City 1-2 Norwich
Nigel Worthington’s first game in charge of City has the perfect start as Darren Kenton netted in the first minute of the game. However, two Norwich goals in a five-minute spell in the second half meant that City would stretch their winless streak to nine games and put them just two points above the dreaded drop zone.
After the inept display shown by the team in the Easter Monday clash at Plymouth, it was no surprise to learn on Wednesday morning that Rob Kelly was to leave the club and a new manager was to be brought in, in the shape of former Norwich boss Nigel Worthington. Following the latest defeat to the Canaries, it has been shown that a large number of the players City have in their squad are clearly not up to standard in the Championship despite the change in management at the club.
Although I don’t believe Rob Kelly was up to the job either, he needed to leave after showing a severe lack of tactical intelligence and motivational ability for the run-of-the-mill games in the Championship especially when you compare the performances against Aston Villa and Fulham in the Carling Cup and FA Cup respectively.
I must admit then when I left the stadium on Saturday I felt as low as I could possibly be about City’s demise and current state. It would not be the end of the world if we got relegated because the backing of Milan Mandaric would bring us straight back to the Championship. However, that is no great comfort to anyone. It is not where we want our great football club to be.
It was the perfect start for Worthington as the new City Manager as Darren Kenton slotted the ball into the Norwich net after Matty Fryatt mis controlled a Shaun Newton cross which fell into the path of Newton to put City 1-0 up within the first minute of the match……
Kenton scores within 40 seconds of the kick off (‘Picture courtesy of Raymonds/lcfc.com’)
Norwich offered little in the early stages but a surging run and shot from Darren Huckerby forced Conrad Logan into a full-stretch save to tip the ball wide midway through the first half.
Iain Hume angered the City fans following a wasted opportunity to help City go two goals to the good before the half-hour mark when he turned Dion Dublin inside-out on the left wing. Hume selfishly opted for glory and shot wide when he selfishly tried to beat Tony Warner at his near post, despite Newton being free at the edge of the six-yard box.
It was Robert Earnshaw, who came on as a second-half substitute, that pulled Norwich level from the penalty spot. Patrick Kisnorbo was adjudged to have handled Huckerby's cross and the Welshman made no mistake from the spot for his 18th goal of the season. Although the City fans believed it not to be a penalty, there were surprises earlier in the game when Norwich were turned down a clear penalty in front of their own fans but their appeals were waved away.
Huckerby proved to be City’s thorn again in the 78th minute when his corner was headed into his own net by Gareth McAuley at the near post. McAuley was back after a number of matches out injured but was given a torrid time by Norwich and was substituted shortly after.
The final whistle was met with a chorus of boos and angry words being shouted by a number of fans. Personally, I heard many criticise Geoff Horsfield for his lack of mobility and "laziness" and Jason Jarrett for being unable to control the ball and greed when attacking.
It is certainly a massive game against Birmingham City on Tuesday and Preston on Saturday with both sides in the hunt for promotion. It’ll be tough but in my heart, we’ll stay up.
City: Logan 7, Kenton 6 (Stearman 38, 6), McAuley 5 (Mattock 78, 6), Kisnorbo 6, Johansson 6, Newton 5, Jarrett 5, Wesolowski 6, Porter 6, Hume 6, Fryatt 6 (Horsfield 65, 4). Unused Substitutes: Henderson, Hammond.
Norwich: Warner, Colin, Shackell, Dublin, Drury (Eagle 2), Croft (Renton 90), Hughes, Spillane (Earnshaw 70), Etuhu, Huckerby, Martin. Unused Substitutes: Gallacher, Cave-Brown.
Attendance: 21,483 Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).
Trust match reporter Jason Bourne hosts Demon FM Sportszone on 97.5 FM across Leicester and online at www.demonfm.co.uk along with Tom Gosmark every Saturday between 2:00pm-5:00pm from 5th May.
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