Wolves 2 City 1
Report by Colin Hall
City slumped to their third successive away defeat of the season as first-half defensive howlers gifted Wolves a 2-1 victory. A wonder-strike by Paul Konchesky proved to be too little, too late.
Manager Nigel Pearson made just one change from the side that had defeated Blackpool, with fit-again Ritchie De Laet replacing Sean St Ledger. The retention of the same back four whose lapses had cost the side in previous away games caused concerns to some observers. Their fears were to prove well-founded.
The hosts set the tone for a physical encounter in the early minutes with a Tongo Doumbia challenge clattering Lloyd Dyer. City responded in equal measure with Kevin Doyle being felled by Paul Konchesky shortly afterwards. On both occasions, however, referee Stuart Attwell resisted the temptation to brandish a yellow card.
But the visitors were made to pay a heavy price for their indiscipline. After 10 minutes, Doumbia sent a free-kick to the far post, where Sylvan Ebanks-Blake evaded both Liam Moore and Paul Konchesky to head the home side into the lead.
As the defensive jitters continued, Doyle almost put Wolves further ahead when he pounced on another error by Moore to fire in a long-range shot which brought a superb save from Kasper Schmeichel.
However, City's relief proved to be short-lived, as the resulting corner found former Fox Richard Stearman unmarked just yards from goal, and he made no mistake to put the home side 2-0 up.
The Foxes created several opportunities in response, with Ben Marshall forcing a fine save from ex-Leicester loanee Carl Ikeme, and David Nugent blazing wastefully over after being sent clear by Dyer. With the visiting defence still looking vulnerable, though, Schmeichel was again called into action to deny Doyle.
The half-time introduction of Anthony Knockaert for the desperately disappointing Dyer appeared to give the team more vigour and energy. However, despite long spells of possession, City rarely threatened to pierce the experienced, well-organised home defence.
Yet just when it seemed they had run short of inspiration and ideas, a 30-yard effort by Konchesky, giving Ikeme no chance, reduced the arrears.
As City pressed for an equaliser, Nugent headed weakly wide from six yards when he should really had hit the target, and substitute Martyn Waghorn, sent clear by Knockaert, thundered a shot against the post when a more controlled finish might have yielded better reward.
But the momentum could not be sustained. As so often in away games during 2012, City's confidence and self-belief drained away in the closing stages. Indeed, the home side came close to adding to their lead, with a Moore backpass being scrambled off his own goal-line by Schmeichel.
Once again, players and fans were left to reflect on the impact caused by individual errors on and off the field, which have left City just a point clear of the Championship drop zone.
At present, the continuing lack of character and resilience (a problem which has dogged this team outside Leicester for the past three seasons), gives little hope for a sustained promotion challenge. A record of 17 points from 18 away league games since Pearson's return from Hull suggests that issues which forced the departure of his two predecessors remain far from being resolved.
Judging by online comments in the immediate aftermath of this latest defeat, the majority of the Foxes fanbase retain faith in the manager.
But unless he can change the tactics and personnel which have been so regularly found wanting on the road, the patience of the club's owners is likely to wear thin sooner rather than later.
Wolves (4-4-2): Ikeme; Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward; Peszko (Boukari 74), Henry (c), Doumbia (Edwards 66), Sako; Doyle, Ebanks-Blake (Sigurdarson 76). Unused subs: Davis, De Fries, Foley, Margreitter.
Goals: Ebanks-Blake 13, Stearman 20
City (4-4-2): Schmeichel; De Laet, Morgan (c), Moore, Konchesky; Marshall, King (James 31), Drinkwater, Dyer (Knockaert 46); Nugent, Vardy (Waghorn 72). Unused subs: St. Ledger, Logan, Beckford, Futacs.
Goal: Konchesky 70 Booked: Konchesky, Nugent
Referee: Stuart Atwell (Warwickshire) Attendance: 20,030
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