City 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0
After two poor performances, and playing struggling opposition, this was an important match for City to win. What we got was a game straight out of last season.
After a few weeks of experimental-looking line-ups, Pearson had even resorted to a line-up which was close to the "first team" from last season. Morrison, Hobbs, Brown and Berner lined up in front of Weale; Oakley, King, Wellens and Dyer made up the midfield, and it was back to the tried and tested duo of Fryatt and Howard up front – partly, at least, dictated by Waghorn's suspension following his red card against Bristol City. Sheffield Wednesday matched City with a 4-4-2 line up.
The first few minutes were well-balanced, City having a decent shout for a hand-ball penalty turned down, but Sheffield Wednesday making City look uncomfortable against quick breaks from defence on a couple of occasions. Then, after just seven minutes, Weale lofted a long free kick towards the Wednesday 18-yard line, which was scrambled towards the right-hand corner of the 6-yard box, Fryatt chased well and chipped a cross for Howard to head home decisively: 1-0 to City.
The pre-kick off nerves could be seen to settle almost immediately and City went on to dominate the remainder of the half, although had Tudgay's overhead kick drifted inside, rather than outside, the right-hand post after 14 minutes, it might have been different….
Fryatt and Howard were linking up well, and Fryatt had a shot from the edge of the box well saved in the 18th minute. Six minutes later, a strong Howard header was well controlled by Fryatt near the penalty spot, and his short lateral pass left King with a straightforward shooting chance, which he took with ease: 2-0 to City, and the cue for the home crowd to start a rather unkind chorus or two of "Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning" aimed at the Wednesday manager, Brian Laws.
Five minutes later, and the Howard-Fryatt partnership reversed roles, with a Fryatt header releasing Howard for a well-taken shot which was equally well saved by the Wednesday keeper.
Two down after half-an-hour, Laws took decisive action with a double-substitution, taking off midfielders Johnson and Potter and replacing them with Soares and Gray. This did improve things a little for Wednesday, although Soares annoyed City fans by kicking the ball for a City throw-in deep in their own half after a stoppage for an injury, rather than making the traditional pass to the opposing keeper.
2-0 to City at half-time was a fair reflection of the balance of play. Rather oddly, the Wednesday team appeared back on the pitch a full five minutes before the half-time break was over, and warmed up passing a few footballs until City appeared after the regulation 15 minutes. Whether this was tactical, a punishment, or a timing error was not clear.
Wednesday started the second half a little livelier, forcing a save from Weale after 49 minutes. But City soon re-established a control over the game. Indeed, we nearly saw a goal from an Oakley long-throw (well, I've never seen one, have you??) when Fryatt headed over un-marked from six yards.
In the 59th minute, Berner pulled up sharply while running, leaving Wednesday with space down the right; for some unknown reason, Weale chased out of goal for a through ball he was never going to reach, and the resultant shot was goal-bound until Morrison lunged to clear it from the line. Berner, still limping, was replaced a couple of minutes later by McGivern, and Wednesday also made their final substitution, with Clarke taken off to be replaced by former Quorn striker Luke Varney.
City had numerous half-chances as the second half progressed: in quick succession wickedly deflected shots from Howard and Oakley had the Wednesday keeper wrong footed, but each went just wide. Then, in the 74th minute, City got a deserved third goal, McGivern sending over a good left-wing cross which fell to King to score his second with a shot from 12 yards.
Pearson replaced Dyer with Gallagher a couple of minutes later, then Howard was withdrawn – to a deserved standing ovation – and replaced by Kermorgant. City were clearly happy with 3-0, and sat back, allowing Wednesday their best 10 minutes of the match – indeed they were a little unlucky not to get a consolation goal, but the standard of finishing was consistent with their lowly league position.
City were good value for their win, but in truth it was not a match of any great quality. Just like any number of League One matches last season, Howard was too big and strong for the opposition defence, and Fryatt was too quick for them. King played well in midfield, the best I've seen him play since, erm, League One last season.
Brown had recovered his poise, looking solid throughout following poor performances in his previous two games. Morrison has played well enough in the last two games to make a real claim on the right-back slot, and City always look steadier with Berner playing, so we must hope that his injury is not serious. McGivern has looked naive defensively in each of his appearances to date, though he does get forward well and crosses the ball to good effect; today he had little defending to do.
And Wednesday, I'm afraid, looked like a League One team. They had moments of creativity, but little threat. Their fans, however, were magnificent, still singing for their team despite the result and out-singing the home crowd for significant portions of the game. All in all, a City win against Sheffield United in their next home game would – I'm sure – please all 22,000+ in the crowd today!
Leicester: Weale, Morrison, Brown, Hobbs, Berner (McGivern 60),Oakley, King, Wellens, Dyer (Gallagher 75), Howard (Kermorgant 81), Fryatt.
Subs Not Used: Logan, Neilson, Adams, N'Guessan.
Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr, O'Connor, Potter (Soares 36), McAllister, Johnson (Gray 36), Tudgay, Clarke (Varney 62).
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Hinds, Esajas, Feeney.
Attendance: 22,236
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