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 Hull City 1 - 24th March 2012

Foxes fight back to snatch important win

Leicester have won four consecutive home games in the Championship

Leicester City reignited their play-off hopes yesterday afternoon after coming from behind to beat Hull City in a fiery encounter at the King Power Stadium.

Former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt put the visiting side ahead after eight minutes with a clever chip over Kasper Schmeichel, but two goals in quick succession from Lloyd Dyer and Ben Marshall gave Leicester the lead at half-time.

Neil Danns was shown a straight red with over half an hour left to play, but Nigel Pearson's ten men dug deep and held on for their fourth successive league win at home, closing the gap on the top six to just five points.

It was an important win for Pearson over his former employers after seeing his side concede an injury-time equaliser at Bloomfield Road against Blackpool on Wednesday night.

Leicester lined up differently to their usual 4-4-2 formation, with David Nugent playing wide on the left and youngster Ben Marshall playing just in front of the midfield behind Jermaine Beckford.

The Tigers had the better of a cagey opening, and took advantage of their first real chance when Neil Danns conceded the ball cheaply in midfield and Tom Cairney's through ball to Matty Fryatt allowed the former Leicester City forward to chip over the onrushing Kasper Schmeichel, giving Hull the lead.

It was a clinical finish from Fryatt but a cheap goal for the Foxes to concede, albeit almost somewhat typical of recent poor defensive displays over the last month.

Corey Evans fired wide just moments later before Josh King forced a good save from Kasper Schmeichel as the visitors looked to turn the screw.

But against the run of play, Lloyd Dyer found space on the right wing, cut inside his defender and fired a low strike across goal which found its way past Vito Mannone in the Hull goal and into the bottom corner.

It was a much-needed equaliser for Nigel Pearson's side who had been simply outplayed for the majority of the half.

Leicester's turnaround was completed just moments later when David Nugent regained possession shortly after the restart, played the ball to Ben Marshall inside the opposing half who fired a superb 30 yard shot past the onlooking Mannone.

It was a stunning strike from Marshall, not dissimilar to his goal in Leicester's 5-2 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

With the crowd of 23,000 now behind them, the Foxes began to play with more confidence, and could have extended their advantage when Lloyd Dyer's speedy counter-attack ripped through the Hull midfield, but his final ball to Jermaine Beckford was just too heavy.

Hull might have been level five minutes before half-time when Josh King volleyed inside the area, but Sean St. Ledger made a crucial block to keep Leicester's lead intact.

Ben Marshall then fired over after good build-up play by David Nugent just before the break, but came out the stronger side in the second-half as Lloyd Dyer beat two defenders inside the Hull penalty area before blasting wide into the side netting.

The game changed dramatically ten minutes after half-time when Neil Danns was shown a straight red by referee Nigel Miller for a dangerous challenge on Hull's Paul McKenna.

The foul sparked confrontational scenes on the pitch, most notably between Jermaine Beckford and former Foxes captain Jack Hobbs, although on first glance both Danns and McKenna seemed to go for the ball in similar fashion.

Hull immediately went on the front foot in search of an equaliser, and came close when Cameron Stewart forced a fine near-post save out of Kasper Schmeichel.

Jack Hobbs then saw his header crash against the post as Hull began to dominate possession, but Leicester held firm and might have put the game out of sight with just over ten minutes to go when Jermaine Beckford's excellent ball over the top to Danny Drinkwater gave the midfielder space to tee up a strike on goal, but his effort was well-saved by Vito Mannone.

Substitute Sol Bamba then hit the post with a low drive from 20 yards, before Lloyd Dyer fired wide after initially doing well to keep the ball in play on the touchline. 

Hull continued to control possession, but Leicester defended resolutely and should have put the game to rest when Jermaine Beckford's stunning cross-field pass to Dyer allowed the winger to cut inside the last defender, but his shot flew just wide of the goal.

Wes Morgan made a crucial block inside the penalty area to thwart another Hull attack, before substitute Aaron Mclean fired high and wide for the visitors in what proved to be their last chance of the game.

The final whistle indicated a vital three points for Leicester City as they continue to make their bid for the play-offs, while Hull manager Nicky Barmby will have been disappointed to see his side unable to break down the ten-man opposition.

Man of the match – Lloyd Dyer

Leicester City 1 - 1 Hull City - 16th October 2010

Robert Koren’s second half goal was enough to earn Hull City a point at the Walkers Stadium and spoil new Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson’s home debut.

Andy King’s fifth goal of the season put the hosts ahead in just the third minute, but Robert Koren’s fine strike five minutes after half-time ensured that the points were shared in a heated match which featured the return of former Foxes manager Nigel Pearson to the Walkers Stadium.

Both of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s recently acquired loanees Kyle Naughton and Curtis Davies featured in the starting line-up for the Foxes, who both signed for Leicester this week.

Leicester dominated the first half and were ahead after three minutes through Andy King after some excellent work from Richie Wellens and Matt Oakley played the Welshman in behind the Hull defence, and was able to find a way past Matt Duke despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.

King was again involved minutes later when his cross was met by the head of Martyn Waghorn in the penalty area, who forced an excellent save from Duke.

From the ensuing corner, Curtis Davies – on loan from Aston Villa – was unlucky not to double Leicester’s lead with a solid header which drifted back across goal.

Kyle Naughton – also on loan at Leicester, this time from Tottenham – looked very assured as he pushed forward to cross the ball to Steve Howard at the back post, who headed back to Andy King whose goal-bound effort was blocked by fellow Welsh international Anthony Gerrard.

Bruno Berner’s long range shot just before half-time had Duke at full stretch again, but the full-back’s effort ran just wide of the far post.

Hull were a completely different side in the second half, and they were level within minutes after the restart with their first real chance of the game as Robert Koren’s superb long range strike could only be parried into the net by returning Foxes keeper Chris Weale after the Leicester defence failed to close down the Slovenian.

The visitors were the better side for most of the second half, creating a number of good chances to go ahead, as Mark Cullen’s volley from a route one goal kick flew just over the crossbar.

Some last ditch defending by Bruno Berner thwarted Caleb Folan at the back post as Hull continued to press, with the Swiss international just doing enough to put the ball behind for a corner at the back post to avoid a certain goal.

The game twisted and turned in the latter stages of the half with both sides looking for a winner, as Leicester substitute Franck Moussa’s corner found Jack Hobbs at the back post, his header lacked power and was saved by Matt Duke.

At the other end, Chris Weale was forced to make a near post save from a Kevin Kilbane header with fifteen minutes remaining.

As time began to run out, Paul Gallagher had a great chance to put the Foxes ahead after the Hull defence failed to deal with a Martyn Waghorn corner, but the ball bounced up just before his strike, and his shot sailed over the bar from close range.

Leicester piled on the pressure in the dying minutes as Bruno Berner’s shot was blocked in the six yard box after another Waghorn corner, but could not find a way through despite four minutes of added time.

The final whistle meant that both sides would have to settle for a draw, as both managers – each seeming fairly pleased with a point – left the pitch to a standing ovation from the fans.

Man of the Match – Curtis Davies