City 1 Middlesboro 0
Report by Eddie Blount
City defied both the weather and the fates to take all three points against fellow promotion contenders Middlesboro last night in Arctic conditions at the King Power stadium. Conditions outside the ground were so bad that several City players had to complete their journeys to the ground on foot and the Boro team only reached the stadium 45 minutes before kick-off.
Meanwhile City fans were caught up in the grid-locked traffic all around the centre of the City and parking was an absolute nightmare. Not surprising therefore that the match did not start until 8pm in front of less than 9 000 spectators, surely one of City's lowest-ever league attendances! Having sold 20 000 tickets it gives you some idea of what sort of evening it was.
The game kicked off with a sprinkling of spectators all around the ground, including the away fans section, where a very few hundred Boro fans were creditably gathered, all deserving some form of commemorative medal, from the Polar Society perhaps.
Their team began well and looked the more threatening, especially on the break with Scott McDonald prominent down City's right. Wood did not seem likely to repeat the scoring exploits of previous games but had one early chance which went begging as the ball was stuck between his feet and the final shot was easily saved. Nugent on the other hand was looking lively down the inside right channel and twice cut in from that side to force keeper Steele to save.
The deadlock might have been broken after 27 minutes when Wood put Knockaert in on the left and the Frenchman produced an amazing cross-shot which hit the underside of the bar before rebounding on to the far post; the ball then hit the ground and spun back against the same post, all without crossing the line. I have never before seen one shot hit the woodwork three times!
At such moments you wonder if the Gods are trying to tell you something. You wondered again on the stroke of half-time when a short cross by Wood was headed against the bar by Keane whose consistent form has been a significant factor in City's winning run.
All even at the interval but the consensus was that City had done enough to deserve to be in front, though Boro, without a point yet in 2013, were still very much in contention, particularly when Schmeichel made an excellent block from a Bikey header towards the end of the half.
The second half began initially in similar fashion to the first. Ten minutes in and our fears that this would not be our night were further heightened when a great move down our left resulted in a fine cross from Marshall being headed firmly against the inside of the post by the unlucky Wood.
Just over 5 minutes later we were absolutely convinced! De Laet was prominent in a sweeping move down the right which ended with Nugent comprehensively beating Steele only for the effort to be ruled off-side. I gather that tv replays showed this was a very close decision of a type you sometimes get and sometimes don't.
At this point some City teams of the recent past would have allowed their heads to drop but this group showed the determination that just might see us in a higher league next season. The addition of Wood and Keane plus the improvement of James has added a steel and quality that was much needed.
The decisive moment came on 70 minutes. A bouncing ball in the penalty area was lifted over a defender's head by the persevering Wood to the predatory Nugent whose first-time snap half-volley found the far corner of the net. An instinctive strike which was to ensure that our sacrifice in getting to the match and enduring the wintry conditions was very worthwhile!
Shortly after we were all convinced that Nugent had made it two when he dispossessed a defender and slotted the ball home, only for the same linesman to once again raise his flag, correctly according to those who have seen the replays.
The incident illustrates vividly the stupidity of football's ruling bodies in their luddite refusal to embrace technology and get decisions that are right and, crucially, seen to be right. All other major sports have done this and the spectacle is improved not diminished so the FIFA neanderthals need to be pressed at every opportunity to put fairness before the silly, pre-technology, out-dated mantra that the referee's decision is final.
From this point onwards City tended to sit back and rely on fast breaks involving subs Dyer and Vardy, both of whom had chances they were unable to take. It looked as though we were to pay the penalty for this when Vardy stumbled after a defensive challenge in his own box, fell down and in so doing brought down a Boro player. A totally unnecessary penalty which shows what can happen when a forward makes a tackle in his own box.
However Schmeichel brought the house down by guessing which side Emnes would shoot from the spot and was deservedly mobbed by his team-mates whilst the crowd bellowed his name. Shortly afterwards it was all over and we had a repeat performance of the mobbing and bellowing – quite right – too! So second place, at least until Hull play today and genuine hopes that we are moving strongly forwards at just the right time.
City: Schmeichel. De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky, Drinkwater, James, Knockaert (Dyer 76), Marshall (King 81), Wood, Nugent (Vardy 83)
Boro: Steele, Hoyte (Thomson 21), Hines, Bikey, Friend, Ledesma, McEachran (Emnes), Leadbitter, Williams, Haroun, McDonald (Jutkiewicz 72)
Attendance: 8,585 Referee: Roger East
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