City 1-1 QPR
It never surprises me how stubborn and incredulous Leicester City fans can be when it comes to their club. The conversations I had, which later turned to arguments, with a couple of fans before the game on Saturday perpetuated my long held belief that some of our fans may as well not bother getting up in the morning.
I can only be so patient with some people before I have to take issue with their rather dwarfed and illogical views on proceedings at the club. I welcome Gary Megson as our manager and despite him not being my first choice, I’ll support him until I believe his position has become untenable. This does not include his stewardship of our East Midlands neighbours because, frankly, I don’t care what he’s done in the past. All that matters to me is here and now and what he does for Leicester City.
The game against QPR was 1-1 at its conclusion following a long-range thunderbolt from Mikele Leigertwood to deny City a perfect start under Megson. Ian Hume converted a spot-kick just after the hour to put City on what looked like the road to victory after dominating the game throughout.
QPR were on alert from as early as the fifth minute when Lee Camp pulled off a save from a DJ Campbell header. It was three minutes later when Stephen Clemence hit a free-kick that Camp was also equal to in the QPR net. It was then the turn of Carl Cort who then drilled a shot just wide of the post from distance. Cort, who made his first start of the season, made an encouraging beginning to his City career winning nearly every header and flick-on building a dangerous partnership with Campbell…..
Just after the half-hour, Clemence crossed the ball into the box where it bounced around but no-one could find the finishing touch. The first period was dominated by City, but just before the break they had a massive let-off as Marton Fulop was at full stretch to deny Dexter Blackstock, who flicked Stefan Moore's cross goalwards. However there was more drama as Campbell left his marker and shot, but Danny Cullip somehow got back to clear the ball off the line.
Levi Porter and Campbell both came close to opening City’s account on the day once again then DJ was brought down under a clumsy challenge from Leigertwood and Hume slotted the ball past Camp for his second goal of the season. City had doubled the lead five minutes later when Hume delivered a brilliant ball to Cort, who stabbed the ball home, but was flagged offside.
Then, after being pegged back for 80 minutes, QPR equalised. Leigertwood powered drive from 35 yards that beat Fulop to nestle into the top corner. City has been in cruise control up until then and then followed a number of Fulop saves to deny QPR an undeserved winner. In the final minute though, Clemence ran onto the ball to curl which bounced off the crossbar.
The new partnership of Gary Megson and Gerry Taggart is going to take time to win over a lot of fans, but the backing of supporters will in no way hinder their chances of bring success to their club. It is "Gary Megson’s Blue and White Army" I want to be chanting at Wembley in May in the Play-Off Final.
Leicester: Fulop 7, N'Gotty 6, Kisnorbo 8, McAuley 8, Sheehan 7, Hume 7, Clemence 8, Wesolowski 7, Porter 6 (Kishishev 78), Campbell 6 (Chambers 73), Cort 7 (De Vries 90).
Subs Not Used: Henderson, Newton.
QPR: Camp, Cullip, Stewart, Rehman, Barker, Rowlands, Leigertwood, Bolder (Ephraim 72), Moore, Blackstock, Sahar (Nardiello 46).
Subs Not Used: Cole, Bignot, Curtis.
Attendance: 21,893. Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation