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.