Stockport County …..0 Leicester City ……0
One of the few sensible things that Mr. Holloway told us last year was that unless we start winning back-to-back games then we’ll be in trouble. Well we never did and the rest as they say is history. However, fast forward a few months to a new season, and a new regime, and things are looking up. In fact Nigel Pearson has already managed what you never could Ian, and the opening week victories over MK Dons and todays opposition in the League Cup, meant that the travelling Leicester fans turned up to Edgeley Park optimistic that we could even win three on the bounce, a feat not achieved for 18 months.
Unfortunately that didn’t materialise and despite Leicester’s best efforts, what they did witness was another reason why we ended up in the bottom three last year – the unwanted ability to create so many good chances but then failing to put any of them away.
Pearson made six changes from the Carling Cup victory, in fact the team near matched the one that started the 2-0 win over MK Dons, with the only change enforced – Jack Hobbs replacing the injured Joe Mattock. The Liverpool loanee lined up alongside Michael Morrison with Alexander Tunchev pushed out to the left back position.
The opening exchanges were fairly scrappy – neither side forcing a save from the goalkeepers and although Leicester dominated the possession there was no cutting edge. Matty Fryatt’s burst into the box was well blocked and a Steve Howard shot on the turn went well wide.
The more the half went on the more Stockport came into the game. Paul Henderson had to be alert to a looping shot from Peter Thompson that bounced just in front of him, and Dominic Blizzard should have worked Henderson more with his header from a free kick. Despite these confident shows of goalkeeping, Henderson still has the ability to make potentially costly errors; a lack of a call meant Morrison headed the ball out when really the big Australian should have claimed it with ease. Fortunately the resulting corner was cleared by Hobbs.
One of last weeks stars, Max Gradel had a quiet game. He and Kerrea Gilbert never really got motoring down the right hand side – the frustration of this shown by Gradel who picked up the games only booking when booting the ball away against an advertising hoarding after he miscontrolled the ball….
During first half stoppage time the home side nearly went ahead with the best chance of the half. Poor marking on Leicester’s part saw a freekick weakly cleared. The ball, played back into the penalty area, found Thompson and with Henderson advancing he managed to prod the ball past the ‘keeper. Fortunately for the away fans behind the goal, the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced back into the safety of Henderson’s gloves.
Whatever had been said at half time got the boys going and they were out the traps quickly. Fryatt looked busy shooting over from 8 yards after good work from Gradel, and then Leicester had a great chance in the 56th minute. A long throw in from Tunchev was flicked on by Howard to the feet of Fryatt; he managed to find some room but his shot on the turn was expertly saved by Owian fon Williams, tipping the ball round the post. The resulting Gradel corner was turned goalwards by Hobbs but straight at Williams.
Leicester continued to make most of the running with Lloyd Dyer probing but the final ball was never quite there. Paul Dickov replaced Gradel on the right wing after 65 minutes and added to the attacking options. Fryatt continued to impress dragging the defenders wide and creating room for himself and Howard as City kept on pressing but never really threatened.
Their best chances came in the last 15 minutes, the first when a clever Fraytt flick put Andy King through on goal. Despite pressure from the defence he should have produced a better shot; his actual effort was too close to Williams and the Stockport ‘keeper managed an easy save. A Morrison header from a King corner should also have troubled Williams more then it did, before the home side reminded Leicester that they were still capable of a goal – a last ditch Gilbert challenge denying Thompson.
Dyer then produced a pin point cross which was met by the diving Dickov. His flicked header beat the ‘keeper but also agonisingly beat the far post. Dyer was then guilty of missing Leicester’s best chance. Put through by Dickov he had time to set himself and go through closer to goal; instead he snatched at the chance from the edge of the area and pulled the shot wide.
Injury time brought an extra three minutes and there was still time for another Leicester chance. Another bold run and cross by man-of-the-match Fryatt was only half cleared into the path of Matt Oakley. Unfortunately the Leicester captain, ineffectual for a lot of the game, blazed over.
The final whistle brought a good ovation from the travelling fans, which was well received by the players, who in turn, led by Pearson, showed their appreciation. Greater conviction in front of goal would have seen louder celebrations, and the general consensus amongst Foxes fans was that it certainly was two points dropped. However after three clean sheets and four points gained from the first six available, it seems that Pearson has put together a useful squad which should certainly challenge come May.
Stockport: fon Williams, Mullins, Owen, Raynes, McNulty, Blizzard, Dicker (Rose 46), Gleeson, Thompson, Baker (Pilkington 62), Rowe. Subs Not Used: Rigby, Turnbull, McSweeney.
Leicester: Henderson, Hobbs, Gilbert, Tunchev, Morrison, Gradel (Dickov 66), Oakley, King, Dyer, Howard, Fryatt. Subs Not Used: Martin, Kishishev, Campbell, Porter.
Att: 7,151 Ref: Andy Hall (W Midlands).
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