LEICESTER CITY 2 COVENTRY CITY 0
Report by Paul Weston
This was match City would normally lose. The ingredients were there: we were in good form against lowly opposition with bad away form and with a manager absent through illness. Could we win two league matches back to back for the first time? The answer was yes- pretty comfortably although in true City style not without a few scares.
Pearson started with the same settled side. Mills again was nowhere to be seen and apparently on his way to Leeds United. Presumably disgruntled after being rightly dropped he has been one of the reasons for our average season so far- not a strong captain with erratic distribution, he could easily be turned and out-muscled. It was good to see Schlupp back on the bench. Unusually Pearson did not select a goalie substitute.
The whole defence looks better with the Morgan/St Ledger pairing looking much more solid and less prone to errors. It is a settled more confident side. Everyone knows what their role is with Wellens as captain always directing operations and leading by example.
Having said that City started fairly slowly and allowed Coventry at first to make inroads. Then, out of the blue, Wellens was tripped in the penalty area. It was an obvious penalty but where was Gallagher when he was needed? Danns took the penalty. It was quite well placed but weak and the goalie touched it onto the post and off for a corner.
City did not allow this to deter them. Dyer looked threatening and, from a good cross, Beckford turned and shot fiercely which was parried by the goalie. Nugent picked up the rebound and scored, although he was injured in the process.
There then was a period when City should have scored more goals. St Ledger headed over and Marshall blazed wide. Both should have scored. City should therefore have been about 3-0 up by half time without really playing well or getting out of second gear. Coventry looked vulnerable at the back although Platt in particular caused City problems with his height and Danns was not having much of an influence on the match.
City started very poorly in the second half and dropped back too much, allowing Coventry into the game and giving them too much possession. With better finishing Coventry could have punished City but were woeful in attack.
City scored a second goal in strange circumstances. Having been camped in their own half for the start of the second half City obtained a cheap throw in when the Coventry goalie miscued his kick. There was then a slick passing move between Marshall, Nugent and Wellens which ended with a side footed goal from Beckford.
2-0 up and the game should have been in the bag.
City still allowed Coventry to get a foothold in the match. Drinkwater came on to hold the ball better.
St Ledger then made his only blemish of the match and mishit a back pass. Morgan intercepted and the Coventry player ran into him. The referee, who made some strange decisions throughout the match, bizarrely deemed this a penalty and gave Coventry a way back into the match. Schmeichel made a wonderful save from Clingan pushing it sideways and the ball was cleared.
The only real item of interest left was the straight red card to Konchesky close to the end of the match. I have no idea what it was for. It just appeared to be a clumsy challenge. No doubt Pearson will review the replay and decide whether to appeal. We need Konchesky for the matches ahead although Kennedy has proved to be a very able deputy.
City saw out the match fairly comfortably even with 10 men without really getting out of second gear although Schlupp, having come on as sub, ended up playing at left back. Another clean sheet and goals yet again for our strike force duo.
This was a good start for an intensive spell of 9 games in 28 days which will determine our season with a tasty FA cup tie in the middle. I only wish we had half of the season left rather than a third to make up ground on the top half of the table.
What has changed? The City side is more confident and at last playing the Pearson way. Passing is better and the team is playing as a team rather than a collection of individuals. Adversity does not unsettle the side. Morgan has without doubt stiffened the defence and St Ledger has been a revelation. The Nugent/Beckford pairing is always looking dangerous.
It is probably too late for this season but at least we have hope!
City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St. Ledger, Konchesky, Marshall (Drinkwater 72), Danns, Wellens, Dyer, Beckford (Howard 80), Nugent (Schlupp 74). Unused subs: Bamba, Kennedy.
Goals: Nugent 11, Beckford 60
Booked: Morgan Sent off: Konchesky 83
Coventry: Murphy, Christie, Keogh, Cranie, Clarke, Bell (Baker 68), Norwood, Deegan (Clingan 71), McSheffrey (McDonald 79), Platt, Nimely. Unused subs: Dunn, Cameron.
Booked: Nimely
Attendance: 25,487 (1,894 away) Referee: Lee Probert
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