City 3 Tranmere 1
So, that tricky “second home league game of the season” kicked off in near-perfect conditions in front of a Bank Holiday weekend crowd of nearly 17,800.
The scoreboard had a little technical difficulty in trying to show who was playing, but once that hitch was overcome, it showed that City had kept a relatively settled side: Martin in goal; Gilbert, Morrison, Hobbs and Dyer across the back; Gradel, Oakley, King and Porter (in a blazing red /range pair of boots) across the middle; Howard and Fryatt up front.
City off kicked towards the Kop end – as we can now call it and Tranmere wore what appeared to be an all Fosse Gold kit, which – I guess – is an interesting fashion choice.
The early exchanges were fairly even. City looked the better side technically, but Tranmere carved out half-chances, largely by hitting the ball long for the tall, busy Baz Savage to chase – which he did well. City’s centre backs were impressive all day, with Hobbs particularly dominant. He looks like an old fashioned centre back, and plays like one: he wins headers, tackles solidly and clears the ball. He was unlucky to see his 18th minute header, from another good Gradel corner, cleared off the line.
City began to look much the better side after the first quarter hour, with Porter, Howard and Fryatt having half chances, although Tranmere also had their moments. It was not pretty, but had a little more about it than some of last season’s nightmares.
Dyer looks to be a quick, clever player – quick of thought and of foot. That quick-thinking in the 33rd minute led him to take a 35 yard free-kick before the wall was formed, sliding the ball for Oakley to chase, cross from inside the box on the right with Howard following up to hit home from point-blank range: 1-0!……
It was a deserved score. Howard played particularly well all game. It may be a little harsh to suggest it, but the step down a league has led to the opposing centre backs being just a little slower … and that suits Howard well, he harried and chased all game to decent effect and deserved the goal.
Tranmere were suddenly very poor for about 10 minutes. They were annoyed (wrongly) that the quick free kick had been allowed, and they lost their shape for a period. City were unlucky not to go further ahead, with a Porter shot blocked, a Gradel free kick causing injury in the Tranmere wall and Fryatt releasing Howard for the Tranmere keeper to make an excellent stop at close range.
1-0 at half time, and that was the least City deserved.
City started the second half well too. Gradel’s good corner kicks from the left continued, and from a free kick on the left in the 56th minute Fryatt powered in a header 2-0!
Gradel limped off to be replaced by Adams a couple of minutes later, after another eye-catching performance – four matches into a new season and the blue-booted, orange-mohicaned Gradel is already a crowd favourite, and rightly so: he appears to have the potential to be City’s liveliest right winger for many years and links well with Gilbert.
Tranmere made a double-substitution, bringing on the diminutive Shuker on the left wing, who was to be their liveliest player for the last half hour. Diminutive substitutions continued, with Dickov replacing Porter a few minutes later. It was not obvious why Porter was replaced, and playing Dickov at left wing did not really work – he is far better playing further forwards.
I risked a comment to my neighbour that this was the first time I had seen City outclass their opposition so much for quite some time. I knew it was a mistake: Tranmere began to get more of the play, and to create a few chances. City also pressed on occasion, with Fryatt being denied two penalty decisions.
For the first he appeared to be lightly pushed, but collapsed so dramatically I could see why the referee denied it. The second looked like a penalty, with the Tranmere centre back slipping, letting Fryatt in behind him then tripping him. The ref – who had a decent game overall – obviously did not agree with my view.
Shuker caused City a few problems, and got his reward in the 75th minute. This one also had a hint of controversy about it. City dithered in their own half down the left wing, Tranmere took the ball on, the linesman flagged (I think for a Tranmere foul, but I’m not entirely sure), City hesitated, and no one closed down Shuker when the cross came in and he made no mistake: 2-1!
The final ten minutes felt far more like last season than it should have done. City defended deep, gave the ball away more than they should and allowed Tranmere to press for what would have been an undeserved equaliser.
But this is 2008/09 not 2007/08, and with 30 seconds of the three extra minutes left, Adams did good work on the break, the resulting shot was blocked high into the air, the Tranmere keeper clawed it away off the line for Howard to power a header against the bar, and Fryatt to head in the rebound. The goal had a little luck about it, but the score was fair: 3-1!
Early views of the new City? They have looked half-a-class better than their opponents in each game and it would be good to see them get the goals to finish off teams earlier. The wing play is generally good. The centre backs look solid. Fryatt and Howard are beginning to work well. I am not yet convinced about the central pairing, although Oakley and King got better as this game continued.
Four games in, three wins and one away draw. It would be churlish to complain! Pearson deserves credit for such a start.
Leicester: Martin, Gilbert, Hobbs, Morrison, Dyer, Gradel (Adams 57), Oakley, King, Porter (Dickov 64), Fryatt, Howard. Subs Not Used: Henderson, Kishishev, Campbell.
Booked: Fryatt. Goals: Howard 33, Fryatt 52, 90.
Tranmere: Coyne, Edds, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Jennings, Kay, O'Callaghan (Shuker 61), Savage, Curran, Sonko (Greenacre 61). Subs Not Used: Achterberg, Holmes, Barnett.
Booked: O'Callaghan. Goals: Shuker 80.
Att: 17,798 Ref: Phil Crossley (Kent).
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