington’s book for a high challenge on Stephen Hunt on 16 then moments later Tabb joined him for a foul on Vardy.

Cresswell forced Kasper Schmeichel into his first serious save of the afternoon on 18, the left-back whipping over a cross-shot which the Danish international tipped beyond the bar.


Vardy had been Leicester’s main danger and in the 19th minute he put his side in front, although with significant help from the Blues. Tabb failed to spot the Leicester striker in behind his defenders and played a backpass towards Gerken which Vardy intercepted and then flicked past the Town keeper from a tight angle on the left.

Twelve minutes later, it was 2-0 and perhaps inevitably David Nugent was the scorer. Chambers tried to divert Ritchie De Laet’s cross from the right behind but only succeeded in returning the ball to the Belgian, who sent it back into the box to Nugent, who gleefully tapped home his 14th goal in 13 games against the Blues and sixth in five for Leicester against Town.

There was little doubt that Leicester had been on top from the off but both goals owed almost everything to woeful Town defending.

Anthony Knockaert went looking for a third, curling a 36th minute freekick just wide, then just before the break Wasilewski flicked James’s cross from the left just over.

As the half moved into injury time, Nugent found Lloyd Dyer breaking down the centre to his right but Aaron Cresswell got across to dispossess the winger.

The end of the half came as a bit of a relief for the Blues who had been shown exactly why Leicester are top of the table and seemingly certain to return to the Premier League come May.

The Foxes had been on top throughout — Skuse’s scuffed shot was Town’s only real chance — but both goals were the result of poor defending. Given the home side’s superiority, a second half Town comeback seemed an unlikely prospect.

Morgan headed a Knockaert corner wide at the far post five minutes after the restart with Leicester starting the second half on the front foot.

On 54 Knockaert shot wide from the right with Cresswell on the ground just off the pitch having hurt himself trying to cut out an earlier Vardy cross. The Blues left-back was OK to return after treatment.

Nouble showed persistence to come close to blocking a Schmeichel kick, then on the hour Smith was unable to keep a header down at the far post after Berra had flicked on a Cresswell freekick from the left. On 61 Paul Anderson replaced Tabb with Green moving into the middle.

Town were looking more of a threat than they had in the first half and in the 61st minute Hunt’s cross from the left eventually fell to Murphy after battling work from Nouble but the Irishman’s scuffed shot failed to test Schmeichel. In the 66th minute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaced Nouble.

James shot wide from distance for the Foxes on 68 with the half a more even affair than the first period. Three minutes later, Cresswell dragged a 25-yard freekick well wide when he ought to have done better.

Gerken blocked Schlupp’s shot from a tight angle on the left in the 74th minute after good work from sub Riyad Mahrez prior to Paul Taylor taking over from Hunt.

Ebanks-Blake’s backheel from Anderson’s low ball from the right in the 79th minute was too close to Schmeichel, then the former Forest and Bristol City man couldn’t get away from Schlupp after being sent away by Murphy’s clever flick.

Taylor shot into the side-netting from the left as the game entered its final seven minutes. Town’s nemesis Nugent made way having netted his usual goal soon afterwards, Kevin Phillips taking over up front for the Foxes.

An Ebanks-Blake strike deflected wide on 85, winning Town only their second corner of the afternoon. Taylor flicked on Anderson’s flagkick but neither Ebanks-Blake nor Murphy could divert the ball goalwards.

Wasilewski should have made it 3-0 in the 87th minute but headed James’s cross from the left over from virtually under the bar.

However, the Foxes didn’t have to wait too long for a third goal. James played in sub Chris Wood, who beat the advancing Gerken.

In injury time Taylor curled a 25-yard freekick wide, but there was no way back for the Blues and referee Linington’s final whistle confirmed Town’s heaviest defeat of the season.

While Leicester’s two goals were rather gifted to them by poor defending, the Foxes were much the superior side and a home win never really looked in question from the opening minutes.

Town were better after the break than they had been during the first half, however, the game was all but over by that stage with Wood’s third goal adding a late gloss.

Today’s results see the Blues drop to 10th but still five points from the play-offs with sixth-placed reading losing at home to Blackburn.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan (c), Schlupp, Knockaert, James, Drinkwater, Dyer (Mahrez 64), Nugent (Phillips 84), Vardy (Wood 71). Unused: Hammond, King, Moore, Logan.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Green, Skuse, Tabb (Anderson 61), Hunt (Taylor 75), Murphy, Nouble (Ebanks-Blake 66). Unused: Loach, Mings, Richardson, Wordsworth. Referee: James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight). Att: 28,078 (Town: 1,212).


Photo: Action Images



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Walk_the_Wark added 17:20 - Feb 22
Well as so many predicted we set up to frustrate (as always) and got comfortably stuffed. MCarthy out asap please
-24

blueboy1981 added 17:20 - Feb 22
Where are the 'play off' dreamboats now ?? Three players not up to Championship standard, another three out of position, nothing down the right for the umpteenth time this season - so what can we expect other than this kind of result ??.

After last weeks performance this result was always on the cards, without radical tactical changes - and they didn't happen !!
19

Morgan added 17:20 - Feb 22
Playing the best side in the league by some way and without our only real consistent goal threat was always a big ask. It's a shame that you can look at the fixtures and know how Ipswich will get on before we even kick off.
We have improved a great deal over the last year or so but the gulf between us and the too 6/7 sides seems vast. Oh well let's hope we keep learning and improving from
days like these.
9

TractorBoy666 added 17:22 - Feb 22
Such a negative line up again today with Nouble starting ahead of Sylvan and Taylor? Nouble cannot win a header to save his life against a solid defender like Wes Morgan. Also it makes sense for a smaller player to play up front with Murphy. Green on the right again? I wasn't expecting anything from today anyway, but its just the lack of positivity I see from Micks selections each week that annoys me. We aren't getting into the play offs now, and we aren't going down so lets experiment with different systems please Mick. Also Mr Evans get some money out for the poor man, just don't spend the money on even more defensive players!
18

jcITFC added 17:22 - Feb 22
There's no doubt Leicester are on top form, but this is still a frustrating result. The most frustrating part being that Jack Marriott (who scored again today) is been given a second loan spell when he's clearly a proven goalscorer yet MM puts Nouble up front and really gives us no hope up top. Granted that Marriott's playing in 3 divisions below, but after scoring so many for his loan club and and then still lumping Nouble on for us surely is frustrating for the lad also..
9

LiamCP123 added 17:25 - Feb 22
We were playing the League Leaders and we were away, WHAT THE F DO U EXPECT?

STOP BEING SO GOD DAMN NEGATIVE!

If we lose a match, people are like 'MM out please', give the bloke a break and let him be.
13

ArnieM added 17:25 - Feb 22
Sort the midfield creativity out over the summer and together with a fit SEB & McGoldrick we will be in that top 6 next season I think. We cant be too upset if the team falls away slightly over the last 10 games. MM has done a brilliant job t o create a team on bugger all funds that has been in or around the top 5 for most of the season. We are very much WIP and this squad is by no means the finished article yet.

COYB's

I hope MM gives Taylor a run in the side now because he got off a fair few shots on goal after he came on. He's a bit rusty but hopefully he's done enough to get the nod now . Come on Mick, give him a go .
26

NSL added 17:27 - Feb 22
Thank you McCarthy and Evans for stabilising the club but time for you to both step aside now so someone can take us forward.
-29

Elizabeth added 17:27 - Feb 22
Not surprised at today's result. They certainly are high flyers and we quite honestly are not ! Listened to Radio Suffolk commentary and it was particularly painful,especially in the first half. Green sounded hopeless in midfield , not able to compete at all. We have no conviction or ability in the players that we have to ever cause an upset. So predictable.Beginning to think that this is another season to write off !!
10

suffolkpunch1978 added 17:29 - Feb 22
Taylor has to be given a chance now.
Positives from today, well at least we wont see nugent any more this season
11

TimmyH added 17:29 - Feb 22
No surprises here...the midfield looked sterile with that same old look of defensiveness about it (other than Hunt) and certainly don't look like the front 2 have goals in them (though Murphy has done ok) so it was always a case of if we could keep them out and unfortunately this result as per a majority of the results against the 'big guns' we were not able to and hence shows we are someway off being a play-off team.

Sad thing is you look at the team and wonder where the goals for the rest of the season are going to come from? maybe SEB but he needs the service but clearly he won't get the service - maybe the defense?
8

blueboy1981 added 17:30 - Feb 22
...... more callers into Radio Suffolk saying MM hasn't had money to spend - we know that, but the obvious continuous failings are tactical, and playing players out of position with square pegs in round holes - all the time this goes on the true evaluation of this squad will never be known.

'Flair' player on the pitch for us today for only 17 minutes - SPEECHLESS. Going onto the next game Taylor and / or warts and all - MUST START.
11

Coey118 added 17:30 - Feb 22
Expected this result today but it will be fine if we can get points from the other games and hopefully get 6th place at the end of it but personally I'm not that bothered if we don't go up because we'll just get battered in the premier league anyway haha :) I just hope town learn from this today.
4

jas0999 added 17:30 - Feb 22
Not surprised by this result, it's okay to be beaten by a better opponent, it is however not okay to role over so easily, particularly as we are so called play off challengers. Our front two summed it up today; Murphy and Nouble. Oh dear. Both work hard and give their all, but lack quality, skill and in Franks case goals. Even Murphy is very inconsistent goals wise. Scores one and then fails to find the net for 5 or 6 games. Very average. As for the midfield, well, very very poor indeed.

For me we overachieved towards the end of 2013 with a very average, small squad. I expect us to be doing well, but sadly this team isn't good enough and lacks the depth and quality required to do well. We are hardworking and no one can fault the efforts of the players. They just aren't good enough compared with the top 6 teams (on a regular basis). Leicester won't have many easier days, which makes it more disappointing than the actual result.

Season over?
19

Walk_the_Wark added 17:34 - Feb 22
Liam CP123. Of course I expected us to lose. But I don't expect to draw away at Barnsley..I don't expect c*** team selections, tactics and negativity week in week out. You may be happy with scraping the odd draw and occasional win, playing negative football and reaching the heights of mid table but I am not. So sick of hearing 'look at where we were last year', 'Oh if only MM had money to spend' etc. We are awful and our manger is a dinosaur. He was exactly the right man to save us last year, but if Evans was a football man he'd have given him a years contract to do just that and ONLY that. Haven't been so depressed as a Town fan since Keane. Let's hope MM does not renew
0

Tractamatt added 17:37 - Feb 22
This is as expected but what really counts Now is how the team goes on from here. Much will be learnt about our players and coaching staff against Birmingham and what happens in the following weeks, defeats can make seasons just as much as wins can. This was an all to obvious defeat so if McCarthy gets a forward in on loan and is seen to send players the message that this wasn't good enough and the players bounce back then all's good but if they don't we're knackered
3

thebeat added 17:39 - Feb 22
That negative defend at all costs with no creativity or flair or attempt to win the game attitude is working well for us ay?
Oh well as long as they have the right attitude in training, that is all that matters isnt it?
5

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:41 - Feb 22
Wasn't expecting much better against the league leaders, but regardless of opposition, that first half was nowhere near good enough. I said before the game that I just wanted us to make Leicester work for a win without handing them any sloppy goals, and then what do we go and do? Gerken already looked like handing them one early on with his dropped ball and, tame as the later backpass was, I personally felt he was too hesitant in collecting it when we conceded the first. No idea what our defence was doing for the second either. Leicester definitely switched off second half and we did get involved much more, but we were still looking backwards far too often and never really gave Schmeichel anything to do all day.

As far as the lineup is concerned, there should be no Nouble bashing today - he was not the problem. I thought Murphy was poor by comparison. SEB is clearly way short of fitness but Taylor definitely deserves more game time on the basis of that cameo appearance. Skuse was the only one in the midfield who caught my eye. Don't have much to say about anyone else on the back of that.

I'm not gonna grunt and groan about this season given it has been a vast improvement on past years. But I do fear it's in serious danger of petering out.
8

MathieandMarshall added 17:42 - Feb 22
Didn't expect anything out of this one so no real drama. My only gripe is the midfield. Sign a CM and play him right wing (green is clearly not a wide man) and start the ineffective Tabb leaving Anderson who has looked lively lately sat on the bench?? Makes no sense to me. Obvious choice would be skuse and Green in the middle (tho I'd prefer Wordsworth) and a wide man out wide
9

Lightningboy added 17:43 - Feb 22
I think the problem is that Mick is doing the job that everybody expected :-

We've been hard to beat over the last 18 months BUT at the expense of playing attractive football.

Mick's turned the club around from the mess it was left in after the Keane/Jewell fiascos BUT we all know he's not what we want here long term.

I'd give him next season but then we need to move forward by bringing in a young manager who'll get us playing the ipswich way..something which we haven't done since Magilton's all too brief spell in charge.

Marcus Evans and his board need to put proper plans in place rather than just appointing managers who've had previous promotion success and then just hoping for the best.
9

runaround added 17:47 - Feb 22
Leicester have everything ITFC currently lack. Pace, width, dominant midfield, passing style, attack minded players, confidence & when they score go for a second goal rather than sitting back inviting pressure. They have had more money at their disposal & have been building for a longer time.
The result is not a surprise. Our season is over, the previous 2 results plus McGoldricks injury have seen to that.
Mick has stablished the club but in the summer we need to make strides to move forward. Get some width in to the side, some pace too, start playing the ball on the deck & stop basing our whole game on trying to match the opposition, empose our gme on them, especially at home.
Whether ME will allow MM to do this financially or even if MM wants to do this, we shall see in the summer.
One thing for sure, we need to improve & change as frankly, Tabb, Nouble, Skuse, Green, Anderson etc are not the answer. All hard work with no real ability only gets you do far. Putting a decent team together on a shoestring can be done, just look at Burnley
16

blueboy1981 added 17:50 - Feb 22
...... to think Magilton was not considered good enough for us, is almost laughable now - how things change !
10

Keaneish added 17:54 - Feb 22
Many on here say that fans don;t know what they're talking about, but i for one and many of us on here reiterated the same sentiments. These were:

- Tabb should not be starting
- Green should not be on the right
- Nouble is Ineffective
- Taylor should be starting
- Ebanks Blake should be starting.

So, with the 3-nil defeat in mind and the performance of those that came on, how can anyone question this 5 points above? The starting line-up next eek is so obvious anything less than this will make MM look foolish and naive.
18

marco007 added 17:54 - Feb 22
I am so pleased that I made the right decision and did not watch this predictable dross.
The only guarantee before kick off was that we would end up with nil goals as this team is so bereft of creativity that they are painful to watch.
With a totally non threatening midfield and an attack made up,of Nouble and Murphy we were never going to challenge.
All I can say is that the England v Ireland game was fantastic sport, edge of the seat entertainment contested by proper sportsmen rather than overpaid, jumped up, pathetic posers that strut their stuff in the name of ITFC.
The only positive this season is that hopefully we will not be in a relegation battle but to be honest watching the Town this season has been awful, and a complete and utter waste of money.
Isn't sport supposed to be entertaining??
The other key point is that most championship teams are awful and we can not even compete with that !!
11

muccletonjoe added 18:00 - Feb 22
No point in too much comment really. We all know its season over and I think most of. Us know what the problems are.
5


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