Match Preview: Hereford United

Leicester’s final fixture of 2008 pits Nigel Pearson’s side against one of League One’s whipping boys. Just two and a half years ago Hereford were at the Walkers Stadium winning the Conference Play-off Final. A second successive promotion for the Bulls last season looks to have been a step too far. Hereford lie five points adrift of safety having remained in the bottom four since September. Leicester will need a win to guarantee top spot going into the New Year.

Key Stats
How do you define a home banker? Well if you fancy Hereford to win you’ll find prices raging from 8/1 to 10/1 - and here’s why…

Hereford have taken just four points away from home all season, they’ve scored just four goals on their travels and lost four out of their last five away matches. The Bulls concede over two goals a game on the road and have kept just one away clean sheet.

Still not convinced? Hereford’s only away win came at Colchester, the side with the second worst home record in League One. Leyton Orient, holders of that dubious title, defeated the Bulls 2-1 on the opening day of the season.

To round things off, Hereford have yet to beat a side in the top half of League One and in four previous meetings they've yet to better the Foxes. Only Guinan (6) and Hudson-Odoi (3) have scored more than one goal this season.

There will be no excuses for defeat.

On This Day
Mike Whitlow’s equaliser at Old Trafford gave new manager Mark McGhee his second point in charge of Leicester City. Having already secured a goalless draw against league leaders Blackburn Rovers, McGhee’s new charges fought back after Andrei Kanchelskis had given the Champions a second half lead. It was the Foxes second away point of a miserable campaign which would see City relegated with just 29 points.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 1/3 (Boylesports)
Draw – 4/1 (Bet365)
Hereford – 10/1 (Sky Bet)

Match Preview: Leeds United

Whilst the sentimental factor in Simon Grayson’s move to Leeds cannot be understated, Larry spent the best years of playing career at Filbert Street. Grayson made 214 starts for the Foxes in all competitions and scored six goals. The Ripon born right-back averaged a goal every fifty games during his playing days. Easily his most important strike for the Foxes was the equaliser in the Coca-Cola Cup semi-final at Wimbledon, which helped City progress to their first league cup triumph under Martin O’Neil.

This fixture was highlighted at the start of the season as a potential fight for top spot. Back in August it was Leeds, not Leicester who were favourites for the title. Now three high street bookmakers have City as odds on to finish the season in first, William Hill list Leeds at 16/1. Grayson will have his work cut out.

Key Stats
Leeds’ current form has been well advertised, six matches ago the Whites were 2nd, now they lie 9th. Thanks to their defeat of Peterborough last week, Leicester now have the longest current unbeaten run in League One of eight games.

Since both sides dropped out of the Premier League City have won two of their three trips to Elland Road. Oldham, Huddersfield and Colchester have emerged with maximum points so far this term.

Whilst many people have pointed to defensive problems, psychological issues could also be affecting Leeds. The club have let more points slip than any other in League One. Leeds have lost four games in which they at one stage had the lead, they’ve dropped 16 points in total, enough to put them top of the division.

On This Day
Leicester turned a half-time deficit into a Boxing Day win at Hull on this day in 2006. Goals from Patrick Kisnorbo and Gareth Williams secured all three points for City in a 2-1 win. The result put the Foxes 16th after 25 games, Hull were left five points adrift of safety on 21 points. How depressing.

Selected Odds
Leeds – 13/8 (Bet365)
Draw – 12/5 (Sky Bet)
Leicester – 17/10 (William Hill)

Match Review: Leicester City 4-0 Peterborough United

Posh’s 16 match unbeaten run came crashing to an end as Leicester marched on to their fifth successive victory. It’s the first time Leicester have achieved such a feat since April 2003 when Preston, Burnley, Coventry, Grimsby and Nottingham Forrest all fell in succession. The Foxes’ four point cushion will guarantee that Leicester are top on Boxing Day. Since League One took on its new name two of the four occupants of top spot on Boxing Day have gone on to win the title, three have been promoted automatically.

Merry Christmas!

Here are some other numbers

23,390 – Leicester’s largest crowd of the season was comfortably the biggest in League One yesterday, but it was also greater than nine attendances in the Championship. The Foxes’ home support was larger than the crowds Blackburn (23,004) and Bolton (19,884) could muster too. Impressive stuff, though undoubtedly helped by a sizable Posh following.

12 – Steve Howard had gone a dozen games without a goal before his last minute strike from outside the box. Since his opener at Oldham, Howard has been playing second fiddle to the Fryarstarter, though his contribution is not going unnoticed. If anyone deserved to be on the score sheet, it was Howard.

2 – Craig Morgan’s blunder was the second own goal to benefit the Foxes in 2008. In a interesting quirk, before yesterday the last three own goals scored for Leicester had settled the game. Darren Purse (Cardiff), Neil Austin (Barnsley) and John McGreal (Burnley) had all been unwitting match winners in 1-0 defeats for their respective clubs. At least Craig Morgan can rest knowing things probably wouldn’t have turned out much differently without his sixth minute intervention.

Match Preview: Peterborough United

One of the most crushing aspects of life in League One is the lack of national media attention. By Christmas last season Leicester had been screened live by Sky Sports four times, this year City fans are lucky to hear the score on national radio. Thank goodness for Ian Stringer.

But before you grumble too much take heed of this refreshing news, anyone with a digital radio or an internet connection will be able to hear Leicester host the Posh live of Five Live Sports Extra. Hurrah!

The Foxes record on Sky Sports in 2007/08;
P7 W1 D5 L1 F3 A3 Pts8

Key Stats
The juiciest aspect of this fixture has been well covered. Leicester have the longest current winning streak in League One (four games), Peterborough are undefeated in 16 league matches. Posh haven’t lost since August, a month that saw them win once and slump to defeat of three occasions. To put it bluntly, neither side is used to defeat.

Like MK Dons, Darren Fergusson’s side have adapted to life in League One extremely well, none more so than top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith who’s already bagged 14 goals this term.

Peterborough like to put the pressure on early. They’ve led half of their matches going into half-time and have yet to let a first half advantage slip to defeat. Like Leicester they have gone in behind twice, but unlike the Foxes they have yet to come back and win.

This is only the fifth league meeting between the two sides. The last time Leicester hosted Peterborough was on the opening day of the 1993/94 season when Gavin Ward was among the debutants in a 2-1 Leicester win. To date this has been Leicester’s only league victory over United.

On This Day
The Match of the Day cameras turned up to film Leicester’s clash with Everton on this day in 1997. Unfortunately Martin O’Neil’s men put in an a-typical weary performance in a game settled by an 89th minute Gary Speed penalty. Graham Fenton was in the side that day, you may have spotted him this week at Blyth Spartans in his current role as assistant player-manager.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 10/11 (Bet365)
Draw – 5/2 (BlueSq)
Peterborough – 3/1 (Bet365)

Match Preview: Carlisle Utd

It’s been a frustrating season so far for Carlisle Utd. After missing out on promotion on the last day of the 2007/08 season many felt the ‘blue army’ had enough to again challenge for an automatic promotion spot. For the first few games of 08/09 this seemed to be the case, United took 13 points from the season’s opening five matches. But a calamitous run of one point from a possible 30 followed immediately afterwards, John Ward was shown the door, or at least found it by process of mutual consent, and Greg Abbott assumed the manager’s position. And so Leicester arrive at Brunton Park to face a team clearly out of sorts and out of form. Let’s hope they can take advantage.

Key Stats
Leicester are looking for their fourth win in a row, which Carlisle are seeking a third successive home win. Symmetry fans will note that Leicester have scored as many goals away from home as Carlisle have managed in front of their own supporters. Both sides average two goals a game in this respect. Carlisle have kept just two clean sheets all season, the joint second worst record in League One. This is all indicative of a high scoring, exciting game on Saturday.

More stats pointing in Leicester’s favour include Carlisle’s record against teams in the top half. United have taken just four points from a possible 27 against teams currently residing on the happy side of midtable. Meanwhile, Leicester have seven wins and just one defeat in ten matches against teams in League One’s bottom half.

Punters in the first goalscorer market should note Carlisle have conceded first in 13 league games this season, but have come back to win three of those matches. Only Oldham have better record coming from behind. This being said, Leicester have only lost once in the 14 matches in which they have taken the lead.

On This Day
Matt Elliot and Ian Walker both managed to get themselves sent off in a ill tempered home fixture with Birmingham City on this day in 2003. The Foxes lost 2-0 in front of 30,639 at the Walkers Stadium. The Blues scored within five minutes of each dismissal, with Ian Walkers comical handling of the ball nearly 35 yards out leaving City to play with nine men for half an hour. It was another disastrous lunchtime kick-off.

Selected Odds
Carlisle – 5/2 (Boylesports)
Draw – 12/5 (Bet365)
Leicester – 23/20 (BlueSq)

Match Review: Leicester City 3-0 Southend Utd

So it’s official, Matty Fryatt is Leicester City’s fastest scoring centre forward since Derek Dougan. Consecutive hat-tricks have taken the Fryarstarter to 22 goals in 23 league and cup starts. Like most Leicester fans who saw Fryatt play in the two seasons previous to the current campaign, I remain staggered at this return. Fryatt has been responsible for exactly half of Leicester’s League One goals this season. City’s new concern should perhaps be whether they rely on the Nuneaton man too much.

Here are some other numbers...

4 – Yesterday saw the lowest total corner count of the season in a match involving Leicester City. The Foxes’ managed only two corners, their fewest at home all season and their lowest count since the trip to Oldham.

4 – A fourth consecutive maximum at home has seen the Walkers Stadium become something of a fortress. Only Millwall have a better home record in League One this season. There’s no doubt a solid home record is crucial to promotion. When the Foxes were promoted in 02/03 their home record was P23 W16 D5 L2 F40 A12 Pts53.

0 – This was Leicester’s first clean sheet in five matches. City have shutout their opponents on eight occasions this season, they share top spot in this regard with Millwall, Stockport and (perhaps surprisingly) Leyton Orient.

Match Preview: Southend United

As we roll towards Christmas the issue of fixture congestion will make its annual deposit into the ether of lazy football journalists and managers looking for excuses. Before anyone else brings it up, note carefully that City will play just five games in December, three fewer than November. Better yet, three fixtures are at home. First up, the Shrimpers.

Key Stats
Nigel Pearson’s men are unbeaten in five, Southend are without a win in four.

Before the Millwall fixture this blog pointed out the rather ominous statistic that in the last six seasons Leicester have won just one game which kicked off before 15:00. As Millwall proceeded to inflict City’s only home defeat of the season so far, it’s probably worth revisiting this record.

Leicester’s record since 2003/03 before 3PM;
P18 W1 D4 L13 F9 A29

Most bookmakers will give you 5/1 on a Southend win - it worth serious consideration.

Southend have a goal difference of zero but this belies a rather shocking number of goals conceded away from home, 19 in total or more than two per game. On the other hand Steve Tilson’s side have scored more goals away from home (15) than the Foxes have managed at the Walkers Stadium (13).

Tomorrow will be another interesting battle of wills. Both Leicester and Southend have opened the scoring on 13 occasions this season, yet whilst Leicester have picked up 32 points after taking the lead, Southend have taken seven fewer.

On This Day
The 6th of December in recent times has been a day for late Leicester equalisers. Muzzy Izzet saved a point for the Foxes at home to Crystal Palace on this day in 1997 with a right-footed curler from just outside the box. Meanwhile in 2003 a 94th minute Craig Hignet goal meant Arsenal left the Walkers disappointed, the scoreline again was 1-1.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 4/6 (Bet365)
Draw – 11/4 (Coral)
Southend – 5/1 (Sky Bet)

Match Review: Leicester City 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge

Leicester twice came from behind to book themselves a 3rd Round FA Cup home tie with Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace. Whether you prefer this arrangement to an away trip to Hartlepool is down to personal preference. I don’t suppose anyone who’d planned the long journey north is relishing the opportunity to make it on a Tuesday night instead.

Here are some numbers…

19 – Matty Fryatt has now scored more goals in a single season than any Leicester striker since Paul Dickov scored 20 in the 2002/03 campaign. It’s only November.

3 – Steve Howard was the last Leicester striker to hit a hat-trick in the 4-1 win at West Brom last season. Leicester hat-tricks have been few and far between in recent years. David Conolly hit three past Stoke in City's first home fixture of 2005/06. We then have to go back to 22nd February 2003 to find Paul Dickov’s triple against Wimbledon.

4 – The 2-2 half-time scoreline meant that this was the highest scoring first half City have been involved in for over four and a half years. The last time four goals were scored before the break came on 22nd February 2004 when City found themselves 3-1 down at Spurs. That match eventually finished 4-4.

Match Preview: Crewe Alexandra

The contrast literally could not be more vivid. After facing a team top of the league, full of confidence and with the highest goal scoring record in League One, City, now top themselves, face the divisions no hopers Crewe. Tuesday night presents an entirely different challenge for Leicester. Scunthorpe had no trouble coming out of their shell to face the Foxes, Dario Gradi will be happy if during his temporary reign he can construct a shell from which his players might emerge from time to time, stealing points in places they really ought not to. Places like the Walkers Stadium.

Every time City have hit top spot this season they have failed to capitalise on the momentum. Leicester fans will hope the Foxes take all three points from an eminently winnable home game against lacklustre opposition.

Key Stats
The form book is the first point of reference. Leicester are unbeaten in their last four matches and haven’t been defeated in their last seven at home. Crewe have lost three on the bounce and haven’t won a league match since the beat Colchester in mid September, some 11 games ago. The Railwaymen haven’t won away from home since April.

Past meetings have been few and far between. Crewe have never beaten the Foxes in a competitive fixture, but equally Leicester haven’t beaten Crewe since 1895. The last four league meetings between the two sides have been score draws.

You won’t get much better than 4/11 on a Leicester win, so here’s a quick betting tip: Go for the double result. For the uninitiated, the double result is betting on the result at half time and the result full time. So if you think the scores will be level at half time, but Crewe will pinch a cheeky goal in the second half you’d bet Draw-Crewe. There are technically nine possible outcomes here, but 15 of 17 Leicester matches have involved just 3.

Leicester-Leicester
Draw-Leicester
Draw-Draw

Each of these outcomes has occurred five times and the form guide suggests tomorrow night will not shake this pattern. So if you fancy a flutter, you’d do well to pick from this section of your betting slip.

On This Day
A Leicester line-up of Royce, Sinclair, Davidson, Rowett, Elliott, Taggart, Lennon, Savage, Izzet, Akinbiyi and Benjamin crashed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. Les Ferdinand’s hat-trick ensured City suffered only their second away defeat of the 2000/01 season but remained in fourth pace ahead of Liverpool, Aston Villa and in 14th position, Chelsea.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 4/11 (totesport)
Draw – 4/1 (Coral)
Crewe – 9/1 (Bet365)

Match Review: Scunthorpe Utd 1-2 Leicester City

Where are all the Andy King haters now?

The Welsh U21 international surprised many by making Nigel Pearson’s first competitive team sheet, but he’s repaid the manager’s faith in spades. Ever-present in League One, King now has five goals to his name in all competitions. Yesterday’s inspired strike was the most valuable yet. Along with Lloyd Dyer and Matt Oakley, King has helped City’s midfield to 13 of the Foxes 29 league goals this term. Last season less than 10% of Leicester’s goals came from midfield.

Here are some more numbers…

36% - Yesterday City had their lowest share of possession all season. You have to go back nine matches to find a game in which City had less of the ball than their opponents. The figure is dramatically smaller than City’s previous low, 44% at Hartlepool in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The effects of Steve Howard’s absence are obvious.

12 – Despite their meagre share of the ball, City still managed to fire 12 attempts on goal. The Foxes have only failed to manage double figures in two league matches, the opening day of the season and last week’s trip to Swindon Town. Leicester’s shooting accuracy in all competitions currently stands at 53%.

18 – The number of points Leicester have taken away from home, one point more than their haul at the Walkers Stadium. City share this curious record with MK Dons who have taken four more points on their travels. The Dons are no strangers to this, last season they took 17 more points away than at stadium:mk.

Match Preview: Scunthorpe United

For a stadium less than 20 years old Glanford Park already seems pathetically out of date. 838 Leicester fans made the trip last season for a game they could have watched in the pub and, after a dire 90 minutes with barely two real goal scoring opportunities, most probably wished they had.

Gary Megson’s penultimate game in charge of the Foxes (his sixth of seven league matches) finished 0-0 and provided a microcosm of the entire year. During Megson's reign City only conceded five goals, but managed to score just four times themselves.

Megson’s league record in charge of Leicester City: P7 W1 D4 L2 F4 A5 Pts7.

Key Stats
Scunthorpe have the fourth best home record in League One and haven’t lost at Glanford Park for 10 matches. But fans of the Iron must share the same concern as the Foxes with every wobbly result, there’s a sense in the numbers that Scunthorpe are doing well to paper over some cracks. For instance, half of Scunthorpe’s 20 goals conceded have come in the last four matches.

Fortunately for the Iron, 32 goals at the other end have made Nigel Adkins' side League One’s top scorers. Unlike Leicester, Scunthorpe’s goals are coming from every department. 12 Scunthorpe players have put their names on the score sheet this season, with nine opening the scoring. The Iron have only failed to score once in League One this season. By contrast only eight Leicester players have scored this season, with only Matty Fryatt, Steve Howard, Lloyd Dyer and Matt Oakley scoring first.

Both sides are more than capable of throwing points away. Scunthorpe have cost themselves 10 points this season in games they have led. The Foxes have dropped seven points this season, all from their last three away games. Nigel Pearson’s side have not won away from the Walkers Stadium since 4th October.

On This Day
Les Ferdinand’s goal in his 400th league appearance looked to have given City all three points at home to Charlton on this day in 2003. A hotly disputed Paolo Di Canio penalty ensured the spoils were shared. November was City’s best month in their last Premier League campaign. This draw was the only blot on an otherwise excellent month that produced three wins for Micky Adams’ men. At the time, City were above Spurs, Blackburn and Aston Villa.

Selected Odds
Scunthorpe – 6/4 (Bet365)
Draw – 12/5 (Sky Bet)
Leicester – 15/8 (BlueSq)

Match Review: Swindon Town 2-2 Leicester City

City have reached the end of nine matches in a month with a record in all competitions of three wins, four draws and two defeats. How much more impressive that record might have been but for City’s inability to close out leads away from home…

The Foxes now have a week to prepare for the trip to Glanford Park and the top of the table clash against League One leaders Scunthorpe. That’s not a sentence many would have imagined writing at the start of the season.

Here are some numbers…

2 – Leicester have surrendered two goal advantages in three of their last four league games away from home. Lloyd Dyer’s last minute winner at Huddersfield saved the Foxes in October, but since then the Foxes have dropped seven vital points in their last three away fixtures.

11 – In Leicester’s first eight games of 2008/09 the defence was outstanding, conceding just three goals. In their last eight league fixtures, City have conceded 11 goals, netting only 13 themselves. In the first eight matches City kept five clean sheets, in their last eight they’ve kept the opposition at bay only twice. Leicester now share League One’s best defensive record with Stockport County.

25 – The number of players to feature for Leicester so far this season. This is a dramatic improvement on the 41 players who wore the jersey last year, the most of any Championship side in 2007/08 and only a few short of a full NFL squad. Martin Allen appears to be working his magic at Cheltenham already; the number of players used at Whaddon Road this season has already reached 36. For more on the importance of squad stability, see ‘Do Signings Equal Success?’

22 – After picking up his fifth booking of the season yesterday, Steve Howard will miss his first match of the 08/09 campaign at Scunthorpe. Whilst Fryatt, Dyer and King have all been ever-present in the league, Howard was the only remaining Leicester player to start each of City’s 22 matches so far this season.

Match Preview: Swindon Town

There was a certain sense of inevitability about Leicester’s 3rd trip to the top of the table this season. Foxes fans had clung to the Yeovil game in hand as evidence of City’s false position, and so it proved. Now they must defend their one point edge at the top of League One at the County Ground, a venue City haven’t taken three points from since 1971. Feeling confident?

Key Stats
It has been far from dull to be a Swindon fan this season. Every single Swindon Town league game has produced at least two goals. Both sides have registered on the scoresheet in 13 of their 15 league games. Goals will not be in short supply at the County Ground on Saturday. Simon Cox has proven a solid marksman for the Robin’s, with 12 goals to his name already. Yet much like Matty Fryatt, Cox has opened the scoring far less frequently. Only a quarter of his goals have given Swindon first blood.

Swindon must be on something of a downer after a humiliating 1-0 defeat to Histon in the FA Cup last weekend. How Maurice Malpas’ team will react to that result is uncertain, but City must beware the backlash.

Leicester’s lofty position has much to do with their away record. With only one defeat on the road, City’s away form is bettered only by Stockport County (the Hatters remain undefeated on their travels). Yet City are without an away win in three games and have played four of their last five league games at home.

City’s record against teams in the bottom half remains exemplary, they have six wins, one draw and a single defeat this season.

On This Day
Leicester haven’t played on the 15th November since 1992 when they managed a 2-1 win at Roker Park against Sunderland. As I was only six years old at the time, you’ll have to forgive me for lacking a more colourful description of those events.

Selected Odds
Swindon – 9/4 (Paddy Power)
Draw – 12/5 (Bet365)
Leicester – 5/4 (Sky Bet)

Match Preview: Yeovil Town

League One has been loaded with new experiences for Leicester fans, experiences most hoped they would never live to see. Yeovil at home on what is forecast to be a chilly Tuesday evening in November is surely one of them. On this day eight years ago City faced Newcastle Utd at home, now they host a team whos nickname I was forced to google. Victory will take the Foxes top of League One, and the indications are they should manage it.

There have been no previous meetings between Leicester and the Glovers.

Key Stats
Leicester did a professional job of despatching Stevenage at the weekend, even though Matty Fryatt did his best to keep things interesting with that amazing miss. Interestingly, despite being far and away Leicester’s leading goalscorer, Fryatt is behind both Steve Howard and Lloyd Dyer in the first goalscorer category. The Fryarstarter has only opened the scoring on three occasions this season, leaving others to break the deadlock.

A win for City would be their first back to back victories for a month, but Leicester have averaged just a goal a game at home in their last five league outings. The Walkers Stadium seems to be acing less like a fortress and more akin to a pressure cooker. An early goal would settle many nerves, but City have only scored four in the opening 30 minutes so far this season.

Yeovil Town are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions and have kept clean sheets in each of their last three league games. This being said, Russell Slade’s men have been shutout in four of their last five away matches in League One. The Glovers have scored only 14 goals all season, the third worst record in the division. With just three wins all season, confidence is low. Indeed, if City do strike early the numbers look favourable. Yeovil have yet to come back from behind to win and have scored just three goals when conceding first, letting in 12 at the other end.

On This Day
Leicester treated home fans to a grandstand finished on this day in 1998. Trailing at home to Leeds Utd in the League Cup 4th Round thanks to Harry Kewell’s 17th minute effort, Leicester snatched victory with two goals in the dying minutes. First, Muzzy Izzet’s lob levelled the score in the 88th minute, then Gary Parker’s stoppage time penalty put Leicester into a quarter-final with Blackburn.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 4/7 (Blue Square)
Draw – 3/1 (Bet365)
Yeovil – 6/1 (Bet365)

Match Preview: Stevenage Borough (FA Cup 1st Round)

Nigel Pearson summed up City’s defeat at Rotherham in midweek as his sides worst performance of the season. Indeed, it was the first time Leicester have gone out of a cup competition to lower league opposition is over six years. Not since West Brom (then of Division One) put Dave Basset’s soon-to-be-relegated Foxes out of the FA Cup in January 2002 has a City side been beaten by supposedly inferior opposition.

With 52 places separating Leicester and Stevenage, one would like to think the Foxes should have little trouble progressing. Clearly the likes of ITV and Setanta share this opinion, with their cameras pointed at the competition's juicier ties. We’ll get onto the bookies later.

There have been no previous meetings between the two sides.

Whilst Stevenage have made it to at least the 1st round proper of this competition in each of the last five seasons, they haven’t reached the 3rd round since they met Newcastle United in the 1997/98 season.

Key Stats
Stevenage have the Blue Square Premier’s fifth best scoring record, and its fifth worst defence. Boro’ had a pretty terrible start to their Blue Square Premier campaign, winning only once in August and shipping 15 goals. Since then, they’ve conceded only 13 and have climbed to 9th in the table, just five points from division pacesetters Kettering Town. This upsurge in form correlates with the scoring record of striker Steve Morrison. The England C international failed to score in August, but after bagging a hat-trick on the 6th of September now has 10 goals, he’s the club’s leading scorer. Those thinking of placing a cheeky bet on Stevenage forcing a replay would do well to note that Stevenage haven’t drawn an away game for 21 matches. Boro’ have won four of their last six away from home.

Leicester head into the game as red hot favourites. They’re unbeaten at home in five matches. City were last defeated at home in a cup game by Aston Villa in 2006, since then City have only played two cup ties at the Walkers Stadium and nine on the road. We now have to go back five matches to find anyone except Matty Fryatt scoring for the Foxes and certainly some will be wondering what that penalty miss will have done to the striker’s ever fragile confidence. That being said, Fryatt has now netted more times than Leicester’s next three top scorers combined.

On This Day
6’ 8” keeper Zeljko Kalac made one of only two starts for Leicester City in a League Cup 3rd Round Replay at home to Bolton Wanderers on this day in 1995. Kalac had caused concern after mistakes in the previous weekend’s trip to West Brom had seen a comfortable 3-0 advantage reduced to 3-2. This time, Kalac’s antics saw City slump to a 3-2 defeat and led BBC Radio Leicester commentator Geoff Peters to remark, “Kalac sits with his head in his hands…lets hope he doesn’t drop it.” I have yet to find a single Leicester fan who can believe Kalac went on to play in a Champions League Final and the 2006 World Cup.

Selected Odds
Leicester - 4/9 (Blue Square)
Draw – 18/5 (extrabet)
Stevenage – 9/1 (Bet365)

Match Preview: Rotherham Utd (Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern quarter-final)

After five games in 15 days, City really could have used a week off. Instead at least six of Nigel Pearson’s regular starters will have to endure a cold and probably windy evening at Rotherham Utd’s adopted home.

Leicester are the bookies favourites to win the JPT this season. William Hill price City at 4/1 to lift the trophy in April.

Here are some quick match facts;

Rotherham dumped Leeds out of the competition in the last round to reach this stage. The 4-2 at Don Valley stadium has been the Millers’ only action in the competition thus far after they received a bye in the first round.

Despite the last meeting between these two sides occurring less than four years ago, only one player remains at either club from that day. Even this is stretching the facts somewhat. Paul Hurst, whilst still in the Rotherham squad, hasn’t played in a competitive fixture for Mark Robins’ side since March 2007.

Leicester haven’t lost at Rotherham for 28 years. They have clocked two wins and two draws since a league cup defeat in the 1979/80 season.

As mentioned earlier in the season, five of City’s last six cup exits have come as a result of last minute strikes. Southampton started the rot in 2006 with a 1-0 win at the Walkers in the 3rd Round of the 2005/06 FA Cup. Since then Aston Villa, Fulham (twice) and Chelsea have dumped Leicester out of cup competitions thanks to efforts in the dying seconds. Rotherham have scored four times in the last five minutes in all competitions this season.

Match Review: Leicester City 2-1 Bristol Rovers

Jo Kuffour’s strike on the hour would have been no laughing matter for City fans if The Fryarstarter hadn’t managed to bag his third and fourth goals of the week. Matty Fryatt’s winner in stoppage time put City in touching distance of top spot once again. A win at home next Tuesday to Yeovil Town, recent conquerors of Oldham, will put the Foxes back on top of League One. Just two points separate the top five in a title race that is beginning to look very competitive.

Here are some numbers…

1 – This was Leicester’s first win after being behind this season, they now leave behind a group of only five clubs in League One yet to achieve this feat.

6 – The number of goals Leicester have scored in the last five minutes of League matches. Despite this tally, they’ve only picked up four points from losing positions this season.

12 – Matty Fratt’s four goals this week now place him joint second in the League One hostshots table. Ricky Lambert leads the way with 15, whilst Craig Mackail-Smith’s 12 goals have helped Peterborough Utd to a run of 11 games unbeaten.

19,747 – City’s average home gate this season. The Walkers Stadium has been 61% full for home games so far. Leicester are one of only three sides in League One with an average attendance in five figures.

Match Preview: Bristol Rovers

In the last entry this blog made the comparison between Leicester’s recent form and “The Stutter Rap”. Before we go any further an apology should be made to Tony Hawks and his compatriots for such a wildly off-base assessment. “The Stutter Rap” made it to number one.

What made Tuesday’s defeat hard to take was the resurfacing of an all too familiar trait, once again Leicester were guilty of throwing points away. In 2003/04 City lost 28 points from winning positions, conceding 10 in the last five minutes that season. In 2004/05 Leicester dropped 31 points, enough to have seen them promoted automatically that year. In 2005/06 the Foxes dropped 21 points, then 24 points were lost in 2006/07. In 2007/08 the Foxes only shipped 13 points, but the figure is distorted, Leicester only scored the first goal in 16 matches last season.

This year Nigel Pearson’s men have surrendered leads on two occasions, costing five points. For the sake of promotion, we should hope that the second half at Brighton will prove to be the exception and not the rule.

Previous Meetings
Leicester City haven’t met Bristol Rovers since 1993. In their last meeting on Leicester turf the Pirates took all three points from Filbert Street in a 1-0 win. It has been five matches, or 18 years, since City last beat Bristol Rovers, the score was 3-2 that day in 1990.

Reasons To Be Confident
Despite their impressive form, Bristol Rovers have just one away win to their name this season.

The Pirates have conceded the first goal on eight occasions this season, coming back to win only once.

Rovers have thrown away exactly as many points from winning positions as Leicester, five.

Reasons To Be Worried
Bristol Rovers come into the match as League One’s form side. They have four wins and one draw to their name in October.

Bristol Rovers and League One’s top scorers, with 29 goals this season. Rovers also possess League One’s top scorer. Rickie Lambert has clocked a mightily impressive 15 goals already this season, with six in his last three games.

Only three teams (Leyton Orient, Stockport County and Hereford Utd) have scored fewer goals at home than Leicester this season. Leicester’s tally of eight in six home matches compares rather badly with Hartlepool Utd, Danny Wilson's side have netted 20 times already in front of their own fans.

On This Day
For the second season running Leicester conceded late at Newcastle United to be denied victory. An Alan Shearer hat-trick in 13 minutes had destroyed Leicester’s 3-1 advantage the previous season. This time it was John Beresford who saved the Magpies from defeat with a powerful header at the back post to make the final score 3-3. To make matters worse, Emile Heskey got himself sent off after losing his temper with Philippe Albert. Few could blame him.

Selected Odds
Leicester 8/11 (Boylesports)
Draw 13/5 (Betfred)
Bristol Rovers 9/2 (Bet365)

Match Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion

One of my first memories lower league football involves Brighton & Hove Albion. The club were battling to avoid relegation to the Conference and faced Hereford at home needing to avoid defeat in order to survive in the Football League at the Bulls expense. In their last ever game at the Goldstone Ground, The Seagulls managed a 1-1 draw, enough to survive on goals scored. For reasons that will become apparent later, Micky Adams will be glad such metrics are no longer used in league tables.

Previous Meetings
Leicester last trip to the Withdean Staduim came in February 2006. Early strikes from Paddy McCarthy and Ian Hume put the Foxes 2-0 up inside five minutes. Despite a second half goal from Alexandre Frutos, City held on for a 2-1 win.

The Withdean has proven a fruitful hunting ground in recent years. Leicester have taken seven points in their last three visits to Brighton’s “temporary” home. Brighton haven’t beaten Leicester at home in the League since 1991.

Reasons To Be Confident
Brighton have managed just 13 goals in 13 league games this season. Only three teams in League One (Yeovil, Leyton Orient and Hereford) have proven more inept in this department.

The Seagulls are now 10 games without a win in League One, the longest winless sequence in the division. Better yet for City, Brighton are yet to win a league match in front of their own fans in 2008/09.

Brighton have not scored in the last three games. Only one player, Glenn Murray, has scored for Brighton in their last seven league outings.

Reasons To Be Worried
Three successive draws have begun to raise doubts within the Leicester faithful. Whilst it probably helps Leicester to play away from home at the moment, you have to wonder whether a few of the younger players are starting to feel some pressure.

Despite failing to score in their last three games, it should be noted that Brighton also only conceded one goal in that same period. Leicester cannot afford to waste their chances.

When you need a win, it does not bode well to travel to League One’s draw experts. Brighton have seven draws (including three goalless draws) to their name already this campaign, over 40% of the way towards matching Bristol Rovers’ 17 draws of 2007/08.

On This Day
Goals from Muzzy Izzet and Arnar Gunnlaugsson silenced the Rams on this day in 2000 as Leicester climbed to third in the Premier League table. Rory Delap, who had yet to discover his abilities as conjurer of enormous throw-ins, gave Derby the lead in the 12th minute. Peter Taylor’s side fought back to leave City on 19 points from 11 games. Derby remained bottom.

Selected Odds
Brighton – 9/4 (Bet365)
Draw – 12/5 (Paddy Power)
Leicester – 5/4 (Betfred)

Match Review: Leicester City 0-0 Northampton Town

Leicester’s third consecutive draw was played in front of 22,795 at the Walkers Stadium. City’s second highest crown of the season were treated to the Foxes second worst performance at home. In musical terms, Leicester’s season has gone from sounding like “Things can only get better” to the “Stutter Rap”.

Here are some numbers…

3 – Its been two years since Leicester recorded three consecutive league draws. In September Rob Kelly’s side took a point at Sunderland, were held to one at home to Colchester and then snatched an equalised in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham. It was the start of a run which saw the Foxes go eight games unbeaten. Leicester need to avoid defeat at Brighton to equal that record.

3 – This is the third time Leicester have failed to get themselves on the score sheet in League One this season. Every member of the top five has managed to score on more occasions than Leicester. Scunthorpe Utd have yet to be denied a goal in League One this season.

6 – The number of points Leicester have won in October. It leaves them with the 14th best record in League One this month. Bristol Rovers are League One’s form team with 13 points, 10 goals and no defeats since the start of the month.

Match Preview: Northampton Town

Just 35.8 miles separate Sixfields from the Walkers Stadium, making this the most local of Leicester’s derby matches this season. After two consecutive draws, Leicester will be hoping to prove the wheels are still well and truly screwed into position with three points at home to the Cobblers. As we learned on Tuesday however, there is no such thing as a routine win.

Previous Meetings
Leicester have played Northampton town on just three occasions. The last meeting between the two sides came in the FA Cup ten years ago. Marshall, Parker, Savage and Cottee each scored to give Martin O’Neil’s men a comfortable 4-0 win.

Before that there were two league meetings in the 1965/66 season. Both matches ended all square.

Reasons To Be Confident
Only one team has defeated Nigel Pearson’s side in League One this season. The Foxes are currently the hardest side to beat in the division. Scunthorpe and Millwall both have two losses to their name.

Leicester City and Oldham Athletic are currently tied for the most clean sheets in League One. Both sides have five each.

Northampton have a very respectable record at home, but on their travels have picked up just one win so far in League One.

Reasons To Be Worried
Northampton have shown they can rise to the big occasion this season. If Leicester fans believe the many sides will treat their visit to the Walkers Stadium like a cup final, it seems only fair to peruse the Cobbler’s cup record. This year Northampton excelled in the Carling Cup with wins at Millwall and Bolton. They were minutes away from toppling Sunderland on their own turf too. A well-motivated Stuart Gray side could prove very stiff opposition.

Before the defeat at Swindon, Northampton had gone four matches unbeaten, winning the last three. Their last result, much like City’s, can be viewed in terms of a blip. So far this month Northampton have the second best record in League One.

Striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is fit. The 5’ 11” centre forward is Northampton’s main, some might say only, goal threat. Akinfenwa has eight this season in all competitions for his club, including four in the last five games.

On This Day
Leicester raced into a 3-0 half time lead at Molineux on this day in 2003. By full time, Wolves had somehow come back to win 4-3. At that moment most Leicester fans probably realised City’s return to the top flight would be a short lived affair.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 4/6 (VC Bet)
Draw – 13/5 (Bet365)
Northampton – 5/1 (Bet365)

Match Review: Leicester City 2-2 Walsall

For 70 minutes or so the SkyBet price of 5/1 for a Walsall victory was looking remarkably good, thankfully Aleksander Tunchev had other ideas. Despite slipping to third, Leicester remain two points off top spot with a game in hand. If you fancy a hyperbolic statement, these two successive draws constitute City’s worst run of the season so far.

There are some more realistic statistics below…

6 –The number of goals Leicester have scored from set pieces this season, that's 30% of City’s total for 2008/09.

6 – The number of games Leicester have gone undefeated. This is Leicester’s best undefeated sequence since an 8 match unbeaten run under Rob Kelly in 2006. It is not, however, the best record in League One. Scunthorpe have now gone 10 games without defeat.

19 – The percentage of shots with which Andy King has scored. Steve Howard has scored with 7% of his attempts on goal.

Match Preview: Walsall

Leicester are entering some serious fixture congestion. The Foxes will play two games every week until at least the middle of November. It’s fortunate that many absentees are returning to fitness just in time for the calendar crunch. Paul Dickov, Patrick Kisnorbo and Joe Mattock are all back fit and available for selection, leaving Nigel Pearson with one of those headaches he probably doesn’t mind all too much.

Previous Meetings
Leicester and Walsall only met five times in the 20th Century, with the Foxes winning four. The most recent meetings between the two sides came in City’s last successful promotion campaign. At the end of the season the two teams made for separate exits from Division One.

Second half goals from Matt Heath and James Scowcroft were enough to cast Walsall aside at the Walkers Stadium in November 2002. The Walsall team that day contained former City man Steve Corica. This time it will be a Fox facing his old club as Matty Fryatt aims to put one past his former employers.

Reasons To Be Confident
Walsall’s 9th position in League One does appear to be something of a false one. The Saddlers only played three sides in the top half and eight in the bottom half.

Walsall also appear to be in something of a slump. Jimmy Mullen’s men have only taken one point from the last nine and threw away a 2-0 half-time lead at home to Hartlepool this weekend, losing 3-2.

In contrast, Leicester are unbeaten in five matches, with a winning streak of four games only interrupted by the point at Oldham on Saturday.

Reasons To Be Worried
Walsall haven’t lost away from home since August and have only conceded four goals on their travels this season. Expect a tight game.

There appear to be few other statistical reasons to back Walsall. Foxblogger dislikes intangibles, especially as footballs have developed a tendency to hit the woodwork multiple times in quick succession this weekend. We’ve yet to see a real freak occurrence involving Leicester this season, but there is always time for a first.

Sky Bet have Walsall down at 5/1 for a win. That’s extremely generous in a two horse race. Hedge fund managers may not be all that popular at the moment, but hedge betting here could net a tidy profit. If you can deal with betting against your own side, this might be worth it.

On This Day
Leicester recorded their last win to date at Bramall Lane on this day in 1995. David Lowe, Iwan Roberts and Scott Taylor were on target for the Foxes as their imperious away record under Mark McGhee continued with a 3-1 victory against the Blades.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 4/6 (Boylesports)
Draw – 11/4 (Bet365)
Walsall – 5/1 (SkyBet)

Match Review: Oldham Athletic 1-1 Leicester City

Despite being pegged back at Boundary Park and not winning five in a row for the first time in five years, this should be looked on as a useful point for City. The Foxes can still go top of the pile with their game in hand.

The return of Patrick Kisnorbo is wonderful news. Those who saw his injury in Leicester’s final home game last season probably thought the Australian would be out of action until Christmas and possibly beyond. With Joe Mattock back in contention too the competition for places in the sternest backline in League One will be fierce. That can only be good for the promotion campaign.

Here are some numbers…

6 – The number of games Steve Howard had to wait to bag his 2nd league goal of the season. Howard found himself in acres of space to head in Lloyd Dyer’s centre and give the Foxes the lead. Howard also hit the woodwork for the first time this season. After a string of disallowed strikes the former Derby man must have been wondering if his luck would ever change.

8 – The number of Championship games involving Leicester that finished 1-1 in 2007/08. It was City’s most common result last season. Yesterday’s match was the first time in this campaign Leicester had finished a game with three points for the pools. 0-0 and 0-1 were the joint second most frequent results in 2007/08, occurring seven times apiece. What a miserable season that was.

1 – Yesterday was the first time in 2008/09 that Leicester had scored first and failed to win. Whitaker’s splendid equaliser ensured that these were Leicester’s first dropped points of the season. In 2007/08, City dropped 13 points from winning positions.

18 – The number of goals Leicester have scored this season. Only one team in the top half has scored less, Stockport County.

Match Preview: Oldham Athletic

Four of League One’s top six go head to head this weekend. Millwall host Leeds at the New Den, whilst Leicester travel to Boundary Park to face the division’s early pacesetters, Oldham Athletic. For the Foxes, it’s their first major examination since the home defeat to the Lions just over a month ago. Leicester have only faced one side in the top half away from home. They’ll need to be on top form to take points from the Latics.

Previous Meetings
Leicester’s last trip to Boundary Park came in 1996. Despite a cracking free-kick from Mike Whitlow, City were beaten 3-1 on a wet and windy afternoon in Lancashire.

Leicester have taken only one point in their last five visits to Oldham, their last win coming in an end of season encounter in 1983. The 2-1 victory took City to the brink of promotion to the top flight. We’ll ignore the fact City had to rely on Derby doing the business against promotion chasers Fulham on the final day. In characteristic fashion, the Foxes had failed to see off Burnley at home on the final day.

Reasons To Be Confident
One of City’s greatest strengths is Oldham’s greatest weakness. Nigel Pearson’s men have registered seven goals in the 10 minutes after the restart, conceding none. In contrast, Oldham have been weak. The Latics have conceded four in the same period after half time.

Leicester have the best away record in League One. The Foxes remain undefeated having managed four wins and a draw so far. They have the 3rd highest scoring record away from home in League One.

For what it’s worth, Leicester’s goal difference away from home (+8) is also the highest in League One.

Reasons To Be Worried
Oldham have the best home record in League One, the Latics’ home form is a mirror image of Leicester’s away performances. Oldham have not lost at home for 12 matches.

Oldham have scored goals for fun this season, 24 in total. They’ve scored in every league game this season. It isn’t as if John Sheridan’s men have been facing weak defences either, they’ve scored against the MK Dons, Stockport, Leeds and Millwall, four of the seven meanest backlines in the division.

As mentioned on Tuesday, Oldham have yet to lose a League match after conceding the first goal. They’ve picked up 5 points in the 3 games in which they’ve conceded first, including that remarkable 4-3 win at home to Millwall on the opening day of the season.

On This Day
Frank Leboeuf hit a 35 yard screamer with two minutes remaining to end Leicester’s resistance at Stanford Bridge on this day in 1997. The Frenchman had broken Leicester hearts just months earlier. His disputed penalty in the 118th minute of extra time ended Leicester’s FA Cup hopes in a 5th Round Replay. This time, however, there was no argument.

Selected Odds
Oldham – 13/8 (Coral)
Draw – 12/5 (Paddy Power)
Leicester – 9/5 (Sky Bet)

League One - The Competition

It’s often said that it takes at least 10 games for the league table to take shape. With Leicester having the weekend off, now seems like the perfect opportunity to assess City’s closest competitors.

What follows is an appraisal of the top 6 in League One; their strengths and weaknesses.

One statistic needs to be explained before we start. The strength of schedule (to borrow an Americanism) relates to the league positions of each side’s opposition. A low strength of schedule number means the side has been dealt a tough fixture list. A high number means the club’s fixtures (on paper at least) have been easier.

All statistics relate to league matches only.

Scunthorpe Utd – Position 1st

Strength Of Schedule: 147
Scunthorpe have played four of the bottom five in their last four matches.

The Iron for the moment sit pretty on top of League One. They have the division’s third best scoring record and the second best defence. Scunthorpe’s success has been due in part to their ability to impose their will on games. They’ve scored first in nine of their opening league games with their most productive period of the match being just before half-time. The Iron have netted three in the five minutes before the break, and took seven points from those matches.

Scunthorpe’s problem this season has been closing the deal. Already this season they’ve dropped eight points in games which they were leading. Worryingly, Nigel Adkins’ side have only conceded two goals before half-time, but let in seven after the restart.

Leicester City – Position 2nd

Strength Of Schedule: 125 (147 including Yeovil)
Since the home defeat to Millwall, Leicester haven’t played a side higher than 16th.

Like Scunthorpe, Leicester have enjoyed the pleasures of a relatively burden free fixture list thus far. That being said, you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and City have done just that. Their win percentage is higher than any side in League One.

Nigel Pearson has built his side around a defence that has proven stingier than the serving sizes at Leyton Orient. With just five conceded, the platform has existed for City to win every game in which they have opened the scoring. Leicester have also acquired the exceedingly useful habit of scoring late goals. They’ve netted four times in the last five minutes this season.

Pearson has also installed discipline into the Foxes. With an average of just 1.3 bookings per game, suspensions have not been an issue so far.

Concerns remain up front, where Steve Howard has still only one league goal to his name. Matty Fratt has netted 8 from 43 attempts.

Oldham Athletic – Position 3rd

Strength Of Schedule: 133
100% record against teams in the top 6 (3 games)

Oldham have proven to be the surprise package of the season so far. John Sheridan’s men really believe they can produce a sustained challenge for promotion this season. The Lee Hughes gamble seems to have paid off, both he and Chris Taylor have hit six. In fact, Oldham are League One’s leading scorers with 24.

The Latics are also proving to be remarkably resilient. Oldham are unbeaten in matches where their opponents have scored first, taking five points from those three games. Just as ominous, Oldham have scored in every single league game this season.

If there are weaknesses, they appear to lie just after half-time. The Latics have conceded three just after the break, 25% of all the goals against them this term.

Leeds Utd – Position 4th

Strength Of Schedule: 139
Beat Scunthorpe and lost to Oldham on opening weekends.

Garry McAlister’s policy at Leeds this season appears pretty straightforward: shoot on sight. Leeds have fired in a massive 179 efforts on goal this season. Consequently their accuracy has suffered, only 45% of these attempts hit the target. This policy has also meant Leeds are only League One’s fourth highest scorers. Having the most shots is not the same as scoring the most goals, just ask Frank Lampard.

Elsewhere it is business at usual for the Yorkshiremen, they’re conceding late (four in total) and racking up the disciplinary points. Leeds have accrued 18 yellow cards and a further two red.

Millwall – Position 5th

Strength Of Schedule: 115
Toughest fixture list of the top 6.

Millwall can claim, quite fairly, that the fixture computer has not been kind, yet they’re impressing League One if not with flowing moves then with muscle. As Leicester learned to their peril, teams will have to be prepared for a physical challenge against the Lions. Their disciplinary record is the worst in League One (again) with 24 yellow cards and three red picked up in just 10 matches. Kenny Jackett’s team have been pulled up for a staggering 130 fouls.

Millwall are also the lowest scorers in the top six, having breached opposition defences just 16 times. More impressive are Millwall’s four clean sheets, but without a real focus in attack you have to wonder if automatic promotion will be too much of a stretch.

MK Dons – Position 6th

Strength Of Schedule: 119
Best start of the promoted sides.

MK Dons have not been dealt an easy set of fixtures either, but their start under Roberto Di Matteo has impressed many. The Dons come into their own in the second half, where they have scored almost twice as many goals as in their first half outings.

Just 10 bookings to date make MK Dons the nicest side in the top six, but that didn’t stop them tearing Millwall to shreds at the New Den. The Dons are proof that there is success to be had playing football in amongst the brutes of League One’s more burley sides. It probably helps when your shooting is the most accurate of the top six too. 58% of the Dons’ 113 attempts have worked the keeper.

Conclusion
It’s still too early to know who will be able to keep pace and who will fade away. All of these sides have potential. If anyone needs reminding, League One will not be a stroll in the park for the Foxes.

Match Review: Huddersfield Town 2-3 Leicester City

Leicester’s fourth consecutive league win makes this their best league run since April 2003. If City beat Oldham in two weeks time, they’ll match the five game winning streak which virtually sealed promotion in 2002/03. The Foxes will stay top of League One with a game in hand unless Scunthorpe United beat Crewe by three clear goals next weekend.

Here are some other pleasing numbers…

7 – It took Leicester until the 28th January to record seven league victories last season, a tally which took so long to reach not least because of City’s 13 draws up to that point. The Foxes are flying. This start of 22 points from nine games is identical to the 2002/03 campaign.

8 – Matty Fryatt is League One’s joint second top scorer. As much as this blog has critiqued his play, he can’t be denied praised for the goals he has scored.

3 – Once again it appears Nigel Pearson got his half-time team talk right. Leicester have gone in level at the break on four occasions this season and have won three. They’ve now scored seven goals in the first 10 minutes after the break this season.

Match Preview: Huddersfield Town

Leicester’s fifth fixture in 15 days will be followed by a break of 14 days without a match. This will be City’s only opportunity to cement their status as League One leaders before another international weekend results in the postponement of Yeovil Town’s visit to the Walkers Stadium. Nigel Pearson will be urging one more push before a well-earned rest. With Oldham Athletic the Foxes next opponents, they’re going to need it.

Leicester have managed to win 19 points in their opening eight games. It took the Foxes 16 games to reach this total last season, 15 games in 2006/07 and 13 games in 2005/06. Credit goes to the lads at the Leicester City Football Fancast for that one.

Previous Meetings
Leicester last travelled to Huddersfield in 1995. Mark Robbins levelled the match after Darren Bullock’s opener, but City succumbed to a 3-1 defeat on a soggy evening in Yorkshire. Then as now, City faced the Terriers on the strength of what seemed an invincible away record. With the weather tomorrow looking equally gloomy, one wonders if lightning will strike twice.

We have to go all the way back to August 1956 to find Leicester’s last victory at Huddersfield, a 2-1 success.

Reasons To Be Confident
Leicester haven’t lost away in the league since April. They have three wins and a draw on the road so far this season in League One, the best record in League One.

The Galpharm Stadium has been no fortress for Huddersfield this season. They’ve taken just four points in front of their own fans, conceding an average of two goals a game. Both MK Dons and Tranmere Rovers have taken maximum points on Huddersfield’s patch this term.

Nigel Pearson seems to have honed his half-time team talks. Leicester have scored six times in the first ten minutes of the second half, conceding none.

Reasons To Be Worried
The last time Leicester topped the table, they immediately slumped to defeat at home to Millwall.

In the last three matches, Leicester have required an average of over 20 chances to score.

In the three matches in which Huddersfield have conceded the first goal, they have gone on to win two. The Terrirs comeback record is the second best in League One. Huddersfield will not be easy to put away.

On This Day
Leicester travelled to Craven Cottage on this day in 2003. Strikes either side of half-time from Luis Boa Morte secured a 2-0 win for Fulham as Leicester slipped into the Premiership’s bottom three. It was part of a run of five consecutive league defeats which set the tone of Leicester’s last season in the top flight.

Selected Odds
Huddersfield – 9/4 (Sky Bet)
Draw – 12/5 (Coral)
Leicester – 6/4 (betdirect)

Match Review: Colchester Utd 0-1 Leicester City

Leicester end September as they ended August, top of League One. Isn’t it about time for Bill Anderson to start writing about how unbeatable we are? Leicester fans unused to this joy could use another reality check.

Here are some numbers…

42 – The number of efforts on goal Leicester have made in their last 3 games. Exactly half have worked the goalkeeper and less than 5% have found the net. Presently, Leicester require over 20 attempts for every goal they score.

5 – The number of clean sheets Leicester have kept this season, the most of any team in League One.

1-0 – Leicester have won 3 games by this scoreline in 2008/09 so far. In the whole of 2007/08 the Foxes won six games 1-0. Just four games finished 1-0 to City in 2006/07 and 2005/06 and only three matches finished with that scoreline in 2004/05. How long will it be before we’re chanting “Boring Boring Leicester”?

Ask Foxblogger: Part One

Fleckneymike asks; “Are there any 'opta' style stats available for midfield? I would like to know statistically how poor Andy King is.”

Unfortunately there are no freely available opta style statistics on individual League One players. Below are all the statistics on Andy King I have been able to gather. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.


Name: Andy King
Date of Birth: 29/10/1988
Height: 6' 0" (183cm)
Weight: 11st 10lbs (74.45kg)

Season 2008/09
Appearances: 8 (1)
Goals: 1
Shots: 17
On Target: 10
Hit Woodwork: 1
Assists: 1
Fouls: 3
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0

Match Preview: Colchester United

Leicester travel to the Colchester Community Stadium knowing victory will put them top of League One. It will require the Foxes’ third successive league victory, a feat not achieved since February 2007. Colchester are under the caretaker management of Kit Symons following the departure of Geraint Williams. The new U’s boss will be hoping to improve on their mediocre start to the season.

Previous Meetings
Both matches between Leicester and Colchester last season finished one apiece. Collins John gave City the lead in front of the Sky cameras at Layer Road before the Foxes were pegged back. Ian Hume salvaged a point for City in the 89th minute in the sides’ last meeting at the Walkers Stadium.

All four meetings between these two sides have ended honours even. For symmetry fans, Colchester have now gone four games without a draw.

Reasons To Be Confident
Colchester have yet to win a competitive fixture at their new home. The U’s have managed just two draws and a defeat, scoring two and conceding five. In contrast, Leicester have yet to taste defeat on the road, scoring seven and conceding just one in the process.

Before Friday night’s 4-3 victory at Tranmere, Colchester were on a run of three consecutive defeats, the third of which was a 3-0 spanking at home to MK Dons. The win on Merseyside suggested at least a few of the players were cheating their manager, but caretaker revolutions, as Leicester fans known all too well, are often fleeting.

Leicester have picked up the useful habit of winning despite themselves. Matty Fryatt continues to score despite clearly lacking qualities such as touch, pace and finishing. In the last post it was asked when Leicester were going to be found out in League One, what is just as plausible at this point is whether “when” is the correct word at all, but rather “if”.

Reasons To Be Worried
Of the 12 midweek games played in 2007/08, Leicester won only two. The Foxes lost six games under the midweek floodlights.

Leicester allowed far more pressure from Leyton Orient than was healthy in their last away game. Orient managed to force 10 corners and 12 attempts on goal.

This will be the Foxes fourth game in 11 days. Colchester have played a game less in this period and due to facing Tranmere last Friday, enjoyed an extra day to prepare for this fixture. Fitness towards the end of the game could prove a factor.

On This Day
18,435 were at Carrow Road on this day in 1995 to witness the first league goal of Emile Heskey. Bruno’s 90th minute strike meant to Foxes snatched all three points at Norwich City in a 1-0 win. The victory put Mark McGhee’s men three points clear at the top of Division One.

Their start that season;
P10 W6 D2 L2 F16 A11 Pts 20

Selected Odds
Colchester – 2/1 (totesport)
Draw – 12/5 (Corral)
Leicester – 7/5 (Bet365)

Match Review: Leicester City 1-0 Hartlepool Utd

Successive league wins have partially removed the bitter taste of the Milwall defeat, but the mood around the Walkers Stadium is still one of concern. Many Foxes fans remain dubious after another unconvincing win, even though another victory on Tuesday at Colchester will see Leicester return to the top of League One.

Yet the question remains, how long will it be before Leicester are found out? City seem to be doing just enough at present, but it remains to be seen if this level of performance will be sufficient to ensure City’s stay in League One is as short as possible.

Here are some numbers…

16 – The number of attempts on goal from Hartlepool yesterday, the highest total of any team playing Leicester so far this season. Whilst Leicester continue to create chances, the number of opportunities they afford the opposition is increasing. In the first three league matches of the season the Foxes allowed three, six and four attempts from their respective opponents. In Leicester’s last three league matches the opposition have forced six, 13 and 16 attempts of goal. Perhaps City’s remarkable defensive record is no longer due to solid defending, but woeful finishing.

13 – Leicester’s goals for tally is the lowest of top five. City are only the 9th most prolific side in the division. Oldham and Bristol Rovers are League One’s top scorers with 19. This statistic itself should be too concerning. Historically it is the teams with the strongest defences, not most firepower, who beat the other promotion contenders into second place.

5 – The number of league games this season in which Leicester have scored the first goal. They have a 100% record when they take the lead.

Match Preview: Hartlepool Utd

“These boys are Championship players, if not some of them Premier League players” – Danny Wilson

Wilson would do well not to remind his players of these words before Saturday. The Hartlepool boss will have undoubtedly studied Leicester’s defeat to Millwall and seen the all too obvious lack of strength in the side. The question is, are Hartlepool strong enough?

Previous Meetings
The JPT Northern Section 1st Round encounter in which the Foxes ran out 3-0 winners has thus far been the only competitive meeting between the two sides. That night Hartlepool created more chances, but failed to make any of them count.

Whilst Leicester were busy reaping the rewards of that win in midweek by boring everyone to death at home to Lincoln, Hartlepool were being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Leeds.

Reasons To Be Confident
Hartlepool have picked up a rather worrying habit of conceding late goals. Their defeat to Leeds in midweek came as a result of a 90th minute strike from Andy Robinson. It was the sixth time this season the ‘Pool have conceded in the final five minutes. We could see another City late show.

Hartlepool have yet to beat a team in the top half of League One this season.

Hartlepool have scored just two goals away from home in League One this season. Both goals came in a two minute spell during the 2-1 victory over Peterborough.

Reasons To Be Worried
Hartlepool have found their scoring boots in recent weeks. The Monkey Hangers have knocked in seven goals in their last two league games. They’ve been pretty accurate too, with 60% of attempts on goal working the keeper. James Brown in particular deserves a fair amount of credit for these statistics. Brown has hit 15 shots on target this season whilst only striking 8 wide.

The goals dry up in away games for Hartlepool at both ends. ‘Pool have conceded only four away from home this season. The Hartlepool team bus may well be parked in front of goal at the Walkers. It will be up to City to break Hartlepool down.

Leicester managed to scrape a victory at Brisbane Road last week despite a poor performance. Whilst it’s often said that strong sides win even when they play badly, Leicester haven’t put together a good performance since August. Leicester fans need some reassuring.

On This Day
Leicester raced into a two goal half-time lead at QPR in 2004, only for the travelling Foxes faithful to watch in horror as City threw the advantage away and a last-minute strike from Paul Furlong ensured Leicester left Loftus Road with nothing. The 3-2 reverse was the straw that probably broke the back of the Micky Adams era at the Walkers Stadium. Three games later, he quit.

Selected Odds
Leicester – 8/13 (totesport)
Draw – 14/5 (Bet365)
Hartlepool – 11/2 (Bet365)

Match Review: Leicester City 0-0 Lincoln City (Leicester win 3-1 on penalties)

Leicester needed penalties to see off Lincoln, and looking again at the video it’s clear the players care little about progress in this competition. The Foxes are now in the last 16 of the JPT, or the Quarter-Finals of the Northern Section of the draw. Even that statement is enough to make eyes roll.

So when will all this be over? Before the Hartlepool game Foxblogger looked at the final league positions of finalists in the JPT. For comparison, here are the exit points in the JPT for the eight sides automatically promoted from League One in the last four seasons.

2004/05
Luton Town – Southern Section 1st Round
Hull City – Northern Section 1st Round

2005/06
Southend Utd – Southern Section 1st Round
Colchester Utd – Southern Section Final

2006/07
Scunthorpe Utd – Northern Section 2nd Round
Bristol City – Southern Section Final

2007/08
Swansea City – Southern Section Final
Nottingham Forrest – Northern Section 1st Round

Make of that what you will.