Leicester City: Late heartache as big win slips away against Cardiff
Leicester City were dealt another blow last night as substitute Rudy Gestede grabbed an equaliser for Cardiff in the third minute of added time.
Defender Michael Keane had put City on course for a much-needed victory with a header from close range in the 72nd minute but league leaders Cardiff, who had struggled to create any chances in the second half, snatched an unlikely point through Gestede's header.
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IT WON'T GO IN! Andy King cannot force the ball over the line in a 53rd minute goalmouth scramble last night
The Cardiff City Stadium has not been a great hunting ground for City and inevitably memories always turn to that devastating night when City's promotion dream ended in a penalty shoot-out on Welsh soil nearly three years ago.
A lot has changed since then. Both clubs are now run by mega-rich Asian owners, and the Bluebirds now wear red.
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But one thing hasn't changed, both sides are desperate to get into the Premier League.
Once again, City arrived in South Wales trying to keep their promotion dream alive, but with the odds stacked against them.
City were looking to recover after a sequence of one win from seven games, while Cardiff had dropped only 10 home points all season.
Pearson had talked of a crisis of confidence within his camp following their home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and he responded by bringing in old heads Lloyd Dyer and Richie Wellens – the latter making his first league start of the season.
Pearson also changed formation to a 4-2-1-3, with Wellens joining Danny Drinkwater and Andy King in City's engine room, while Dyer and David Nugent supported Chris Wood from the flanks.
City produced an encouraging first- half display, although both sides struggled to create a clear-cut chance.
But City certainly looked more solid and competitive in midfield and were largely untroubled at the back, with Jeff Schlupp getting the better of Craig Noone and looking threatening on the counter-attack.
City stepped it up in the second half and looked the most likely to score, and Wood had a great chance when put through by Nugent, only for the keeper to make a good save.
In contrast, the hosts were struggling to create anything against City's well-drilled defence, marshalled superbly by captain Wes Morgan.
City finally got the goal their performance deserved in the 72nd minute when Michael Keane timed his run superbly to meet Sean St Ledger's cross to head past Marshall for what appeared to be the winner – until Gestede's late intervention.
32 Comments
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by squirril33
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:51PM
“I agree with most of that Acullingham other than the buy Keane comment. That is just plain silly. There is no way Ferguson would sell him any more than there was with Tom Cleverley. Keane has stated in the LM he is really looking forward to getting back to MUFC and trying to cement a first team regular place. Other than that you are quite right the present team would not beat the reserves of many Premiership teams. The quality of the Championship this season is probably the worst ever. The problem of quality will not be brought into question as this team will not be promoted.”
by acullingham
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:44PM
“Sorry to bore you all with the same mantra......but we need to gain promotion with a Premiership quality team. We are years away from that at the moment. The league we are in is full of battling teams and random results. Drinkwater, Knocky, James,Marshall, Wood, Moore,Waghorn, Keane (we should buy him), Schlupp are all in the paddling pool. They won't be ready for the deep end for at least another two years.
More championship football next year please!”
by johnnylcfc
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:33PM
“HULLDAZ,
PLEASE DONT BE SO MEAN,
4-1 TO YOU BOYS,MR GEDO 2,,,,,,I HOPE .......”
by hulldaz
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 6:56PM
“We play forest on Saturday.
What's your prediction for the game ?
I haveHull down as 2-0 winners but saying that I have a feeling it might go close ?”
by squirril33
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 5:24PM
“Luv the enthusiasm Yorkie. Good on ya”
by yorkiefox
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 4:44PM
“Superb point last night. Cardiff made to go all the way and unfortunately were just good enough to scramble a draw with one minute left. Confidence restored.
27 points left to fight for with big matches against those up there with us.
C'mon you Foxes”
by foxfan1
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:24PM
“doesn't really matter what anyone says now, our (& Pearson's) fate is in the hands of the footballing God's. The managers options of saving his bacon are running out & it looks like the lottery of the play-offs at best now.
I take your point Vale, but it can also have the opposite disired effect sometimes...I'm more for Chappy's if it ain't broke, don't fix it theory ...who's to say that if he hadn't have changed the momentum last night we might have hung on to those vital extra two points?
I can also totally understand the logic of Chappy's Cardiff fan mate, regarding Knockaert...I'd rather have the French kid playing for me, rather than against me any day of the week..
Doesn't matter which way you look at it, they were two more points dropped last night, rather than a point gained. I predicted a draw before kick-off..but another definite "might have been" night...on to the Sheep then....”
by Rachel_Leics
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 2:44PM
“Another draw : ( what has happened to us : ( x”
by Valefox1
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 2:24PM
“OK let's put this into some perspective, now be honest, how many times have you watched other teams who are leading by one goal, away from home, having to defend for their lives in the last 10 mins of the match, bringing on subs to eat up time, sitting deeper and deeper and then conceding, just like Leeds did against us last week. It happens all the time, get over it.
A good point last night, but it felt like a loss, good to see that Wellens can still contribute something despite what some know it all's think they know. The shakeup of personnel had the desired effect, and should liven up those that were left out; we need to keep this up, well
done all.
And stop rising to the bait from lulu
C'mon u blues”
by squirril33
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 1:49PM
“Lulu/Plies that Forest/Derby supporter in disguise is a lunatic mark 1. Pearson cost us the 3 points. e brings dead beat Vardy on who obviously spreads lack of confidence thru the team and there ya go. He was Conference and he's still conference. Pearson has done this with the guy all season and it's cost us at least 10 points. ill be so glad when Pearson slings his hook ill celebrate like I've won the lottery. it's about time the looney bin concerned found out where lu lu has got to.”