Thursday 25 March 2010

Leicester 1-2 Reading - 24th March 2010

A controversial injury time penalty bolstered in-form Reading's playoff hopes after a dramatic 2-1 win over Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium.

The spot kick was awarded in the 92nd minute when Nolberto Solano was adjudged to have tripped Simon Church who was seemingly through on goal.

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted from twelve yards, as Reading snatched three valuable away points, meanwhile condemning Leicester City to a rare home defeat.

Brian McDermott’s men have now won nine of their last eleven games, leaving them only eight points off the playoffs, after a torrid start to the season.

The Royals started the game strongly, and took the lead after sixteen minutes when Sigurdsson’s through ball found Jimmy Kebe, who slid the ball past City goalkeeper Chris Weale for his ninth goal of the season.

Leicester were fortunate to be only 1-0 down moments later, when Kebe again troubled the home side with a shot that ricocheted off three players on the goal line and rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

However, despite some resolute Reading defending, Leicester went in at half time on level terms when Lloyd Dyer picked out Martyn Wahgorn with a fine cross, who headed the ball past goalkeeper Adam Federici to make it 1-1.

Things began to heat up ten minutes into the second half when Lloyd Dyer and Reading’s Andy Griffin appeared to kick out at each other in an off the ball incident, resulting in both players receiving a yellow card.

Dyer was unlucky not to put the home side ahead with twenty minutes to go, after his superb run from the touchline was let down by his shot, which hit the side netting.

Reading pushed for a winner in the last fifteen minutes of the game, and certainly created some good chances, with Chris Weale pulling off a stunning save to deny Ryan Bertrand's strike from 25 yards out.

However, Sigurdsson’s late penalty sealed the Foxes' fate, and snapped a run of nine home games without defeat, stretching back to December 2009.

Meanwhile, Reading now lie just three points behind seventh place Blackpool, with two games in hand on most other playoff hopefuls.

Man of the Match – Jimmy Kebe

Monday 15 March 2010

Notts County 2-2 Bournemouth - 15th March 2010

Jeff Goulding’s 93rd minute strike earned second placed Bournemouth a point against promotion rivals Notts County in a lively encounter at Meadow Lane.

The late goal also ended County manager Steve Cotterill’s 100 percent record as manager, and denied them the opportunity to leapfrog the visitors into second place in League Two.

Bournemouth began the match more aggressively, and were unlucky not to be a goal up within five minutes after Alan Connell’s shot was cleared off the line by Notts County defender John Thompson.

But it was the home side who drew first blood on 22 minutes, when Rhoys Wiggins conceded a penalty for tripping Notts County midfielder Ben Davies just inside the area.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Shwan Jalal only managed to parry Lee Hughes’ spot kick back into the path of the veteran striker, who was quickest to react to score his 25th goal of the season.

The Magpies could have been 2-0 up five minutes later when Ben Davies’ clever looping strike over Jalal found the back of the net – only to be ruled out by the linesman who adjudged Davies to be offside.

The visitors drew level early in the second half when Brett Pittman’s low 25-yard free kick beat Kasper Schmeichel, denying the Danish keeper his fifth successive clean sheet.

But Notts County regained the lead three minutes later when Ben Davies’ dangerous cross found Hughes in the penalty area, to head the ball past Jalal for his second goal of the night.

In the closing stages of the game, Bournemouth had a great chance to equalise when Brett Pittman’s parried header fell to the feet of Liam Freeney in the penalty area, but the midfield could only find the side netting.

It looked as if Notts County were on course to claim all three points until Liam Bradbury’s cross fell to Jeff Goulding from twelve yards out, whose shot bobbled past Schmeichel to snatch a point in injury time.

Man of the Match – Lee Hughes

Saturday 13 March 2010

Leicester 1-0 Cardiff - 13th March 2010

Martyn Waghorn's goal boosted Leicester City's promotion hopes this afternoon as they defeated playoff rivals Cardiff City in an entertaining match at the Walkers Stadium.

It was Waghorn's eighth goal of the season since the 20 year old joined the Foxes on loan from Sunderland at the beginning of the season.

Jack Hobbs, who was making his 100th league appearance for the Foxes, had the first clear cut chance of the game as his header inside the six yard box was blocked on the line.

Cardiff were also unlucky to not take the lead early on, as they were arguably the better side inside the first fifteen minutes, with Ross McCormack and Peter Whittingham coming close for the away side, forcing Jack Hobbs and Bruno Berner to make a string of fine tackles.

But it was Leicester who took the lead on 29 minutes when Andy King's header fell to an unmarked Waghorn inside the penalty area, who volleyed past Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall.

This, the only goal of the game, saw Cardiff slump to their fourth away league defeat in a row, piling more pressure on the club, who also face financial troubles off the field.

Mark Kennedy came close for the Bluebirds at the end of the first half when his 25 yard attempt whistled past Chris Weale's left post after Peter Whittingham's free kick was blocked.

McCormack looked the most likely player to equalise for Cardiff, who saw his first half shot cleared off the line by substitute Nobby Solano.

But Leicester defended astutely throughout the entire match, limiting the visitors to shots from distance, without really troubling Weale.

Paul Gallagher, who was recently named as February's Championship Player of the Month, was unlucky not to double Leicester's lead after a superb strike from 30 yards sailed agonisingly wide of the post.

Cardiff finished the stronger of the two teams, as McCormack saw a fine volley rise just over the bar, and Jay Bothroyd forcing Chris Weale to make a low near post save with minutes to go.

But the away side failed to capitalise on this sustained period of pressure, and Leicester held on to their slender margin to claim all three points.

Leicester were certainly good value for the three points, which left them fifth in the Championship - five points ahead of sixth place Cardiff.

However Cardiff Manager Dave Jones will be disappointed to have come away with nothing, his side having dominated possession for large parts of the game.

The 1-0 victory marked Leicester's tenth league home win of the season, and a second consecutive clean sheet at the Walkers stadium.

Man of the Match - Jack Hobbs