Match verdict: Leicester City need striker Chris Wood back as soon as possible
If Leicester City learned one thing from their shock defeat at bottom-of-the-table Peterborough, it was how vital Chris Wood is to the promotion push.
It is not often when chewing over the aftermath of a game that the one player who dominates the thoughts is one who was not even playing.
But that was the case after City's recent excellent form came to an abrupt end at London Road.
It is no coincidence that City's five-game winning streak, which saw them soar into second place in the Championship table, coincided with the arrival of the 6ft 3in striker.
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Wood's phenomenal scoring record is impressive enough, but his overall play and his flourishing partnership with David Nugent has transformed this City side.
City looked like a team that might be missing that extra ingredient to be serious automatic promotion contenders.
Then Wood arrived and helped turn them into a side that looked as if they would be impossible to stop.
When he was rested for the FA Cup tie at Huddersfield, City lacked that killer touch in front of goal to see off the Terriers at the first time of asking. It was Wood who went on off the bench to rescue a replay.
His rising importance is probably why City were guarded about the knock he picked up in training which kept him out of the trip to face Posh.
So it was a relief for all City fans to hear Nigel Pearson state after the 2-1 defeat at Posh that the New Zealander will not be out for too long.
That is not to say City are a one-man team, far from it. But Wood gives them that extra punch in the final third.
Jamie Vardy was given the task of stepping into Wood's shoes and, while the former Fleetwood man is a bundle of energy and never stops moving, he struggled to have any impact on the game.
When Vardy had a great chance to put City 2-0 ahead after Ben Marshall had fired them into the lead, he was unable to take it.
Andy King had done superbly to tee him up and Vardy had only goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik to beat, but he blasted it too close to the Posh keeper, who deflected the ball over the bar.
Vardy was not the only one guilty of squandering chances.
Nugent had a good opportunity in the first half but his finish lacked the power to beat Olejnik and, right at the death, substitute Martyn Waghorn had a golden chance to rescue a vital point but could not hit the target.
How City needed to be more ruthless in front of goal because, for once, their rear-guard, which had shipped only three goals in the previous six games, was carved open far too easily as Posh were allowed to claw their way back into a game that should have been beyond them.
More than 5,000 City fans made the trip to London Road and left disappointed, but the greatest concern among them may not have been the three points dropped on a weekend when none of their promotion rivals were able to win.
Their biggest concern may have been just how long will they be without Wood.
10 Comments
by Luxpaul
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 1:40PM
“"Ghost" I admire your optimism but, 4 wins & 2 draws = 14 pts from 8 games when we've only managed 5 wins & 3 draws = 18pts from 15 away games is asking a bit much don't you think?
Bearing in mind we've to go to Cardiff, Palace and Brighton where we rarely do well, plus Derby and Forest which being local derbies can't be guaranteed.
Stay optimistic mate and I sincerely hope you're not far off with your predictions.”
by Alanprichard
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 10:54AM
“TheGeofflane
I commented that Hollaway had grabbed Phillips from Blackpool on loan for the rest of the season. I also stated we should have grabbed him for his experience on how to score goals. A great bloke to have on the bench. As a result I got a heap of red arrows for suggesting what you have written re Kevin Phillips???????”
by ghostof66pah
Monday, February 11 2013, 7:30PM
“Relax...............
Nigel will sort it...........................
2nd in the league and just 16 games to go... 8 at home and 8 away...
Probably best forgetting about winning the league but....
I would suggest that we will need 10 wins and 2-3 draws to have a chance of second..
So win 6 home games draw 1 and lose 1.
So win 4 away games draw 2 and lose 2
= 33 points plus the 53 we have = 83 points.... A tall order especially away from home...
Home games
CHARLTON - - - WIN
BLACKBURN - - DRAW
LEEDS - - - - - - WIN
SHEFF WED - - WIN
MILLWALL - - - WIN
BIRMINGHAM - -LOSE
BOLTON - - - - WIN
WATFORD - - - WIN
Away Games
BLACKPOOL - - WIN
IPSWICH - - - - LOSE
DERBY - - - - - DRAW
BARNSLEY - - -WIN
BRIGHTON - - WIN
CARDIFF - - - LOSE
C PALACE - - WIN
FOREST - - - DRAW
If i'm right we'll be very close... The most important thing is that we MUST beat those around us and put up with the odd Peterborough result...
Enjoy the ride you blues.............”
by tigerglory
Monday, February 11 2013, 3:51PM
“NP hinted that Wood had an injury in the "knee" area. Wood then tweeted he was playing 10pin bowling!! something not quite right there....”
by dobranich
Monday, February 11 2013, 12:32PM
“No much as many might think I did not write the above article for the LM. All ill say is I rest my case.”
by foxes_75
Monday, February 11 2013, 12:31PM
“I think its time to get shlupp back quickly and get him to start alongside Nugent or least on the bench ahead of vardy & waggy for tomorrow's game....
I am lost to know or see why he gets overlooked time and time again behind these two inept strickers. defenders hate playing against strikers like shlupp.....C'MON Pearson...open your eyes...”
by tommo_99
Monday, February 11 2013, 11:35AM
“We'll never stay in the auto promotion position if Wood is out for any length of time. We looked very lack-lustre in front of goal on saturday.”
by TheGeofflane
Monday, February 11 2013, 10:30AM
“If Nigel is being cagey and Wood is out for, say, a month, I hope he does a Holloway and gets a loan finisher in. I thought signing a 39yr. old (Phillips) was poor team-building but it got Palace a point v Leeds. The money involved would be nothing if promotion was achieved. If Wood is out tomorrow I hope Futacs finally gets a start. His turn and finish to hit the bar a few weeks ago was class whereas Vardy and Waggie currently snatch at everything. We have a superb first eleven - it's our back-up that's costing points.”
by Absolute Window Solutions Ltd
Monday, February 11 2013, 9:45AM
“philk67. I agree with your post concerning the players in question but I think the whole team had an off day on Saturday. We have one of the best defence's in the league and still managed to ship 2 goals to the bottom team in the division!
In this league as we all know, every team has its ups and downs and any can be beaten by anyone, the key to getting out of this league is consistency!!!
We were lucky that not one team in the top 6 won this weekend, so we have just about managed to hang on to 2nd spot for now!”
by philk67
Monday, February 11 2013, 8:43AM
“"Jamie Vardy was given the task of stepping into Wood's shoes and, while the former Fleetwood man is a bundle of energy and never stops moving, he struggled to have any impact on the game."
I think this quote from the above article sums up Jamie. We cannot fault his hardwork and effort but how does that set him apart from the many other hardworking Championship players? This is a pre-requisite to any Championship team, but crucially and critically and really sorry to say this, Jamie does not have the capability to step up to the level required in a promotion chasing team. He may get there but we can we afford the time and his continue presence in the team, I doubt it. Also to continue piling the pressure on him and Waghorn and expect them to produce is both a little cruel and perplexing. This game more than any other this season highlights that our team is still a long way short of the quality (in depth) to make an impact. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of season, I hope they prove me wrong and that endeavour and effort can overcome quality shortcomings...”