WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 LEICESTER CITY 0
It was a warm and pleasant afternoon. The journey by train from Leicester via Birmingham New Street, Moor Street to The Hawthorns was simple, uneventful and cheap.
The mood was quiet and relaxed. The Home team and their supporters were not in bullish form. The general impression, however, was that this was a bigger club than Leicester and a more determined, slightly resigned, following, mildly sceptical of their manager’s abilities and outlook.
The first half had a restrained tone. Neither side gave the impression of trying too hard. John Hartson was out for an afternoon stroll and Kevin Phillips menaced, but appeared to be finding his feet rather than using them. Matty Fryatt demonstrated his ability to turn a defender on a couple of occasions, but these were solitary efforts.
No sign of a decent through ball from any Leicester player. Chris O’Grady is quick, but his first touch is less than something to point out to your children. Andy Johnson looks like a selection with a very short future. Joshua Low danced around on his toes, but affected the outcome not one jot. Paul Henderson had plenty to do and did it with style and accomplishment….
Who was that member of the training staff reigning centres on Paul from the corner flag? He knows how to play football.
There was a maiden in the Brummie team called Paul McShane playing at right back. He was keen, took risks and played as if he was actually enjoying them game. Not one of the Leicester players looked as if they really wanted to be on the park. Johansson, McCarthy, Kenton and Kisnorbo ran about doing a bit of mopping up, but inspirational it was not.
The second half required a change of approach. Accordingly WBA turned on the heat and Leicester wilted. All this moaning in the Leicester Mercury is way off the point. It was not bad luck: Leicester played badly in the second half and failed to absorb the pressure. There was no defence to Kenton’s own goal. A player like Stephen Hughes made a couple of serious errors and the general tone of the response to an upgraded assault from WBA was weak and wet.
Richard Stearman came on in the 66th minute, made an initial impact and then withered away. Ian Hume replaced Matty Fryatt but he is too small, too slight to affect a change. Levi Porter can play, but is not and never will be a commanding presence.
All in all, it was a poor performance, imperfectly analysed by the manager in the Leicester Mercury on the following Monday. Luck had nothing to do with it. The tempo in the second half was all wrong. Risks, enterprise, enthusiasm and basic footballing zest were absent without the supporters’ lead.
West Brom: Zuberbuhler, Albrechtsen, McShane, Perry, Robinson, Greening (Koumas 69), Quashie (Chaplow 86), Wallwork, Carter, Phillips, Hartson (Ellington 69).
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Gera.
Booked: McShane. Goals: Kenton 83 og, Phillips 86 pen.
Leicester: Henderson, Kenton, Kisnorbo, McCarthy, Johansson, Low (Stearman 61), Johnson, Hughes, Porter (Wesolowski 78), O'Grady, Fryatt (Hume 66).
Subs Not Used: Logan, McAuley.
Att: 19,322
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