Chelsea 5 City 2
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City's hopes of landing the FA Cup in 2012 were emphatically extinguished in a quarter-final defeat at Premier League giants Chelsea.
The gulf in quality and class was every bit as wide as the eventual 5-2 scoreline suggests. Indeed, only poor finishing by the home side and the valiant efforts of Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel prevented a possible rout.
Better City teams than the current one have fallen at Stamford Bridge. But a determined, disciplined, properly-organised team would surely have presented a stiffer test than the dishevelled, dispirited rabble which capitulated so readily before the Chelsea onslaught.
A local radio station was handing out T-Shirts bearing the slogan “I believe” to visiting fans on the eve of the clash. Maybe they would have done better to hand them out to the players instead.
As for the comments by one prominent supporter, in another section of the local media, that every City player deserved at least a rating of 9 out of 10, they suggest a level of delusion which does not reflect well on the individual concerned, the organisation he represents, or the publication that so regularly and shamefully indulges him.
In reality, after Gary Cahill and Salomon Kalou had given the favourites a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, too many in the City ranks appeared all too ready to accept their fate.
However, midfielder Neil Danns was a notable exception, giving a tireless, energetic and committed performance which was every match for many of his more illustrious opponents. Unlike most of his colleagues, Danns appeared inspired rather than overawed by the occasion and venue.
Ironically, the midfielder's involvement had been in doubt on the eve of the match following the admission to hospital of his friend and ex-team-mate Fabrice Muamba,. The plight of the Bolton midfielder was recognised before and during the game, with both sets of fans chanting his name and Cahill (another former team-mate) revealing a “Pray for Muamba” T-shirt after scoring.
Inevitably, the main focus in the national media after the match was the return to the scoresheet (twice!) of the previously-misfiring Fernando Torres. He showed glimpses of the form that, in his prime, destroyed far better defences than the one provided by City on this occasion.
The central-defensive duo of Sol Bamba and Wes Morgan, starting only their second game together, proved no match for his constant pace and power. If the mishit shot which ended his five-month goal drought owed something to fortune, it was no more than his performance deserved.
The coming weeks will determine whether this form heralds the return to the Torres of old or merely a false dawn.
In the meantime, Nigel Pearson should use the remainder of the league campaign to build the foundations for a genuine promotion challenge next season. There were some crumbs of comfort for him among the carnage, notably the display from Danns, another goal for the improving Jermaine Beckford, and a brief but encouraging cameo by sub Ben Marshall which brought the best goal of the afternoon.
However, the prospect of a return to Stamford Bridge for league business remains a distant one.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech (c); Bosingwa, Ivanovic (Luiz 76), Cahill, Bertrand; Mikel, Meireles; Sturridge, Mata (Malouda 46), Kalou (Essien 63); Torres. Unused subs: Hilario, Lampard, Drogba, Ferreira.
Goals: Cahill 12, Kalou 17, Torres 67, 85, Meireles 90.
City (4-4-2): Schmeichel; St. Ledger (Schlupp 63), Morgan, Bamba, Konchesky; Gallagher (Peltier 43), Danns, Wellens (c) (Marshall 83), Dyer; Beckford, Nugent. Unused subs: Smith, Howard, Kennedy, Hopper.
Goals: Beckford 77, Marshall 88
Attendance: 38,276 Referee: Lee Probert
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