City 2 Crewe 1
This was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ as City – not for the first time this season – demonstrated a worrying inability to kill off teams who they should have banished out of sight.
Apart from the enforced change of goalkeeper, it was the same team who had played so well at Scunthorpe, but there the similarities ended. They began quite brightly and Fryatt’s goal was a classic; he took it brilliantly and we all hoped that the floodgates would open. But being a City fan is never a easy road and it was shades of last season as they nearly turned victory into defeat.
One questions why Campbell was in the right-back position and he quickly demonstrated that he should not have been, as he managed to lose the ball to Crewe’s loan striker, Calvin Zola, who had little difficulty in equalising.
The usually rock-solid defence looked distinctly creaky and Morrison was implicated in the move that led to Scunthorpe’s goal. In first-half stoppage time it could have been even worse as the same player missed a sitter, thanks to Martin’s heroics.
So the stage was set for a second half where once again the fans were biting their finger nails down to the quicks and watching the scoreboard tick away the minutes….
Fortunately Crewe had nothing else to offer and Zola was substituted, a somewhat strange move as he has been rather lively and always looked likely to worry the City defence.
Campbell, who had certainly not endeared himself to the fans for his part in the Crewe equaliser (but who managed to stay onside most of the time, unlike in the Scunthorpe match) was replaced by Steve Howard, who demonstrated to his critics why he is so important to the team. (The fact that he was not named in the starting eleven seemed to put paid to the rumour that there is a clause in his contract that he has to start every game!).
Oakley had been injured and was clearly unable to continue, so was replaced by Gradel in a double substitution. Sadly for Gradel, he has gone from a firm favourite to a player who seemed incapable of passing the ball to one of his team mates for much of the time he was on the pitch, but he did put over the corner in the 72nd minute that led to King powering a header into the net, to put City 2-1 up. There were sighs of relief from the City fans and more anxious looks at the clock. For the second game in succession, King had scored the match winner.
Too many players had an off night: I would single out Dyer, who was nowhere near his usual effective self, and Gradel. Fortunately, apart from a couple of lapses of concentration, the defence did its job well.
What a find Tunchev is! Full marks to whoever spotted him and persuaded him to come to Leicester. I also like the look of Bruno Berner (and he gave a very thoughtful and intelligent interview to Radio Leicester, which can be seen on Leicester City World).
So we maintained our top spot, but it was heart in the mouth stuff at times. It is just as well that other teams are slipping up as well, but it is frustrating to think that we could be out of sight by now if we had taken more of our chances.
Fryatt, as top scorer, is scoring some cracking goals and this was one of his best. I still think we need another effective striker, because it doesn’t bear thinking about if Fryatt is injured (or leaves in January, as many fans think he will), and we need a bit more ‘steel’ in midfield. Another Neil Lennon would go down a treat! Nevertheless, so far so good and I like Pearson’s attitude in not getting carried away by a single result.
Leicester: Martin, Edworthy (Hobbs 86), Morrison, Tunchev, Mattock, Oakley (Gradel 59), Berner, Andy King, Dyer, Fryatt, Campbell (Howard 59). Subs Not Used: Cisak, Hayles.
Goals: Fryatt 15, Andy King 72.
Crewe: Tomlinson, Brayford, O'Donnell, Baudet, Jones, Woodards (Miller 81), Lunt, O'Connor, Bailey, Daniel, Zola (Donaldson 69). Subs Not Used: Rix, Lawrence, Grant.
Goals: Zola 30.
Att: 16,961 Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey)
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