CITY 2 MIDDLESBORO 0
City rounded off their league programme with a convincing win over a side relegated from the Premiership this time last year. Nigel Pearson predictably made a number of changes to the City starting line-up, seven in all, as he attempted to avoid injury problems immediately before the play-off games against Cardiff City.
A 30 000 crowd was delighted to see Matty Fryatt on the bench as his recovery from a broken jaw neared completion. There were starts for Logan, Bruce, Solano and McGivern at the heart of the defence, N'Guessan wide left and Kermorgant up front, whilst Wellens returned in midfield after injury.
The pattern of both sides playing an attractive passing game was quickly established, though neither side looked likely to make a quick breakthrough. The nearest thing to a goal came after 16 minutes when good work by Vaughan left the keeper on the deck and out of position and Gallagher in possession at the edge of the box; unfortunately a defender deflected his shot for a corner when a goal seemed likely.
Boro matched City's neat, precise passing and made frequent progress down the right flank through the lively Williams but lacked a cutting edge. I presume they had a centre forward playing but I failed to catch sight of him at any stage…..
City were particularly effective at closing Boro down, especially Wellens and Spearing. Both had excellent games with Spearing my Man of the Match. His inclusion instead of Oakley has transformed the team just as Mark Davies did last year. Apart from his own contribution he improves the balance of the team, allowing King (rested today) to get forward more. We can afford one luxury player, Gallagher, but not two. In fairness Gallagher tracks back and tackles now much more than he did earlier in the season.
Chances in the first half were initially scarce though Hobbs had a header blocked by keeper, Jones, at close range after a clever header from Gallagher into space. Just as we thought an entertaining first half would end goalless City took the lead. It was my fault! Kermy had just sent a free kick on the edge of the box into the wall and I suggested that his You-Tube career was over. However when two longish passes took City from defence to attack in a time that would have pleased Brian Clough he found space to send a wonderful bending shot into the corner of the net from fully 25 yards. A fitting debut goal!
This gave City further momentum and Boro remained under pressure for the rest of the half with the Foxes deservedly in front at the interval.
The second half continued with Leicester pressing and making chances at regular intervals, Vaughan, Wellens and N'Guessan all going very close. Inevitably Pearson made substitutions, first replacing Gallagher, who had taken a knock in the first half, with Fryatt who received a rapturous reception. Fryatt was introduced gently, playing wide right and not being heavily involved.
Soon after Fryatt's arrival N'Guessan was subbed for Waghorn, another crowd favourite. Unfortunately the changes upset the balance and tempo of the team and Boro embarked on their best spell of the match. No sooner had Logan done well to tip a long range effort on to the bar and over than he faced a much sterner test.
Boro were tootling about near the corner flag at the City end when the linesman flagged for a penalty as an innocuous cross struck Wellens on the arm. It seemed a very harsh decision but justice was done when the kick low to Logan's right was excellently saved by the young keeper. Cue as much noise from the almost full house as if City had scored a second.
Boro continued to press in spite of their disappointment but another Pearson substitution, Dyer for Kermy, proved their downfall. A clever flick put Dyer in on goal, Jones advanced too late to prevent Dyer skipping past him but brought him down before the ball could be put in the empty net. Red card for Jones and as obvious a red card as you are ever likely to see, though it didn't stop the keeper from taking an age to depart. Ironically he was replaced by ex-City keeper, Coyne.
Some were mortified to see that Wellens, not Fryatt, was taking the kick. Fears were unfounded as Coyne dived left early enough for Wellens to spot that a kick down the middle would suffice. Another debut goal! 2-0 still didn't reflect the difference in the number of chances created by the two sides but these days that is almost a hiding.
Time only for the crowd to hear that Cardiff would be here next Sunday, though they clearly viewed them as merely the appetizer prior to a Wembley trip to face Forest. They are surely right as City have a certain look about them, not to mention momentum, which will make them the side to be feared. What a difference a year makes!
City: Logan, Solano, Bruce, Hobbs, McGivern, Gallagher (Fryatt 58), Wellens, Spearing, N'Guessan (Waghorn 71), Kermorgant, Vaughan (Dyer 77)
Boro: Jones, Hoyte, Grounds, Bennett, Naughton, O'Neill, Arca, McDonald, Aliadiere, Killen, Williams (Coyne 84)
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