City 0 Newcastle United 0
29,067 people saw a Leicester team dispel some of the gloom surrounding three successive defeats with a determined, and in some senses, a re-heartening and valiant performance.
Wayne Brown laid on an outstanding exhibition amongst the back four. As evidence, 75% of the way through the match, his appearance was still immaculate; his shorts were still Omo White and yet he had to deal with sustained periods of pressure from a Newcastle attack. He was never faulted with his head, and on this occasion, his positioning was geographical in its precision: the ultimate compliment might be that he now lays claim to fully replace the much-missed Alexander Tunchev.
The other key player in the first half was Matty Fryatt. If anything, his pace has accelerated from last year’s level. He plays with an eye-catching zest and enthusiasm. He is not brilliant with his head, but his footwork and his ability to turn a defender were attributes on fully highly refined display.
Newcastle had some famous names out for a run around, Butt, Nolan and Smith, but that is what it seemed – a run around! Newcastle never seemed to be travelling at anything other than a leisurely place…..
The game proceeded at an even tempo. Wellens is a physically strong figure in the mid-field, but he is controversial in style. At 17.25 he executed a lovely clean tackle. However at 17.35 he was booked for a dubious lunge: as it turned out this was to be a harbinger of more serious matters to come.
The atmosphere around the ground was pregnant: neither side was asserting itself. The game was finely balanced. Then after a Leicester Corner on the top left, Wellens committed himself to another trip and the referee pulled out a yellow card followed by the inevitable red. This was not a popular decision, but the evidence says there was little room for complaint and Nigel Pearson patted him on the back as well as addressing a few words of comfort to him. That pat on the back struck the wrong note because Leicester now had to play for a full hour with only 10 men.
It is difficult to see Wellens’ contribution as anything other than questionable. Despair, however, has not set in. He remains a player of unfulfilled potential as far as Leicester are concerned.
Bruno Berner can come out of a defensive position with a scintillating run and he did so on more than one occasion this evening. Like Gallagher, he has some talent, but his finishing is, as yet, abysmal. Having excited us all, he then loses control in the proximity of the goal and disappoints. He is just travelling that bit too fast, so much so, that his is ahead of himself. With a little bit more discretion, confidence and restraint, he could turn into a very useful attacking back.
Gallagher was also causing problems for Newcastle with his interesting lateral runs, but again, his finishing is untidy. He is also a player who has not quite fulfilled his obvious potential.
Fryatt, Berner and Gallagher all have buccaneering style like Mr Mandaric, the owner of the club. Indeed, that buccaneering style can work well when combined with the more even handed style of Nigel Pearson, but goals will not come unless these two styles are better matched.
Half time it was 0-0 and the referee slunk off the pitch and returned a different man. He was quiet as a mouse in the second half and even awarded Leicester a few free kicks!
Leicester were under pressure. The ten men had a difficult task to control Newcastle, but Brown, Hobbs, Berner and Morrison were well up for the task. Just because Brown & Berner have been singled out for praise does not mean Morrison and Hobbs did not perform. They did and much praise must be heaped on them for their solid defensive skills.
In the mid field Oakley and King have their work cut out, King not really being on song on this occasion.
At 18.44 Gallagher hurt his knee and was replaced by Dyer. At 18.49 Howard replaced Waghorn who had made little impact. There are good reasons for thinking that the relationship between Fryatt and Howard does not work and on this occasion it certainly didn’t. Fryatt needs a new foil.
Solano, the Peruvian, come on for the last ten minutes to a warm reception: we shall see.
In the mean time, Leicester still look like a side with considerable unfulfilled potential. The defence is robust and growing in authority. A more buccaneering style of the type endorsed by Milan Mandaric might make the balance of the season an entertaining prospect
City: Weale; Morrison, Hobbs, Brown, Berner, Oakley, A King, Wellens, Gallagher, Fryatt, Waghorn. Subs: Logan, Neilson, McGivern, Solano (84 for Fryatt), Howard (71 for Waghorn), Dyer (65 for Gallagher), N'Guessan.
Booked: Wellens, Berner, Oakley. Sent off: Wellens.
Newcastle: Harper; Coloccini, Noln, Williamson, Routledge, Van Aanholt, R Taylor, Smith, Butt, Carroll, Guthrie Subs: Hall, Lovenkrands, Gutierez, Pancrate (75 for Nolan), Krul, Kadar, Ranger (61 for Smith).
Referee: A Marriner. Attendance: 29,067.
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