City 1 Brighton 0
Report by Eddie Blount
We expected a tight game and that was exactly what we got. Brighton had only conceded 7 goals in 11 matches prior to this game, the best defensive record in the division, though they had only managed 15 goals themselves.
City started off at a brisk pace playing a fluid 4-4-2, with Knockaert wide right and Dyer on the left, Waghorn retaining his place as a central striker. This he is not, at least not yet. The formation tends to make City look rather punchless and it was evident later in the game when changes were made and Knockaert moved into a more central role that we seemed to carry considerably more goal threat.
Anyway we huffed and puffed at the start forcing a series of corners all to no effect. Hardened City fans are fully aware that it takes several hundred of our corners to produce a goal so this came as no surprise. We could probably reduce this to below a hundred if we actually took decent corners but there are obviously better things to do on the training ground.
Credit where it's due however, as after 10 minutes we were in front with what turned out to be the only goal of the game. Nugent did all the spade work gaining possession wide left and running through a cluster of Brighton players and into the box. King showed his worth with a fine supporting run and although his first shot from Nugent's offload was blocked he screwed the second into the roof of the Brighton net from some 8 yards.
Any thoughts that this was going to be an easy three points were soon dismissed as the Seagulls warmed to their task and came more into the game. They had an odd shot from distance but otherwise were as shy in front of goal as their record indicated. Truly a side that does what it says on the tin.
Mackail-Smith, who might easily have become a City player – we eventually got Beckford – had a ding-dong battle with the again outstanding Morgan but Brighton found it even harder than us to create a real chance. We should have gone two up after a brilliant run by de Laet (when did we last have a team with two players having a consecutive 'ae' in their names?) and an equally fine cross to the near post where Waggie did what he did at Birmingham and smashed it into the crowd. If ever a player needed a goal to boost his confidence it's Waghorn.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first with possession fairly even but with City looking the more likely to score. The pivotal moment came in the 54th minute when Whitbread was deemed to have fouled Buckley in the box. Buckley had swept past Konchesky and was pushing on to the goal-line when blocked by the City central defender. From a distance it looked more like obstruction than anything worse and the referee only blew for a penalty when the linesman flagged for it, confirming his decision after further consultation with that official. Fortunately Schmeichel was equal to the challenge diving low to his left to block Barnes' spot-kick and then forcing him to put the rebound over the bar. The 25 000 crowd roared their approval appropriately.
This was all too much for the promising de Laet who went to ground and was promptly substituted, worryingly with chest pains apparently. Two further City substitutions released Knockaert, unimpressive until then, into a more central role and he inspired a number of City breaks from which we could and should have increased our lead.
Brighton continued to press forward but the City defence, in which Whitbread and Drinkwater were as outstanding as Morgan, held firm and Schmeichel was relatively untroubled. Thus we gained a deserved three points and maintained our 100% home record. If we are finally to return to the promised land then we must win matches like these when the side is not at its best. Crystal Palace on Saturday will be equally tough.
City: Schmeichel, de Laet ( Moore 56), Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert, Drinkwater, King, Dyer, Waghorn ( Marshall 71), Nugent (Vardy 68)
Brighton: Kusczak, Bruno, Greer, El Abd, Bridge, Buckley, Dicker (Dobbie60), Bridcutt, Crofts (Hammond 78), Barnes, Mackail-Smith
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