City 5 Doncaster 1
Walking from the car off Welford Road, where it was more difficult to park than usual, was it the Christmas Shoppers parking out of the City Centre or was it the Leicester City incentive of a Fan's Fixture for our difficulties? As we approached the Walkers, there seemed to be a larger crowd than usual, so the much reduced ticket prices had the desired effect of swelling the crowd against unfashionable Doncaster Rovers.
The City "Megastore" was much busier than usual, everyone wanting to buy their last minute gifts for fellow City fans for Christmas, and with some time to spare, why not go and purchase tickets for the FA Cup Tie v Manchester City? Wrong! A "Polite" Notice on the door stated tickets could be purchased after today's game or up to Boxing Day for us Season Tickets holders. Living 60 miles away, we want to get away and home after the game so going On-Line or hanging on the phone for ages are now the only options.
Rant over, the Walkers was filling up nicely and a good crowd and atmosphere was assured. Sven bought in Miguel Vitor for Jack Hobbs, with the bench looking very good, but no Steve Howard (suspended). Doncaster are a good passing team and have good strikers in Healy, Sharp and Hayter. With Watford pasting Warnock's QPR at home the night before, perhaps last week's disappointing 3-2 reverse at Watford was not that bad, but 3 points today were essential to climb up the Championship table…..
One or two new Foxes players wanted and needed to get on the score sheet – Vassell, Bednar, Waghorn and Fryatt, or surely Sven will be looking elsewhere in the January transfer Window. The Foxes lost the toss and kicked off towards the South Stand in the first half and their attacking start ended with Bednar heading over from a Vassell cross.
However, warning bells started to sound in the Foxes defence, as Donny attacked down their right and a cross found Hayter unmarked, but what looked like a certain goal was knocked wide. A let off! But minutes later, a similar move, started by the impressive full back Martis, caught Cunningham out of position, the ball finding Coppinger who crossed from the goal line, found Billy Sharpe and his perfect acrobatic volley ended up in the top corner of Weale's net much to the delight of the travelling Donny supporters.
Former Doncaster star Richie Wellens seemed in determined mood and Cunningham set Wellens up for a long distance strike that went over, followed by Wellens returning the favour to Cunningham, but his long range effort went wide into the crowd without troubling the "veteran" keeper Sullivan.
Vassell seemed to getting into the game from the right with a couple of good runs, but balls pumped up to Bednar came to nothing as he is no Howard winning the ball in the air and his control at his feet was wanting. Gallagher was at the heart of most moves and a shot was well saved by Sullivan as the Foxes went all out for the equaliser. Naughton seems to have a good long throw and one into the box created the Donny defence with problems but the ball was cleared. Then skipper Andy King headed on to the top of the cross bar.
Then the visitors should have extended their lead. A Curtis Davis pass went astray and found Healey but as he went round the advancing Weale his effort went, thankfully, wide. Bednar was replaced with 10 minutes to the break, and as he hobbled off, Dyer entered the fray much to the delight of the home crowd. King then put the speedy Vassell clear on the right but his shot was saved by Sullivan.
Davis then stopped Sharpe as the game went end to end, then a good run by Cunningham ended with a superb cross along the ground through the Donny area, but no City player read it.
Then, as many were leaving their seats for half-time, drama struck much to the Foxes delight and advantage. Naughton found Dyer on the right, who ran towards the box, only for Gallagher to mis-control the ball, but as O'Conner was seeing the ball over the goal line, Dyer kept running and keeper Sullivan appeared to take Dyer out. Referee Linington, without hesitation, pointed to the penalty spot, much to every Donny players anger, a couple pushing the referee. Gallagher kept calm, and when things died down, he started his ritual, standing on the ball, his back to the goal, walks away a few paces, turns, runs then smacks the ball past the away keeper. 1 – 1. Phew!
The City started the second half in determined mood and several chances from Vassell, Wellens and Davis headed just wide from a Gallagher corner. A run by Vassell ended with a trip just outside the box by Thomas, but Cunningham's shot from 28yards smacked the far post and went wide. Vassell and Dyer were causing the Donny defence problems and then a King effort was well saved by Sullivan.
But it now seemed inevitable that the City would take the lead such was their superiority, and sure enough it was Wellens, who collected the ball just inside the Donny half, ran forward unchallenged and shot from 25yards, his grass-cutter finding the corner of the net past the out-stretched Sullivan. The home crowd went wild!
Cunningham and Naughton were now advancing at will down their respective wings. Cunningham was denied a penalty after a good run and then a King headed flick nearly went over Sullivan. Gallager and Vassell came close as Leicester were so dominant, but Healey was then denied by Weale reminding the Foxes that Donny were still in the game.
Then City extended their lead with a fabulous goal. After a Donny attack, the ball fell to Wellens, who sprinted forward into the Donny half unchallenged with 4 City players alongside. With Naughton out wide, Wellens found him with an inch perfect pass, he advanced into the area and simply passed the ball past Sullivan into the corner of the net. Acrobatics followed, not perfect but 6.7 and 6.9 (out of 10)!
The Foxes were now well on top as Wellens found Naughton wide who in turn found King but his shot was well dealt with by Sullivan. In the 76th minute, Wellens found Dyer who controlled the ball well, his pass to Vassell split the Donny defence and as Sullivan advanced, Vassell tucked the ball under him into the gaping net to make it 4 – 1 from 12yards. Well deserved and, hopefully, the first of many this season.
Doncaster then made 2 substitutions followed by Waghorn on for Gallagher. Doncaster tried desparately to pull a goal back and had a chance but Coppinger spurned his effort. King was determined to get on the score sheet but another effort was dealt with by Sullivan. As Rovers made their final substitution, Vassell left the action for Oakley. The crowd were cheering for Abe to acknowledge them, he did and was desparate for him to score his first for the City.
Waghorn was shooting on sight attempting to score but with 3 minutes to go should have made it 5 when he raced through and with only Sullivan to beat, a very poor touch allowed Sullivan to gather the ball. However, Waghorn did get on the score sheet when King broke clear, he shot only to hit the post and for the rebound to find Waghorn who slotted the ball into the gaping net.
The home crowd were ecstatic now and as the final whistle blew, a fantastic second half performance, a 5 – 1 victory and 3 points secured with the Foxes good home form and run intact.
Now for an away win at (Keaneless?) Tractor Boys next Saturday as they are on a very poor losing run, followed by a potential cracker against Leeds United at home on Boxing Day. 6 points, play-off position – Christmas "could" come early!
City: Weale, Naughton, Davis, Vitor, Cunningham, Vassell, King, Abe, Wellens, Gallagher, Bednar. Subs: Logan Fryatt, Waghorn, Dyer, Oakley, Moussa, Hobbs.
Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Conner, Martis, Sharpe, Oster, Healey, Coppinger, Thomas, Hird, Hayter, Stock. Subs: Woods, Brooker, Souza, Shiels, Lockwood, Fairhirst, Shiels
Referee: J Linington Crowd: 27,549
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