Leicester Vs Southampton
3-2
A Game of Two Halves
So today was the day that ended our poor form at home. The foxes walked away the victorious side with a 3-2 win. This for the fans was most definitely a game of two halves. The Foxes form and approach to the game was as changeable as the weather.Leicester started the afternoon in blistering fashion; Andy King was the instigator after finding himself in space. He sent in a delightful pass which Vassell gleefully nudged past the keeper Kelvin Davis to set the tempo of the game.
The young Jeffery Schlupp then made his appearance after Dave Nugent went off after 6 minutes (Hamstring Injury). Even following this departure the Foxes showed their intention when the second goal should of arrived after Matt Mills rose high to meet a Neil Danns' corner ball, only to be denied by an excellent Davis save.
Half way through the first half the second goal did arrive, Jeff Schlupp had been a constant threat up front, he held the ball up outstandingly before lining up Wellens who struck a 25 Yard curler which struck the inside of the post.
This was not to be an easy afternoon; once again a positional error with the defence allowed Dan Harding to nod home an Adam Lallana’s cross. Were we to go and allow another two goal lead to be taken from us?
Leicester was certainly intent on finishing the first half as they started. And once again that pressure paid off. Another corner came and so did another goal albeit from the head of Richard Lambert. 3-1 at half time, what an afternoon this was turning out to be.
Second half, wow what a difference. As the old saying goes ‘If it is not broke, then why change it’. The first half had been played using an effective 4-4-2 formation with Schlupp and Vassell up front working effectively. WHY did they decide to change what had been going so well. Schlupp had been pushed out on the right wing and the midfield did not even know who was supposed to be tracking who. We went from dominating the first half to being continually pushed back under a barrage of crosses and shots from the Saints.
The Saints pressure paid off as once again another Lallana cross found the head of David Connolly.
The arrival of Paul Gallagher (75) and Yuki Abe (86) failed to reproduce the flair and entertaining football that had been so evident in the first half. The team still failed to regain the composure and assertiveness that had earlier been on show. The defence were failing to clear the ball, the midfield was being pulled from pillar to post, the only thing Southampton were failing to do was score.
For Leicester the second half belonged to one man, Kasper Schmeichel. Salvo after Salvo is how it appeared to be for the Foxes defence. Even in the dying moments Schmeichel denied Lambert after he took a point blank shot at goal.
What had started out as a fantastic afternoon’s football turned into a survival match.
Leicester held on to the three points which were greatly needed for the fans and to show our intention this season. As I mentioned previously, if we are to show our desire and our intent this season then we had to ensure a win occurred today. The team did do that.
A two week international break now follows and I am sure the team will be better for starting the break with a win under their belts.
Goals:
Leicester: Darius Vassell (3’), Richard Wellens (22’) and Richard Lambert (og 45’)
Southampton: Dan Harding (28’) and David Connolly (53’)
Man of the Match for Me: Kasper Schmeichel
Attendance: A very poor 23,808
Richard Tullis
@Rich_Tullis
