City 2 Carlisle 2
Not for the first time in recent weeks, City could only draw a game they should have won.
City lined up in a 4-4-2 formation on a sunny and windy afternoon. Warner was in goal, with Gilbert and Mattock full-backs, and Kisnorbo and Hobbs centre-backs. Gradel, Oakley, King and Dyer formed the midfield, with Howard and Mattock up front. The announcement that one of City’s subs was number 39 – Adjarevic caused a few cries of “who?” even from Leicester fans, as the new loanee from Liverpool joined Stockdale, Berner, Dickov and Brown on the bench.
Carlisle kicked-off, facing the kop end and also playing in a 4-4-2 formation.
City had more of the play in the opening stages, with King running things effectively from the centre of midfield. But the first 20 minutes saw only half-chances for City – notably an 18-yard shot from Howard – and Carlisle created almost as many chances on the break.
Heavy discounting on ticket sales had led to a good crowd of over 20,000 – but the City end were very quiet. The faltering form of late is leading to worried calls to the players, rather than the “Olé’s” of just a few weeks ago.
After 23-minutes, Williams in the Carlisle goal made the first of a string of fine saves, parrying Dyer’s shot and then recovering to palm away Gradel’s short-range volley from the rebound. A few minutes later, a looping high ball fell to Fryatt whose header looked certain to score, but Williams again got a touch to concede a corner…..
Carlisle did manage to get the ball forwards quite effectively on occasion, but it was a simple punt up field that led to their first goal, after 32 minutes. Kisnorbo has a good excuse for being a little less than match fit after his long absence, but he will not have been pleased at his inability to deal with the through ball, leaving Bridges totally unmarked on the edge of the box to simply lob the ball over an advancing Warner in the City goal: 1-0 to Carlisle.
Williams was forced into another good save three minutes later, when a City free-kick was cleared to Oakley and his shot from 20-yards looked goal-bound.
Despite City continuing to dominate, Carlisle were now creating almost as many half-chances at the other end, but in truth neither side was playing particularly well, and there was no further score before half-time.
The final action of the half was a long through-ball by Carlisle, which was dealt with by Gilbert, but at the expense of an injury which forced him to be substituted at half time.
Half time score: City 0 – Carlisle 1, and City could feel unfortunate that they were behind.
Brown replaced Gilbert for the re-start, taking a centre half position, with Hobbs switching to right back; Carlisle were unchanged.
City started the half in a much more lively and purposeful manner, although for a few minutes it looked as though a string of corners was all they would get to show for it.
In the 52nd minute, however, City scored the first of their two very good goals. Dyer broke at speed down the left from his own half, played a one-two with Howard before crossing for Oakley to volley in from 12 yards. It was by some way the best move of the match so far.
Gradel almost carved out a chance for Howard two minutes later, but then for a period Carlisle began their best spell of the game, getting forwards on the break and using their pacy wingers to harass City’s defence.
City had three penalty appeals in fairly quick succession around the 70th minute. The first, for a push on Howard, was probably not a penalty, but it still seemed harsh that Howard himself was penalised for the challenge, which did – however – cause an injury to Horwood which would lead to him being replaced by Liddle a few minutes later.
Gradel was replaced by Adjarevic, who has a look of Lillian Nalis about him – well long hair and a hair-band at least! He took up a position in the centre of midfield, with Oakley moving to the right wing. Adjarevic’s first couple of actions involved back-heels and a step-over, so I suspect we could be in for some entertainment if he becomes a permanent fixture in the team.
The second penalty shout, for a foul on Fryatt looked to me to be more of a dive by Fryatt than a push by the defender. The referee – Mr Oliver – was consistent throughout the match in not booking players, even for incidents which would have seen many flashing yellow cards without a second thought. This included a near-rugby tackle on Gradel in the first half, an outrageous pretence at being elbowed by Horwood and a clear pull-back by Hobbs, as well as a couple of dives and late tackles by both sides.
The third penalty shout – again on Fryatt – did look like a penalty. The defender pushed Fryatt over near the penalty spot, but on the blind-side of both the referee and the linesman.
As well as the Horwood replacement, Carlisle also brought on in quick succession Dobie for Anyinsa and Lumsdon for Bridges.
City were now dominant, getting numerous corners and having a trademark 35-yarder from King pushed away by Williams’ finger tips. By the 88th minute it looked as though it was going to be yet another frustrating home draw. Well, it was – but not quite in the way anticipated.
Firstly, City scored the second of their two excellent goals on the day: Adjarevic played a high quality pass from defence to King in the centre circle, he laid the ball on for Dyer to chase down the left, Dyer beat his man and chipped the ball up for a simple header from 5-yards by Fryatt. It all looked so easy that it left City fans wondering why it had taken 88 minutes to happen. The fans were now noisy again – that was it, a deserved home win against a team who had given a good account of themselves, but who had not been quite good enough.
Erm, no. The fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage time, and City were frankly poor during that period. In recent seasons they have adopted an annoying habit of defending too deeply in stoppage time. Today, they tried a different sin – repeatedly giving the ball away cheaply in midfield when simply holding on to it would have been enough. And in the 92nd minute, the ball was not cleared from the City half, a workmanlike cross came in from the left wing, and Scobie headed home to equalise: 2-2. It was Carlisle’s first attempt on target in the half, but it was enough.
An injury to Kavanagh meant that in all 95 minutes were played, and City managed to create three chances in the last three minutes, including two which were cleared off the line, but eventually the whistle went and another two home points had been dropped.
Aside from the naivety in giving the ball away in injury time, it isn’t easy to identify why City did not run away with this game. They played the better football, they created chances – several of which were well saved by Williams – and yet they only rarely put together the kind of moves with which they were taking teams apart earlier in the season.
Carlisle played better than their league position suggests and, unlike many visitors, they did not look as though they were here to play for a draw – keeping two men up front throughout and being quick on the break on a number of occasions.
Of City’s new players: Brown looked very steady and experienced, and it was interesting to see him giving out the defensive instructions to Kisnorbo and the other backs once he came on the pitch. Adjarevic looked useful, and seemed willing to get into tackles as well as do the fancy stuff. Warner had very little to do, with no chance for either goal.
Of the old brigade: Howard was steady, and City look far better with him in the team than without him. Oakley is having a run of poor form at the moment and his set-pieces have been sub-standard for the last few games (indeed, Gradel took over corners and free-kicks for much of this game). King played well, particularly in the first half. Gradel was lively, but tended to be popping up all over the pitch, rather than playing on the right wing, which left City a little lop-sided in the first half.
The run-in to the end of the season now looks tricky – with all of City’s opponents having something to play for. The City fans seem nervous about it, and the players too are not playing with the confidence their league position would suggest.
However the worries of whether City will be promoted were put into context for fans in the East Stand just prior to the Fryatt goal, as a City fan collapsed towards the back of the stand and was attended by paramedics. As the crowd left the stadium, heart massage was still being administered, and while message boards seem to indicate, we may have lost one of our fellow supporters, no official announcement has been made.
Leicester: Warner, Gilbert (Brown 46), Hobbs, Kisnorbo, Mattock, Gradel (Ajdarevic 70), Oakley, Andy King, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard. Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Berner, Dickov.
Goals: Oakley 52, Fryatt 88.
Carlisle: Williams, Raven, Murphy, Keogh, Horwood (Liddle 72), Anyinsah (Dobie 73), Kavanagh, Morris, Cleveland Taylor, Graham, Bridges (Lumsdon 79). Subs Not Used: Kane, Rothery.
Goals: Bridges 32, Dobie 90.
Att: 20,159 Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
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