Leicester City 3 Hull City 1 – 23 September 2012

Nugent nets hat-trick as Foxes tame Tigers

© isriya, Flickr

David Nugent scored his second, third and fourth goals of the season as Leicester's fine home run continues

David Nugent scored a hat-trick as Leicester won their second game in five days to give Nigel Pearson a win over his former employers.

Nugent opened the scoring after seven minutes with a fine curling strike after Danny Drinkwater’s shot had fallen kindly into his path.

Jay Simpson equalised for the visitors midway through the first-half, but Nugent grabbed his second goal five minutes before the break with a fine header into the bottom corner from Anthony Knockaert’s cross.

Hull manager Steve Bruce was sent to the stands in the second-half after an altercation with an assistant referee before Nugent completed his hat-trick in stoppage time after the Foxes caught the visitors on the break.

Leicester’s second win in five days pushes them up to seventh in the Championship, while they remain undefeated in league games at the King Power Stadium so far this season.

Nigel Pearson started with the same eleven that defeated Burnley on Wednesday night, and he only had to wait until the seventh minute to see his side go ahead as Danny Drinkwater’s ambitious strike hit Nugent inside the penalty area, before the frontman regained his composure to curl the ball past Hull goalkeeper Ben Amos.

It was the first time Leicester had scored in the opening half of a league game so far this season, and a sign that Nugent was back to his best after ending a baron run of not scoring in the Championship with his second goal in as many starts.

The home side continued to pressure Hull and could have doubled their lead when Jamie Vardy latched onto Anthony Knockaert’s through ball, but his shot was pushed behind by Ben Amos.

From the ensuing corner, the former Fleetwood Town striker saw his effort cleared off the line before David Nugent almost latched onto a Vardy cross as both forwards continued to cause the Hull defence problems.

However, the visitors grabbed an equaliser against the run of play when Sone Aluko fired the ball across goal and directly into the path of teammate Jay Simpson, who stuck a foot out to guide the slam the ball into the net.

Hull could have gone ahead moments later when Wes Morgan was caught in possession at the back by Jay Simpson, but Matty James was on hand to prevent the danger.

Anthony Knockaert’s quick footwork allowed him to pick out Ben Marshall on the flank who fired a dangerous ball into the area intended for Jamie Vardy, but the ball broke for Nugent who could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Leicester managed to restore their lead three minutes before half-time when Knockaert picked out David Nugent inside the penalty area with a fantastic cross, and the one-time England international leapt above his marker to head the ball past Ben Amos.

It was a well-worked goal that gave Leicester a deserved advantage before half-time after a first 45 minutes in which both sides had a number of good opportunities.

Jamie Vardy really should have made it 3-1 after the break after he found himself unmarked with the ball at his feet inside the penalty area, but his shot was somehow turned away by Amos.

Wes Morgan headed just over from a corner, while, at the other end, Sone Aluko kept Kasper Schmeichel alert with a decent strike from 25 yards.

Knockaert tested Amos from distance, before Ben Marshall dragged a shot wide as Leicester continued to knock on the door – and the task became much greater for Hull when their manager Steve Bruce was sent to the stands after a reacting angrily to a decision made by the assistant referee who had judged the ball to have gone out of play with Hull on the attack. 

The visitors’ best chance to equalise came from a Robert Koren free-kick which was tipped over the bar by Schmeichel, but as Hull continued to push forward, Leicester caught them on the counter-attack in stoppage time with Lloyd Dyer teeing up Nugent inside the penalty area to complete his hat-trick and give the hosts all three points.

The win meant that Leicester’s 100 per cent home record in the Championship remained intact, as Leicester now turn to two consecutive away games as they look to pick up their first points of the season on their travels.

Man of the Match – Anthony Knockaert 

Leicester City 2 Burnley 1 – 19 September 2012

Foxes fight back to take three points

Leicester are undefeated at the King Power Stadium in Championship games this season

Second-half goals from David Nugent and Jamie Vardy gave Leicester City all three points after falling behind at home to Burnley last night.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play through Dean Marney after just ten minutes, but David Nugent equalised for the Foxes less than two minutes after the restart.

Jamie Vardy put the home side ahead after his shot took a wicked deflection to deceive Burnley goalkeeper Lee Grant just before the hour mark, which turned out to be the winning goal on the night.

It was a third consecutive Championship home win for Nigel Pearson’s men, who have taken all of their league points at the King Power Stadium so far this season, and was a good response to a disappointing defeat against Wolves on Sunday.

The first-half was one of very little action, although Leicester looked the more positive side as Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockaert both tested Lee Grant in the Burnley goal with early strikes.

But it was the hosts who were outfoxed out after just ten minutes when Martin Paterson picked out Dean Marney on the right-hand side of the Leicester penalty area with a low pass, and the midfielder smashed the ball past Kasper Schmeichel at the near post to put Burnley ahead.

It was a well-created goal by Eddie Howe’s side, although Sean St. Ledger appeared to give Paterson far too much space on the flank to pick out his teammate.

Leicester seemed sluggish for the remainder of the half, the only notable chance coming five minutes before the internal when David Nugent’s effort from distance struck the top of the crossbar.

As expected, the hosts were much improved in the second-half and they were soon level when Burnley failed to deal with the presence of Jamie Vardy on the edge of the box – and when the ball somehow fell to David Nugent inside the area, his scuffed volley into the ground from ten yards just crept into the bottom corner.

It was hardly a glamorous goal for Nugent’s first of the season, but one that Leicester will certainly have taken after a lacklustre opening 45 minutes.

The equaliser sparked life into the hosts, as Ben Marshall and Jamie Vardy then linked up nicely for the former Fleetwood Town striker to test Lee Grant from close range, but the goalkeeper was equal to it and the chance went begging.

Leicester were ahead just before the hour mark when Anthony Knockaert’s quick feet allowed him to find Vardy on the right-side of the penalty area, and his shot took a huge deflection off Burnley defender Jason Shackell, resulting in the ball flying over the goalkeeper and into the net.

It was another ugly goal, but just the slice of fortune Leicester needed to get ahead in the match – and in truth, was a lead they just deserved after a positive start to the second-half.

Ben Marshall nearly doubled Leicester’s lead with a free-kick on the edge of the area that sailed just over the crossbar, before Cameron Stewart’s shot across goal at the other end kept the Leicester defence alert.

With just under twenty minutes remaining, David Nugent found Danny Drinkwater on the heels of the last defender, and the former Manchester United midfielder did exceptionally well to hold the ball up and test Lee Grant, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper and the chance came to nothing in the end.

Burnley substitute Sam Vokes struck the outside of the post in the final ten minutes of the game as the visitors pushed for an equalising goal, while at the other end, Anthony Knockaert almost put Leicester out of sight with a fierce strike which was turned away by Lee Grant.

Leicester squandered two glorious counter-attacks to put the game to bed with Lloyd Dyer, Paul Konchesky, and substitute Martyn Waghorn all pushing forward in numbers, but nevertheless, the home side were able to see out the remaining minutes and claim an important three points.

Leicester still boast a 100 per cent at home in the Championship this season, a record Nigel Pearson will be looking to continue this Sunday when his former club Hull City come to town.

Man of the Match – Anthony Knockaert

Leicester City 1 Blackpool 0 - 1 September 2012

Foxes bounce back with win over Blackpool

Victory for Leicester pushed them into the top half of the Championship

Ben Marshall's second-half penalty was enough to give Leicester all three points in a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium over table-toppers Blackpool this evening.

The goal came ten minutes after the break after Jamie Vardy was brought down inside the box by Portuguese midfielder Tiago Gomes.

Ben Marshall's converted from twelve yards to send the Foxes faithful into raptures and quash any fears of a fourth consecutive defeat for Nigel Pearson's side.

It was another disappointing return to Leicester for former manager Ian Holloway, who has now seen his Blackpool side lose five times against the Foxes since parting ways with the club in 2009.

Following Leicester's Capital One Cup midweek 4-2 defeat to League Two Burton Albion, Nigel Pearson will have been delighted with the reaction of his players, as Jamie Vardy, Lloyd Dyer and the goalscorer Marshall all looked threatening going forward.

But it was in defence that Leicester really excelled, as the partnership of Wes Morgan and Liam Moore managed to shut out a dangerous Blackpool side that had scored ten goals in their previous three league outings, including six against Ipswich last weekend.

Leicester looked positive from the outset and almost took an early lead when Ben Marshall's piercing through ball sent Jamie Vardy through one-on-one, but Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks did well to save the former Fleetwood striker's low shot with his feet.

Danny Drinkwater then tested his luck from distance with a shot on goal, before Thomas Ince for the travelling side saw his near post effort parried away for a corner by Kasper Schmeichel. 

Jamie Vardy had another effort blocked midway through the first-half as Leicester began to dominate possession, and the hosts were almost ahead when Ben Marshall's low free-kick evaded the Blackpool wall, but Matt Gilks did well to get a hand to it and push the ball out for a corner.

The Tangerines finished the half strongly when Thomas Ince had another effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel, before Barry Ferguson's dipping volley struck the foot of the Leicester post.

If Leicester ever needed to come out swinging in the second-half, today was certainly that day, following three consecutive losses for the first time since 2010, and Nigel Pearson's men did exactly that by taking the game to the visitors and looking like the only team who would break the deadlock.

Jamie Vardy had a penalty appeal turned down within minutes of the restart before Andy King's shot from 20 yards beat Matt Gilks and several Blackpool defenders, but clipped the offside-David Nugent on its way into the net, resulting in the goal being disallowed.

Ben Marshall then played Lloyd Dyer in behind the Blackpool defence, but he was well-tackled before having the opportunity to get the ball out from under his feet.

Marshall was in the thick of the action again when David Nugent latched onto another through ball from the former Sheffield Wednesday winger, but he was adjudged to have been offside before playing the ball across goal to an unmarked Jamie Vardy who surely would have put the Foxes ahead.

Leicester did eventually take the lead two minutes later when the Vardy was clumsily brought down by Tiago Gomes just inside the Blackpool area, resulting in the home side being awarded a penalty.

Ben Marshall stepped up to convert from twelve yards with a powerful strike into the left-hand corner, and while Matt Gilks got a hand to the ball, he was unable to keep his side from falling behind with just over half an hour left to play.

It was a deserved lead for Leicester, who had been by far the better side for the opening hour of the match, continually piling pressure on Blackpool and causing their defence all sorts of trouble.

Vardy should have doubled the Foxes' advantage on the hour mark when he pounced on a poor throw in, but never managed to get a shot away and the chance fell begging.

David Nugent then had a shot tipped wide after a clever through ball from Lloyd Dyer, while Thomas Ince continued to keep the Leicester defence on their toes after popping up at the back post, but he could not find the target.

Lloyd Dyer had a chance cleared off the line, before Jamie Vardy and Jermaine Beckford wasted good opportunities to put the hosts out of sight with time running out.

Blackpool looked as though they might grab an equaliser in the final minutes of the match when Thomas Ince's shot across goal was just out of reach for substitute Kevin Phillips.

Either side could have scored during an end-to-end injury time period, but Leicester held on until the final whistle to alleviate some of the pressure before the international break and end Blackpool's 100 per cent start to the Championship campaign.

Man of the Match – Wes Morgan