Peterborough 2 City 1
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City's 8-game unbeaten run came to grief on a tricky London Road surface as hosts Peterborough upset the form book to snatch a 2-1 victory.
Both the result and performance reopened doubts about the Foxes' promotion credentials. This was a game where City could and should have taken all three points to consolidate their grip on the crucial Championship second place.
Despite official insistence two days before the game that Nigel Pearson had a fully-fit squad to choose from, online rumours of injury to in-form striker Chris Wood proved accurate. He was replaced by Jamie Vardy in the only change to the starting eleven from the previous game against Wolves.
Pre-match forecasts that Posh (who began the game propping up the division) would treat the fixture with the intensity of a cup-final proved to be spot-on. Their players pressed and harried their more-illustrious visitors at every opportunity.
As a consequence, flair players such as Antony Knockaert and Ben Marshall were given precious few chances to shine during a frenetic and often disjointed first-half. However City did managed to produce the best scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, in which Paul Konchesky set up David Nugent to force a smart save from home keeper Robert Olejnik.
The exuberant mood among the travelling hordes at the start of the game had been replaced by one of trepidation during the interval, as the Foxes were failing to make their individual and collective superiority tell.
But City, not for the first time this season, started the second half in determined mood, and received due reward after 53 minutes, as a rare flowing midfield move ended with Marshall beating Olejnik from close range.
The visitors looked to press home their advantage during the next ten minutes, but a combination of desperate defending, fine goalkeeping and wasteful finishing prevented the lead from being extended.
Peterborough were allowed to edge their way back into the game and press forward in numbers. Although Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel were their usual stalwart selves, other areas of the side appeared rather less reliable. It was therefore no real surprise when home midfielder Davide Petrucci fired home the equaliser with 16 minutes remaining.
The introduction of Martyn Waghorn and Lloyd Dyer in the closing stages did little to stem the momentum which was now running in the home side's favour. Indeed, as the game neared its conclusion, Posh looked stronger both mentally and physically, and another shot from distance, this time from Grant McCann, brought their winner.
Although City were stung into an instant response, Waghorn lacked the composure to create the chance created for him by a fine Dyer run. In fact, only a desperate goal-line clearance by Michael Keane in stoppage time prevented the margin of defeat from being wider.
The failings that have been so evident in so many of City's away trips in this and recent seasons were once again on show. Too many players allowed themselves to be bullied by technically inferior opponents with greater levels of desire and physical commitment.
Pearson must conduct a review of the structure and personnel employed for this fixture. Matty James, an unused sub, was arguably missed just as much as the absent Wood. However, another older head (though perhaps not Richie Wellens) could also been helpful in this type of battle.
Other results went in City's favour during the weekend to limit the damage this defeat could have caused to the side's league placing. But on this evidence, the task of constructing a side capable of automatic promotion looks far from complete.
City: (4-4-2): Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan (c), Keane, Konchesky; Knockaert, Drinkwater, King. Marshall (Dyer 78); Vardy (Waghorn 70),Nugent.
Unused subs: Logan, James, Gallagher, Wellens, Futacs
Goal: Marshall 52
Booked: DeLaet
Peterborough: (4-4-1-1): Olejnik, Little, Zakuani, Bostwick, Rowe (c); Boyd, Petrucci, McCann, Mendez-Laing (Pritchard 75 (Ferdinand 90)); Tomlin, Gayle.
Unused subs: Day, Brisley, Newell, Knight-Percival, Payne
Goals: Petrucci 74, McCann 88
Referee: G Scott Attendance: 11,070
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