City 2 Burton Albion 4 – Capital One Cup Round 2
Report by Ian Bason
Nigel Pearson decided to ring the changes, having beaten Burton comfortably in a pre-season friendly and give a chance to players not currently in the first 11 to stake a claim, so only Schmeichel, De Laet, and Konchesky started from the line up against Blackburn, with City fans getting their first sight of Whitbread who lined up with St Ledger in the centre of defence as they both gained match fitness.
The midfield saw Knockaert and Gallagher on the wings with Danns and James as the central pairing, with Waghorn and Schlupp up front. Having failed to capitalise on numerous chances in the previous away games, could we now be more clinical against League 2 opposition?
The early stages saw City with plenty of neat possession without creating any clear cut chances with Schlupp pulling a chance wide in the 9th minute and then Knockaert just failing to get on the end of an excellent St Ledger through ball in the 14th, before Schlupp wasted another opportunity with a header just wide.
In the 19th minute, Burton launched their first real attack and City conceded a free kick about 25 yards out. Comments of “here we go” and “you know what’s going to happen now” surrounded me, as Palmer ran up to take the free kick and struck a good shot which was certainly deflected on its way past Schmeichel. 1-0 to Burton and the game starting to take a familiar pattern.
The rest of the half saw City create and waste a series of chances, although much credit should also be given to Albion keeper Atkins for getting in the way of anything sent in his direction. The keeper was also helped by many of the shots or headers lacking power or being directly at him, Schlupp being the most guilty, with Knockaert (shot), De Laat (header) failing to hit the target.
In the 42nd minute Burton fired another warning shot, with Schmeichel at full stretch low down to push a McCrory shot around the post. The half ended with another weak effort from Knockaert.
No changes at half time, which with the lack of penetration. was a surprise, but De Laet’s run from his own half to the 6 yard box raised expectations that a more direct approach had been demanded during the half time team talk.
The game then descended back into first half mode of half chances with the 52nd minute seeing another weak Schlupp header from a Knockaert free kick. As I noted this down, suddenly a long ball lands with Burton’s Taylor who showed the City players how it should be done with a smashed volley past Schmeichel. A fellow fan told me after the game that Whitbread has committed the cardinal sin of allowing the ball to bounce, rather than dealing with it, to create this chance. So Burton 2 – 0 up.
Waghorn than joins the woeful finishing list putting a shot way over from a Schlupp cross. Nigel Pearson decided he has had enough and takes off an ineffective Gallagher to be replaced by Futacs and changes the system slightly with Waghorn moving to wide right, giving Knockaert an advanced central role behind Futacs, with Schlupp also taking a wider position.
In the 58th minute, City are awarded a rare free kick, and Knockaert bends it over the wall and into the bottom right hand corner. 2-1, hopefully the start of a comeback, and discussion of extra time starts in the crowd.
However those thoughts are soon gone when the ref points to the spot in the 65th minute. I had no idea why it was given, so it is only after match discussions that reveal it was for a St Ledger hand ball, although the guilty hand actually came from a yellow and black shirt. Weir despatched the penalty, and Burton are back with a 2 goal advantage.
Nugent immediately replaces Schlupp, however the goal deficit gets worse as Maghoma scores the best goal of the night with a stunning 25 yard shot, that received much applause from the City fans.
Fans nor players believed there was a way back now, with the next point of note being King replacing a tiring Knockaert in the 73rd minute. The poor finishing bug then spread to Futacs as he shot straight at the keeper from a King cross. Konchesky was the next guilty party with a free kick easily clearing the bar.
As Burton rang the changes to run down the clock, 2 ex City players entered the fray, first Yussuf, followed by Billy Kee whose name more fans recognised and clapped onto the pitch.
Finally in the 86th minute, some class finishing from a City shirt, as a left wing cross from James was met with a first time Futacs volley which flew in off the post, 2-4.
A minute later, Danns hit a powerful low shot, but it was swallowed up by Atkins, and the final City chance saw a Nugent header from a corner fly well wide, and City duly departed from the competition.
As I came away from the ground, I tried to think of the positives. I only came up with two, a) that Whitbread and St Ledger had got 90 minutes under their belt and b) I was positive that no one had forced their way into the Blackpool starting 11 and this seemed to be confirmed by Nigel Pearson after the game, who started his description of the performance as awful and said he was dis-appointed that those who seemed to think they warranted a starting place failed to take their opportunity to prove it.
Pearson quite rightly said it was too soon after the game to decide whether he would now look at any further transfer activity before the window closes, but it must have raised questions in his mind as to whether some of the current squad players are up to the task, however there is no certainty he can move on those he is not convinced about and get replacements in within the next few days.
So Blackpool up next (they lost to Morecambe in 1st round) so have also had a midweek rest, as well as having not dropped a point in the League this season. I’m banking on repeating last season’s opening weeks now against the divisions leaders, as I always think you should go into a game with a positive attitude and a determination to support the side
City: Schmeichel, De Laet, St Ledger, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert (sub King 73), Danns, James, Gallagher (sub Futacs 55), Waghorn, Schlupp (sub Nugent 64) Unused subs: Morgan, Logan, Beckford, Moore
Goals: Knockaert 58, Futacs 86
Burton: Atkins; O'Connor, Holness, Diamond, McCrory; Taylor (Dyer, 63), Weir, Bell, Maghoma, Palmer (Kee); Zola (Yussuf, 82). Unused Subs: Lyness, Corbett, Webster, Richards,
Goals: – Palmer 20, Taylor 53, Weir 65 pen, Maghoma 68
Referee: Mr. D.Drysdale (Lincolnshire) Attendance: 8,560 (662 away)
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