Sheffield Wednesday 0 City 2
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City produced their most accomplished Championship away performance of the season to date in overcoming Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough on Saturday. The win lifted the Foxes to 3rd place in the league, within 3 points of new leaders Cardiff.
Nigel Pearson, the most successful Wednesday skipper since World War 2, made two changes on returning to his former stamping ground to the side that demolished Ipswich. Sheffield-born Jamie Vardy, an ex-Wednesday trainee, replaced the injured David Nugent in attack.
However the inclusion of Ben Marshall in preference to Anthony Knockaert caused more of a stir among the travelling hordes, as did the retention of Jeffrey Schlupp at left-back ahead of Paul Konchesky.
Both sides made a slow, somewhat tentative start in cold, overcast conditions. Home striker Jay Bothroyd had the first chance of the game, but Schlupp managed to divert his shot wide. City responded strongly with Marshall forcing home keeper and ex-Foxes loanee Chris Kirkland into a save.
Further chances were largely at a premium during a hard-fought and largely attritional opening half. City refused to succumb to the hosts' more physical approach, but were often over-elaborate in attacking areas.
But four minutes before the break, City found a killer touch. Danny Drinkwater, showing a welcome return to form, exchanged passes with Marshall and strolled past a hesitant Wednesday defence to fire past Kirkland and put the Foxes ahead.
The Owls responded to this setback with their biggest threat of the game. Zak Whitbread and Schlupp picked up yellow cards in quick succession, while Kasper Schmeichel almost gifted an instant equaliser when missing an Anthony Gardner through ball. Fortunately for City, Andy King was on hand to clear the danger and preserve the half-time lead.
The Foxes resumed in a more relaxed and confident mood, seeking a second goal to seal the game. Marshall almost provided it when heading over from a Martyn Waghorn corner. Waghorn then forced Kirkland into further action with a shot tipped away.
A series of substitutions by an increasingly-desperate Dave Jones briefly threatened to stir the home side, but City were soon able to regain their rhythm and composure, with Drinkwater and Andy King continuing to dominate midfield.
With fourteen minutes remaining, the game-clincher finally arrived. Waghorn found Marshall clear on the right and the winger cut inside to send a 20-yard left-footed drive past Kirkland and add to his already-impressive portfolio of City strikes.
Having extinguished what remained of the confidence levels among home players and fans alike, City saw out the closing stages with ease. Pearson was even able to give attackers a breather with the forthcoming trip to Leeds in mind. Marshall, who was highly-appreciated during a loan spell last season at Hillsborough before joining City, received warm applause from all sections of the ground when replaced by Knockaert.
Although tougher challenges than that offered by Wednesday undoubtedly lie in wait during the coming weeks and months, this was nevertheless an important test for Pearson and his side – and one they passed with flying colours. This is precisely the type of banana-skin fixture where City have slipped up too often in recent seasons, so Pearson will share the delight of the Blue Army at the authority and assurance displayed in all areas of the team.
In return it is a pleasure to report that his team selection and tactics, which haven't always met with universal approval in the past, proved to be impeccable on this occasion.
With news breaking of defeats for fellow high-fliers Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Hull, the significance of this victory was enhanced still further. The Foxes will hope that the recent run of wins in Yorkshire can be extended again at Elland Road on Tuesday.
Wednesday : Kirkland; Buxton, Taylor (c), Gardner, Helan; Johnson, Semedo, McCabe (Lines 66), Antonio; Bothroyd (Madine 69); Sidibe (Rodri 75). Unused subs: Bywater, Pecnik, Mayor, Jones.
City (4-4-2): Schmeichel; De Laet, Morgan (c), Whitbread, Schlupp; Marshall (Knockaert 81), Drinkwater, King, Dyer; Vardy (Futacs 77), Waghorn (Lingard 86).Unused subs: Logan, Konchesky, James, Moore.
Goals: Drinkwater 41, Marshall 76 Booked: Whitbread, Schlupp
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire) Attendance: 24,664 (3,803 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