LEICESTER CITY 2 PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0
Report by Mike King
After the European Championships and then the fantastic Olympic Games, here we are again, the start of another new football season, and typically a hot and sunny day to welcome the faithful to the Walkers, sorry, King Power Stadium, with the playing surface looking immaculate. As per last season, the Foxes have been made one of the favourites for promotion, with several papers stating it should be with an automatic place, but we heard all this hype last term, so a degree of uncertainty is in the air, but 3 points a must to get the season off to good start.
For the first match this season, Peterborough United were the visitors from along the A47, who have their own problems with several leading players wanting transfers, but manager Darren Ferguson has to play them all due to severe injury problems. They have, on their day, one or two dangerous players – Boyd, McCann and Tomlin – but the City should have too much for them after the wins against Sunderland and Torquay in the Capital One Cup.
With new signings James, Vardy and De Laet making their league debuts, the City team looked "youthful" but with a distinct lack of height compared to the opposition. The City bench looked impressive, many of these would have made the starting lines up in lesser teams in the Championship. The officials had their new bright red kit on show. Bright!
The Foxes started the better side with Dyer going on a couple of runs down the left, clearly having the pace to beat the Posh's defenders, but they came to nothing. Schmeichel had to tip a shot around the post, but the City mid-field, with Drinkwater prompting, took some time to get the upper hand. The Peterborough defence had long sessions of keep ball, content in passing along their back line, so they had a majority of the possession, obviously tactics to frustrate the home side.
Beckford and Vardy were working hard to force an error, and after 36 minutes, the City nearly took the lead without trying, as Vardy gained possession. He tried to find Beckford in the danger area, but defender Zukuani intercepted and nearly put the ball into his own net, as keeper Olejnik made a very good save low down. Marshall, who was encouraged to shoot on the edge of the box, passed instead, but the attack fizzled out.
This encouraged the City team as Marshall then put a cross from the right onto Beckford's head, but his effort went wide when a goal should have resulted. The Posh didn't have much upfront, but Tomlin, who looked in dire need of Weight Watchers, showed some nice touches, but Boyd was not showing much as Morgan and Moore dealt with any dangers fairly easily.
After the half-time entertainment, the second half started well with Dyer shooting from 20 yards but finding row Z, and then Schmeichel saved from a Taylor shot, but then a corner after 6 minutes lead to the Foxes taking the lead. A Marshall cross into the danger area found skipper Morgan who, despite a challenge, headed the ball into the net via the underside of the cross bar for a deserved lead. Referee Pawson's arm was raised but he indicated a goal and not a foul. Phew!
The City were encouraged to go for the jugular, with Beckford coming close from a Marshall cross. Vardy was working hard with no luck but was nearly rewarded from a Konchesky cross, the left back finding more space to push forward, with the Peterborough left back struggling with some erratic clearances. To freshen up the mid-field, Pearson took off James and brought on King, perhaps to allow King to push forward more from the centre of mid-field.
Another cross found Vardy but his shot into the ground bounced and as it went goal bound, keeper Olejnik tipped the shot over the bar. Dyer was then replaced by French debutant Knockaert who took up the right wing berth to taunt the Posh's left back, with Marshall swapping to the left side.
Then Nugent replaced Beckford who seemed somewhat surprised to be taken off, but Vardy was continually working hard and his tireless efforts rewarded the City with a second goal. Vardy out-paced a Peterborough defender to the ball just inside their half, turned the defender, raced away and sent in a low cross that found the advancing King on the edge of the box and the Welshman rifled the ball home into the top left corner of the net. An excellent finish.
Peterborough bought on Sinclair for Newell upfront and he caused a few problems having 3 chances to score but Schmeichel and some good defensive challenges thwarted the sub as the game ended with the Foxes having obtained 3 points and keeping a clean sheet for the third game in a row.
Some good performances, with Vardy our MOM due to his tireless work ethic and with more luck goals will surely come. The defence was good, but with the likes of Blackburn, Bolton, Wolves, Blackpool, Leeds and Cardiff to come they will have stiffer tests, but Morgan and young Moore played well, with De Laet, especially his distribution, needing to improve.
Mid-field need to up their game with Drinkwater having a reasonable second half and Marshall has had better games but he's always a threat with his shooting. Perhaps Knockaert needs a start to see what he can do, and against Charlton next game, our old friend, the Frenchman Kermogant, will probably play, so he may want to impress.
There are some hard games coming up, as they are all in the Championship, but a promising start, especially the second half and 3 points in the bag. Chris Powell and Charlton away next, a game we must win to remain in the top spot.
City: Schmeichel; De Laet, Morgan (c), Moore, Konchesky, Marshall, James (King 56), Drinkwater, Dyer (Knockaert 66), Beckford (Nugent 74), Vardy. Unused subs: Danns, Logan, Waghorn, Schlupp.
Booked: Marshall, De Laet
Peterborough United: Olejnik; Alcock (Little 80), Brisley, Zakuani (c), Ntlhe, Frecklington (McCann 76), Newell (Sinclair 66), Boyd, Bostwick, Taylor, Tomlin. Unused subs: Swanson, Day, Knight-Percival, Clarke-Harris.
Booked: Taylor, Frecklington
Referee: C. Pawson (South Yorkshire) Attendance: 23,863
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