New-look Leicester impressing at the right time

Leicester City's 4-0 victory over local rivals Derby County yesterday evening could hardly have come at a better time - just before the international break, and in front of a massive Sky television audience.

© Isriya Paireepairit - Flickr

The win was emphatic and maintained Sven-Goran Eriksson's strong record in East Midlands derby matches. But more importantly, it highlighted that this Leicester side is starting to gel.

It is no big secret that the Leicester, recently referred to as the 'Manchester City of the Championship' on Sky Sports, have invested in big-name players this summer. The likes of Paul Konchesky, David Nugent and John Pantsil all have extensive Premier League experience, while Matt Mills and Jermaine Beckford came with heavy price tags. After a sluggish start with some below-par results (and performances), the victory over Derby emphasised the overall quality Leicester City possess.

However, such a victory has been on the cards for some time. On the back of a seven-game unbeaten run and four consecutive clean sheets (including two excellent draws at Cardiff and Middlesborough) it seemed only a matter of time before things would start to click. Matt Mills has been outstanding in his last few outings for the Foxes, while centre-back partner Sol Bamba has excelled all season. As a result, Leicester have conceded just nine goals in 10 league matches, the second fewest in the Championship. The entire back line are playing with confidence; both in themselves and with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel - and vice versa.

The midfield has suffered injuries - Richie Wellens and Michael Johnson being the latest. But each player raised their game yesterday, which will add a competitive element to the selection process. Andy King and Gelson Fernandes are both playmakers who can change the nature of a match, while Yuki Abe and Neil Danns have been solid when called upon.

Credit must also be paid to the forwards. Darius Vassell has been a revelation this season. The former England international is enjoying his finest form for the Foxes, looking more of a threat playing as an out-and-out striker rather than as a winger. The return of David Nugent yesterday was a huge boost to the side, and youngster Jeffrey Schlupp proved he can cause real problems for defenders with his unique combination of size and pace. When Jermaine Beckford returns from injury, Sven-Goran Eriksson will be spoilt for choice, and also given somewhat of a selection headache - but an enjoyable one.

That takes us to the manager. Sven-Goran Eriksson has done a tremendous job of remaining patient with his players confident in the knowledge that it was only a matter of time before things started to click. He will know that he is under pressure to deliver this season. Yesterday's game against Derby marked his anniversary with Leicester - a year in charge for the Swede. During that time, Leicester have taken 75 points from 46 games - more often than not, a total good enough for the play-offs. And now that he has had the summer to tailor-make a squad, this side is constantly improving.

Expectation is still high, but the hard work is paying off. Teams don't instantly click overnight; it does take time. Leicester enter the international break in eighth place, just one point outside the playoffs. But Sven's men are slowly and surely making things happen, and, after a slow start, they're doing it under the radar.

Scunthorpe United 0 Leicester City 3 - 12th March 2011

Leicester City reignited their promotion hopes after comfortably beating relegation-threatened Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park this afternoon.

Miguel Vitor scored a goal in each half, while Kyle Naughton added a third with fifteen minutes remaining to help Leicester snap a four game winless streak which deflated their playoff ambitions.

It was Vitor’s first start after picking up a hamstring injury against Ipswich in December last year, but the Portuguese defender put in an outstanding performance both in defence and from attacking set pieces, giving manager Sven-Goran Eriksson something to smile about after a poor team display against Norwich City during the week.

Eriksson also reintroduced Paul Gallagher to the starting XI following Tuesday night’s loss, whilst also adopting the more attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Scunthorpe did give the visitors an early scare when Michael Raynes headed Mark Duffy’s corner kick towards goal, but Richie Wellens was well-placed to clear the ball off the line.

Yakubu then hit the target minutes later at the other end with a close range header, but it was saved by Scunthorpe keeper Josh Lillis.

On the half-hour mark, Yuki Abe’s venomous long range half-volley struck the crossbar before being bundled behind for a corner by the Iron defence.

Leicester then broke the deadlock from an ensuing corner when Paul Gallagher’s ball into the box was nodded on at the near post by Ben Mee to Miguel Vitor, who was well-placed in the six yard box to prod the ball into the net.

The Foxes were good value for their lead, having been the better side on a difficult pitch for most of the first-half and offering much more in attack than their counterparts.

At the other end, Ben Mee made an important clearance before a counter attack involving Andy King and Yakubu almost led to a second Leicester goal before half-time – the Everton loanee being foiled however by an unfortunate bounce before being able to trouble Josh Lillis.

After the break, Scunthorpe were almost handed a lifeline when referee Rob Shoebridge awarded the hosts a penalty after Kyle Naughton was adjudged to have pushed Joe Garner in the penalty area – however, the assistant had flagged Garner for being offside before the whistle, and the referee reversed his decision.

Paul Gallagher then came close for Leicester with a curling free kick which Josh Lillis did well to tip around the post for a corner kick.

Naughton and Garner were again under the spotlight when Garner appeared to lash out following a forceful challenge by the Tottenham full-back – the referee surprisingly booking Naughton and awarding a free-kick to the home side.

Just before the hour mark, Leicester came close to doubling their advantage when some excellent work from Darius Vassell down the wing resulted in a low ball to the back post; however, the pass just escaped the oncoming Andy King, who was unable to hit the target.

Scunthorpe thought they had found an equaliser minutes later when Joe Garner found the back of the net following a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed as Garner was deemed to have handled the ball and was consequentially cautioned.

Leicester eventually did add to their lead when more good work from Darius Vassell allowed Paul Gallagher to whip the ball dangerously in across goal, with Miguel Vitor again in the right place at the right time to power a header off the underside of the bar and into the net for his – and Leicester’s – second of the game.

The goal deflated the hosts, and, with their tails up, Leicester instinctively put the match out of sight five minutes later when Kyle Naughton smashed a low drive through the heart of the Scunthorpe defence and beyond Josh Lillis.

It was Naughton’s fifth goal of the season – an impressive tally from a defender – and a clear demonstration of his ability to punish teams if given time and space on the ball.

Leicester were then able to see the remainder of the game out, and could have had a fourth goal after substitute Martyn Waghorn’s shot from a tight angle tested Josh Lillis at his near post.

It was a match that Leicester really needed to win in order to bounce back from a run of disappointing results, and the Foxes did so in emphatic style, picking up the three points which leaves them just five points off the playoffs with nine games remaining.

Man of the Match – Miguel Vitor

Leicester City 2 - 1 Swansea City - 3rd January 2011

Darius Vassell’s goal just before half-time was enough to give Sven-Goran Eriksson his second win in 2011 as his Leicester side beat promotion-challenging Swansea.

The Foxes had initially gone ahead after six minutes through Bruno Berner’s close range header, but Scott Sinclair levelled for Swansea shortly afterwards with a stunning 25 yard strike.

Darius Vassell was on hand to poke the ball home from two yards after Michael Morrison’s header from a corner had initially been parried by Swans’ keeper Dorus De Vries.

Vassell’s goal was his second in as many matches and was enough to bring the Foxes within four points of the playoff places, while Brendan Rodgers’ side slipped out of the automatic promotion places.

Eriksson will have been delighted to see his side match up to such a high-flying side, and play with the necessary aggression and determination to see out the victory.

Paul Gallagher came close for the Foxes after five minutes when his volley from distance sailed just wide of Dorus De Vries’ goalpost.

But the Foxes were ahead moments later through fullback Bruno Berner – recalled to the side due to Greg Cunningham suffering a broken leg against Hull City on New Years Day – who managed to head the ball home from close range after Paul Gallagher’s corner kick caused initial confusion amongst the Swansea defence.

Despite going ahead early on, the goal had perhaps come against the run of play, and Swansea continued to appear extremely comfortable on the ball, maintaining possession across the five-man midfield and spreading play wide out on both flanks.

The visitors were rewarded for their intricate play just six minutes after conceding as winger Scott Sinclair played a clever one-two before smashing the ball past Foxes’ keeper Chris Weale from 25 yards.

With both sides level, there were few clear cut chances for the remainder of the half, with Darius Vassell firing well wide from a difficult angle.

Leicester then had a penalty claim turned down by referee Darren Deadman when Richie Wellens hit the deck after he his shirt seemed to be pulled by Swansea defender Angel Rangel in the area.

Both defences continued to cancel each other out – Bruno Berner doing an especially good job of thwarting the attacking play of David Cotterill - until Wellens’ through ball behind the Swansea backline put Darius Vassell in on goal, but De Vries bravely came rushing out to deny the former England and Manchester City man.

Leicester were ahead two minutes later, however – again from a corner kick – when Michael Morrison’s header was parried by De Vries into the path of Vassell, who was on hand to turn the ball and put the Foxes ahead on 43 minutes.

It was Vassell’s second goal in three days and was a clear demonstration that the veteran striker still possesses the sharpness required to find the net.

Swansea will have been disappointed to be behind at half-time having arguably been the better of the two sides in the opening 45 minutes; however, Leicester could have gone even further ahead shortly after the break when Paul Gallagher picked out Andy King in the penalty area with a pinpoint free kick, but the Welsh international headed the ball inches wide of the mark.

As Foxes continued to press, Vassell nearly added his second goal of the game when he again found himself one on one with De Vries, but the Swansea keeper pulled off a fantastic save to keep his side in the match.

Leicester were almost made to pay when Scott Sinclair broke free behind the Leicester defence, but his shot failed to hit the target after pushing the ball past Chris Weale.

As time ran out, Swansea continued in search of an equaliser, but when Ashley Williams’ audacious shot flew over the bar Leicester were able to hold on until the final whistle and pick up a hard earned three points.

The result pushes Leicester up to twelfth in the Championship, while Swansea drop to third on goal difference.

Man of the Match – Bruno Berner

Leicester City 5 - 1 Doncaster Rovers - 11th December 2010

Leicester City scored four second half goals to demolish Doncaster Rovers 5-1 at the Walkers Stadium this afternoon.

The visitors went ahead after six minutes through Billy Sharp, but Leicester drew level when Paul Gallagher converted from the spot in first half stoppage time.

Richie Wellens and Kyle Naughton netted for the Foxes before Darius Vassell scored his first goal for the club with fifteen minutes to go.

Martyn Waghorn added to the score sheet in injury time to cap off a dominating second half performance and extend Sven-Goran Eriksson’s unbeaten home record in the Championship to seven games.

It was certainly a game of two halves as Doncaster were much the better side in the early exchanges, with James Hayter firing over after Leicester’s defence was caught on the back foot.

The visitors soon made amends, however, when the Foxes’ backline was again breached by some positive play, resulting in Billy Sharp acrobatically volleying the ball into the top corner.

Leicester struggled to get into the game in the opening fifteen minutes, with Richie Wellens coming closest for the home side with a shot from eighteen yards which sailed over the crossbar.

The Foxes began to look much livelier halfway through the first period as Darius Vassell burst through the heart of the Doncaster midfield, after good work from Yuki Abe, but the former England man’s shot was fortunately deflected wide – and from the ensuing corner, Andy King rattled the crossbar with a header from close range.

Moments later, Paul Gallagher broke into open space with a storming run, but his shot was easily saved by Neil Sullivan.

Despite Leicester’s mounting pressure on the Doncaster goal, the visitors had a great chance to double their lead after an uncharacteristically bad header back to goal from Curtis Davies was latched onto by David Healy who took the ball around goalkeeper Chris Weale, but could not hit the target from a tight angle.

The game changed when substitute Lloyd Dyer entered the fray after 36 minutes – Roman Bednar having picked up an injury as a result of a heavy challenge – and was soon was at the heart of the action when he was brought down by Neil Sullivan in the Doncaster penalty area, two minutes into first half injury time.

Paul Gallagher stepped up to fire the ball past Sullivan – his third goal in two games - and bring the Foxes level just before the half time.

Leicester came out all guns blazing after the break, with Curtis Davies coming extremely close with a header just wide from a corner kick.

Loanee Greg Cunningham then hit the crossbar with a rasping free kick from 25 yards out after Darius Vassell, who had replaced Roman Bednar up front, was clumsily brought down by last man Wayne Thomas.

The game turned on its head with Vassell up front as Leicester were able to pass the ball around much more openly in midfield, and work off Vassell’s blistering pace to create more attacking opportunities with continuous support from Lloyd Dyer, Kyle Naughton and Andy King.

It was all one way traffic as Leicester continued to mount the pressure in the hunt for a second goal, and Andy King almost put the Foxes ahead with a superb low drive from distance, but Neil Sullivan was equal to the challenge, parrying the ball out for a corner.

But Leicester were ahead moments later when former Doncaster man Richie Wellens found some space in the middle of the park and unleashed a powerful low strike into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, putting his home side 2-1 ahead and epitomising the home side’s supremacy shown the second half.

Leicester, reluctant to sit on their one goal advantage, maintained their attacking nature with Andy King forcing Neil Sullivan into another save, and firing just wide moments later.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Chris Weale had to be alert to tip David Healy’s looping shot around the post to preserve Leicester’s lead.

Leicester then doubled their lead with twenty minutes remaining after a superb team counter attack was capped off by full-back Kyle Naughton, who latched onto Richie Wellens’ pinpoint pass and fired across goal into the bottom corner to put the Foxes 3-1 to the good.

The hosts were oozing with confidence by this stage, and soon added a fourth to the tally when Lloyd Dyer played the ball behind the Doncaster back line for Darius Vassell who prodded the ball under Neil Sullivan for a deserved goal – his first in the Leicester blue and white.

Martyn Waghorn replaced Vassell – who received a standing ovation from the Leicester fans - with five minutes remaining and had a glorious opportunity to score when he found himself clean through on goal, however his first touch let him down and the ball ran away from him.

The former Sunderland man did add to his season tally in injury time, however, when Andy King broke clear and hit the inside of the post, giving Waghorn the simplest of tasks to put the ball into an empty net and cap off an emphatic 5-1 win.

Another home victory boosted the Foxes to thirteenth in the league – leapfrogging Doncaster in the process – and left Sven’s men just five points outside the playoff places at this stage in the season.

Man of the Match – Darius Vassell

Leicester City - New Signings Part Two

A couple of months ago, I promised to update an old article with new signings as and when they arrived at the club. However, transfers dried up a little after Yuki Abe and Martyn Waghorn signed for Leicester City, so here’s a look at the newest loan additions to the squad since Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge.

Name: Kyle Naughton
Age: 21
Position: Right back
Transfer fee: n/a (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until January 2011)

Last season:
After signing from Sheffield United in 2009, Naughton only featured once as a substitute for Tottenham Hotspur last season. He had a six month loan spell with Middlesborough from February 2010, playing in fifteen games.

First thoughts:
An bit of an unknown quantity unless seen playing during the 2008/09 season for Sheffield United, where he was voted Young Player of the Year by fans, and runner up Senior Player of the Year.

Who does he replace?
Robbie Neilson and Michael Lamey, who both featured during Paulo Sousa’s time in charge. Michael Morrison may also find that his opportunities become more limited as a result of a more experienced right back entering the fray.

What can he bring to Leicester City?
Known for his blistering pace, Naughton offers an attacking option as an overlapping full back which suits Eriksson’s preferred 4-4-2 formation, especially with Lloyd Dyer and Dany N’Guessan both currently sidelined. More importantly, the former England under-21 man has already demonstrated great composure in defence. Scoring in Leicester’s 2-1 away win over Leeds United will give him extra confidence.

Transfer rating: 8/10

Name: Curtis Davies
Age: 25
Position: Centre back
Transfer fee: n/a (on loan from Aston Villa for one month)

Last season:
Davies started 37 games for Villa under Martin O’Neill, scoring two goals in the process. However, he struggled to keep his place in the team after undergoing shoulder surgery in October 2009, as well as facing strong competition in the Villa defence from both Richard Dunne and James Collins.

First thoughts:
A very good signing, should he be able to stay injury free.

Who does he replace?
The hole in the defence left by the loss of Wayne Brown last season, which Paulo Sousa never really addressed during the summer.

What can he bring to Leicester City?
Although only 25 years of age, Davies offers experience to a mostly youthful set of defenders. He is a gifted footballer but still happy to do the dirty work in defence and offers physical prowess and good aerial ability. The addition of Davies is likely to allow Jack Hobbs to play in the style he did last season, rather than filling in as the brawn of the two centre backs. If he can stay healthy, Davies should start every game for the next month.

Transfer rating: 9/10

Name: Darius Vassell
Age: 30
Position: Striker/Winger
Transfer fee: n/a (free agent)

Last season:
Vassell spent last season with Turkish side MKE Ankaragücü, scoring four times in 25 appearances.

First thoughts: Questions as to whether he still has the pace he previously demonstrated in the Premier League and at international level.

Who does he replace? Nobody in particular, although he does provide added depth amongst Leicester's strikers. Vassell could feature as a winger should Erikkson ever adopt a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation.

What can he bring to Leicester City?
At the very least, Vassell offers experience to some of the younger attacking players, having formerly played for Aston Villa, Manchester City and England. Having played for Eriksson at the aforementioned latter two clubs, Vassell may be able to rediscover his previous good form in English football. He won’t be match fit for another week or so, but will be interesting to see how he fares in the Championship. This one could go either way.

Transfer rating: 7/10