Leicester City 3 Birmingham City 1 - 13th March 2012

Beckford brace keeps Leicester's playoff hopes alive

Beckford scored his tenth and eleventh goals for Leicester City

Jermaine Beckford scored two goals as Leicester came from behind to snatch all three points against Midlands-rivals Birmingham City.

The visitors took an early lead when Wade Elliott converted from the penalty spot, but Beckford drew the Foxes level with a close range finish.

Substitute Jeffrey Schlupp put the hosts ahead with just over ten minutes remaining, before Beckford raced ahead of the Birmingham defence to score his second and Leicester's third in second-half stoppage time.

It was a must win game for Nigel Pearson's side who, despite an inconsistent season, are still just six points outside the Championship playoff places, ahead of an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

After a slow opening, Neil Danns' low drive on goal was the first real chance for either side, but Birmingham goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was equal to it, pushing the ball past the post.

David Nugent headed wide moments later before Wade Elliott's tame shot on goal at the other end did little to test Kasper Schmeichel.

Birmingham were then awarded a penalty against the run of play when Sol Bamba was adjudged to have obstructed Nikola Zigic inside the area, with Wade Elliott making no mistake from twelve yards in putting Chris Hughton's  side 1-0 up.

It was a harsh decision by referee Mick Russell to award the spot kick, with both Bamba and Zigic appearing to tangle inside the box.

Leicester continued to play the better football as Paul Gallagher, making his return to the starting XI, did well to fire the ball across goal, but there was nobody in a blue shirt on hand to trouble Boaz Myhill.

Zigic then saw his powerful header strike the underside of the bar, as Leicester scrambled the ball away in what might have been game over for the Foxes.

Leicester found an equaliser after 34 minutes when David Nugent beat the Birmingham defence to a loose ball before firing across goal, and although his shot hit the foot of the post, his strike partner Jermaine Beckford made no mistake from close range, firing his side level.

The goal had been coming for the home side and Leicester were good value for their equaliser after Beckford and Nugent had threatened for the opening 35 minutes.

Lloyd Dyer's powerful near post strike was parried away by Boaz Myhill in first-half stoppage time as Leicester looked to take the lead before the break, while Andros Townsend had a glorious opportunity to restore Birmingham's advantage but fired over at the back post.

Leicester continued where they left off in the second-half and could have gone ahead ten minutes after the break when Paul Gallagher whipped a free-kick into a dangerous area, but a mix-up between Sean St. Ledger and Sol Bamba resulted in the ball falling harmlessly to Myhill.

Chris Burke's speculative 25-yard strike was then parried wide by Kasper Schmeichel, before Wellens tested Myhill with a long range strike of his own – the rebound falling to Jermaine Beckford who should have done better from close range, but his overhead kick sailed over the crossbar when the former Leeds and Everton striker probably had more time.

Neil Danns' shot was deflected wide after a quick counter attack through Lloyd Dyer, before Jermaine Beckford hit the outside of the post from close range – although he was adjudged to have used his arm to control the ball in the process.

Dyer then hit the side netting after a mazy run into the box, before Tom Kennedy's route one ball picked out substitute Jeffrey Schlupp who raced behind the Birmingham defence, the Ghanaian making no mistake in coolly slotting the ball past the oncoming Boaz Myhill from eighteen yards, who appeared to have been caught in two minds.

It was a deserved goal for Leicester who had maintained a level of energy and consistency throughout the match which will have pleased manager Nigel Pearson.

Birmingham went in search of an equaliser with ten minutes remaining and came close when Wade Elliott's fine strike from 25 yards flew inches over the crossbar, but Leicester could have doubled their advantage when Jermaine Beckford played a low ball across goal, but it was just too heavy for Lloyd Dyer.

With the last kick of the game, Leicester did get their third when Jermaine Beckford latched on to Sean St. Ledger's long ball and found himself one-on-one with Myhill, and, like Schlupp had done earlier, made no mistake in finding the back of the net to secure an important win for the Foxes.

It was a vital win for Leicester City to keep their playoff hopes alive after successive league defeats, but Nigel Pearson's men will now draw their attention to their FA Cup quarter-final trip to Stamford Bridge this Sunday against Premier League Chelsea.

Man of the Match – Jermaine Beckford

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.

Should They Stay or Should They Go? (Part 3)

The final part of this article focuses on players who have spent some – or all – of the 2010/2011 Championship season on loan at another club and whether or not they are likely to fit into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s plans next season.


Conrad Logan

Age: 25

11 appearances at Bristol Rovers this season

Verdict

Although Conrad Logan has been at Leicester City since 2004, he has spent the majority of his career away from the Walkers Stadium on loan at other clubs. The Irish goalkeeper played just seven times for Leicester this season before losing his place in the team and joining Bristol Rovers on loan in February until the end of the campaign.

Logan is unlikely to regain the number one spot with both Chris Weale and Ricardo still at the club – but they may well depart in the summer based on the fact that Ricardo was a short-term signing and Weale has not enjoyed the greatest form towards the end of the season. However, Sven could sign a high profile goalkeeper over the summer which would limit Logan’s opportunities and thus seek first team football instead.

Stay or Go?

Go. Logan is unlikely to feature in Sven’s plans next season and deserves to play regularly.

Jack Hobbs

Age: 22

13 appearances at Hull City this season

Verdict

Jack Hobbs is one of the few remaining Leicester City players from the Nigel Pearson era. After a successful season-long loan from Liverpool in 2008, Hobbs signed a four-year contract with Leicester and established himself not only as a fan favourite, but also as a fantastic developing centre-back and part of a solid defensive unit. But Eriksson’s arrival left the former England U19 international out of favour and he subsequently joined Hull City on loan.

Jack Hobbs is a talented player who will very probably spend the majority of his career in the Premier League. If Sven opts against signing Miguel Vitor, Ben Mee or Jeffrey Bruma, Leicester are left with very few centre backs following the departure of Michael Morrison last year. As an established Championship defender, Hobbs is a talent too good to go to waste. Other clubs will be interested in him over the summer, but he could be the one to steady Leicester’s defensive ship.

Stay or Go?

Stay. Hobbs is a rock at the back when at his best – as Leicester fans will tell you.

Franck Moussa

Age: 21

12 appearances and 2 goals for Doncaster Rovers this season

Verdict

Franck Moussa only signed for Leicester City in August 2010 but never really established himself as a starter since that time. After finding his playing time limited, Moussa joined Doncaster Rovers on loan in February this year – scoring twice in a dozen appearances.

This is an interesting situation because Moussa’s contract was extended this season, which indicates that Sven does see potential in the youngster. Also, Leicester are relatively thin on central midfield players, and the Belgian adds depth to that position in a 4-3-3 formation. He may struggle to break into the starting line up, but Moussa is a very useful player to have in the squad.

Stay or Go?

Stay. Doncaster may show interest over the summer but Sven should keep him at the club.

Dany N’Guessan

Age: 23

3 appearances and 1 goal for Scunthorpe United/6 appearances for Southampton this season

Verdict

Another survivor from the Nigel Pearson era, N’Guessan established himself as a firm fan favourite when he came off the bench during his first game for the Foxes to score the winning goal in a 2-1 victory in a season opener against Swansea City. Throughout the remainder of that season, his performances were inconsistent; dominant at times, yet lethargic at others. He struggled to establish himself under Sven-Goran Eriksson and joined Scunthorpe on loan in November 2010 – before joining Southampton for the remainder of the season in January.

Although he has a year left on his contract, the Frenchman would find it difficult to perform to a consistently high level so as to break into the starting line up ahead of the likes of Paul Gallagher and Darius Vassell. He is a good Championship footballer, but likely to leave in the summer.

Stay or Go?

Go. N’Guessan should establish himself at another club where he has the opportunity to prove himself.

Robbie Neilson

Age: 30

15 appearances for Brentford this season

Verdict

Robbie Neilson joined the Foxes in 2009 after a thirteen year stint at Scottish club Hearts, but struggled to maintain his starting place at right back – with Nigel Pearson preferring Michael Morrison at that position. Despite scoring his first senior goal in over five years in a 4-3 cup win over Macclesfield Town, Neilson remained out of favour this season and joined Brentford in February where he played regularly.

Sven-Goran Eriksson looks set to sign a right-back over the summer – be it Kyle Naughton or somebody else. It seems that Neilson would not be able to establish himself as Sven’s first choice next season.

Stay or Go?

Go. He is not the right fit for Sven’s style of football.

Jeffrey Schlupp

Age: 18

9 appearances and 6 goals for Brentford this season

Verdict

This is a really interesting situation. Although a product of the Leicester youth academy, Schlupp has never played a senior game for the Foxes. After joining Brentford on loan in March 2011 and scoring six goals in nine games, heads at the Walkers Stadium started to turn.

Some may be building Schlupp up too quickly by saying that he could be our number one striker next season. But his loan spell proved that he is a rare mix of power, speed and great finishing. He is contracted to the club until 2013 and Sven may see something in the youngster which might allow him the opportunity to prove himself at this level. His development will be really interesting.

Stay or Go?

Stay. Amidst all the transfer talk of Premier League strikers coming to the Walkers Stadium next season, Schlupp is a breath of fresh air and certainly one to watch.

Tom Kennedy

Age: 25

6 appearances at Rochdale/14 appearances at Peterborough United this season

Verdict

You really have to feel for Tom Kennedy. He could not have joined Leicester City at any worse a time. He joined the Foxes last summer while Nigel Pearson was still in charge, but Pearson parted with the club shortly afterwards which left Kennedy’s career in limbo. He played just one game for Leicester before joining his former club Rochdale in November on loan – and then Peterborough United in January for the remainder of the season.

Peterborough are thought to have expressed interest in making Tom Kennedy a permanent signing and as Sven is likely to sign a new left-back in the summer, Kennedy looks set to leave Leicester in the transfer window.

Stay or Go?

Go. Kennedy should find regular first-team football at another club.