Leicester City 2 Cardiff City 1 - 11th February 2012

Gallagher brace gives Leicester important win

Gallagher has scored seven goals for Leicester this season

Two goals from Paul Gallagher gave Leicester a deserved win over promotion-chasing Cardiff City to keep their own playoff hopes alive.

Gallagher scored from the penalty spot after Richie Wellens was clumsily fouled by Haris Vuckic, before the midfielder doubled Leicester's advantage with a fine second-half free-kick.

Peter Whittingham's penalty kick gave the visitors a lifeline, but Nigel Pearson's men held on to take an important three points, leaving the Foxes just six points outside the playoff places and ending Cardiff's nine game unbeaten streak.

Danny Drinkwater was handed his home debut by Nigel Pearson, and the former Manchester United man looked lively from the beginning, playing a dangerous ball across goal to Jermaine Beckford, but the in-form striker was unable to make contact.

Paul Gallagher volleyed wide for the Foxes after some good link-up play by Richie Wellens and Lee Peltier, while Chris Conley's bobbling shot was well-handled by Kasper Schmeichel.

Wellens then had an unorthodox overhead kick tipped away by Bluebirds' goalkeeper David Marshall, while Matt Mills' header from a free-kick flew inches wide of the far post.

Leicester continued to dominate possession in the first-half, looking more like the team in fourth place than thirteenth, with Jermaine Beckford and Paul Gallagher continuing to pepper away at the Cardiff goal.

With five minutes remaining in the first-half, Paul Konchesky hit a thunderous 25 yard volley on target, with David Marshall doing well to tip it around the post.

From the ensuing corner, Richie Wellens was untidily challenged by Cardiff's Haris Vuckic inside the penalty area, leaving referee Mark Halsey no option but to award the home side a spot kick, which was slammed home by Paul Gallagher to give Leicester a deserved half-time lead.

Leicester continued to dominate the game during the second-half, and came close to doubling their advantage when Danny Drinkwater dispossessed Peter Whittingham in midfield before finding Lloyd Dyer breaking down the left wing, whose pinpoint pass to David Nugent allowed the striker to fire across goal, but David Marshall made another excellent save to keep his side in the game.

The hosts did eventually get their second goal when Lloyd Dyer was bundled over on the edge of the Cardiff penalty area, allowing Paul Gallagher to curl a stunning free-kick over the wall from twenty yards.

The goal demonstrated the Scotsman's superb technique and ability from set pieces after a superb team counter-attack.

Substitute Rudy Gestede continued to be Cardiff's biggest threat, and won a penalty for the visitors against the run of play when Paul Konchesky was adjudged to have pushed the striker in the area following a corner kick.

Peter Whittingham made no mistake from the penalty spot, giving Malky Mackay's side a lifeline and the visiting fans something to cheer about.

As the minutes ticked away, Leicester substitute and home debutant Ben Marshall fired a long range shot over the crossbar, before playing a tempting near post ball towards Jermaine Beckford.

The hosts never looked like conceding a second goal, and the final whistle confirmed Leicester's first win in five games as their quest for a playoff spot continues.

Man of the Match – Danny Drinkwater

Leicester City 2 - 1 Cardiff - 14th September 2010

Two second half goals from Andy King gave Paulo Sousa his first league win as Leicester City manager at the expense of high flying Cardiff.

The visitors took the lead in the first half when Lee Naylor’s bizarre cross-turned-shot deceived everyone - including Leicester goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who was caught off his line.

But the Foxes struck back through Andy King who made a late run into the penalty area to head home Richie Wellens’ cross.

King scored his second of the night seventeen minutes later with a superb curling strike, condemning Cardiff to their first loss of the season.

The win demonstrated that any bad memories from the end of last season when Cardiff dumped Leicester out of the play-offs on penalties had certainly been vanquished.

The match saw Martyn Waghorn’s return to the Walkers Stadium, who spent last season with Leicester on loan from Sunderland, scoring twelve goals in the process.

Cardiff – who were without the injured Michael Chopra, Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Seyi Olofinjana – took the lead in after 26 minutes in the most bizarre circumstances.

Lee Naylor’s cross from over 40 yards out by the touchline managed to confuse everybody, including on loan goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, as it flew over his head and into the top corner.

It was very much the story of the season so far for the home side with the goal coming against the run of play, as it was Leicester that had started the stronger of the two teams.

Cardiff then took control of the match and created some good chances to double their lead, with Jason Koumas firing wide from a corner and Chris Burke hitting the target after some nice work from Peter Whittingham.

Leicester finished the first half enthusiastically and were unlucky not to draw level when Martyn Waghorn’s corner found Steve Howard in the six yard box, only to have his header scrambled away by the Cardiff defence.

The Foxes exploded out of the gates in the second half, forcing Cardiff to defend in numbers as Sousa’s preferred 4-3-3 formation began to make a game changing impact.

Six minutes into the second half, Leicester deservedly drew level after a pinpoint cross by Richie Wellens found Andy King who had made an untracked run into the penalty area and duly headed the ball past Bluebirds’ goalkeeper David Marshall.

After the equaliser, it was one way traffic for the majority of the second half as the pressure mounted on Cardiff – who had not lost away from home so far this season – as Leicester continued to attack the flanks courtesy of the pace of Martyn Waghorn and Lloyd Dyer.

Dyer had a great opportunity to put Leicester ahead after Steve Howard’s knock down fell into the path of the speedy winger, but he could only hit the side netting with a shot from a tight angle.

Skipper Matt Oakley then unleashed a fierce strike through the heart of the Cardiff defence which was parried by Marshall – who then excellently tipped Martyn Waghorn’s follow-up shot around the near post.

Leicester were rewarded for their persistence with just over twenty minutes to go when Andy King netted his second of the night – and fourth of the season – with a fantastic curling strike from inside the area to put the Foxes ahead, sending the home fans into raptures.

Leicester should have made it 3-1 after a calamitous goal kick from David Marshall put Lloyd Dyer through in on goal, but his shot hit the outside of the post and went agonisingly wide.

Leicester went on to see out the win after a nerve-racking five minutes of injury time, giving Paulo Sousa his first victory of the Championship campaign and the Blue Army faithful a sense of retribution following the play-off heartbreak of last season.

Man of the Match – Andy King

Cardiff 2 - 3 Leicester * - 12th May 2010

* (3 - 3 on aggregate, Cardiff win 4 - 3 on penalties)

Cardiff City booked their place in the Championship play off final at Wembley following a dramatic penalty shoot out win over Leicester City.

Michael Chopra initially put the hosts ahead, but Matt Fryatt's volley and an own goal from defender Mark Hudson allowed Leicester to go in at half time with a goal advantage on the night.

Andy King put the Foxes ahead on aggregate in the second half with a fine header, but Peter Wittingham's spot kick ensured extra time and penalties.

Foxes manager Nigel Pearson opted to recall Steve Howard to the starting eleven following a three match suspension, as well as Matt Fryatt who made his first full appearance since suffering a broken jaw against Doncaster back in February.

Cardiff dominated the early exhanges of the match, with Peter Whittingham's low drive whistling past the post in the first few minutes.

But it was Michael Chopra who opened the scoring for the Bluebirds on 21 minutes when he latched onto Jay Bothroyd's header to fire a low shot past onrushing Leicester keeper Chris Weale, putting Cardiff two goals ahead on aggregate.

Leicester hit back against the run of play just minutes later as Steve Howard's header was met by Matt Fryatt, who volleyed past keeper David Marshall to score his first goal of 2010.

The away side were ahead ten minutes later when Mark Hudson - unable to deal with another Steve Howard header - directed the ball into his own net.

Dave Jones' men fans may have felt aggrieved to be 2-1 down at half time, as they had had the lion's share of possession - as well as opportunities - in the first 45 minutes.

However, Leicester struck again early in the second half when Andy King headed home his eleventh goal of the season, following a wonderful cross from Paul Gallagher, sending the travelling fans into raptures as the Foxes went ahead 3-2 on aggregate.

King had a chance put the game almost beyond reach when he latched onto Jack Hobbs' header inside the six yard box, but he was denied by Peter Whittingham's last ditch clearance.

Whittingham then levelled the score for Cardiff and with twenty minutes to go as he fired home his 25th goal of the season, after they were awarded a penalty by refeee Howard Webb following Alex Bruce's mistimed challenge on Michael Chopra in the box.

With the score at 3-3 on aggregate, Cardiff had chances to win the game with Jay Bothroyd hitting the post after a sintilating run, Whittingham firing a thunderous free kick against the crossbar, and Jack Hobbs denying Michael Chopra with a goal line clearance.

Extra time also failed to seperate the two sides - who had finished on the same points tally at the end of 46 Championship games - despite chances being squandered for both sides by substitutes Kelvin Etuhu and Martyn Waghorn, and so a penalty shoot out would see one side advance to Wembley.

Bruno Berner, Steve Howard and Nolberto Solano all scored from the spot for Leicester, while Michael Chopra, substitute Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley kept the home side level.

But it was advantage Cardiff when Yann Kermorgant's disastrously weak chip was stopped by David Marshall, while Mark Kennedy fired Cardiff 4-3 ahead.

And when Marshall broke Leicester hearts by saving Martyn Wahgorn's penalty, Cardiff fans could finally celebrate after an intense home finale, as their side booked their place in the play off final against Blackpool.

Leicester City, on the other hand, will face another year in the Championship, following an extremely promising season.

Man of the Match - Steve Howard

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