" Match Report Cardiff v Leicester 23 Feb 2011 "

Leicester have become a bit of a talking point for us over the last season. The home victory in the league game was perhaps one of our most important wins of the season, down to 10 men but the atmosphere created by the fans made up for that. Then perhaps the best night we have all experienced at CCS was when we beat the Foxes in the play off semi. Also let us not forget the fact that Leicester have a fan that has won the admiration of the Cardiff followers, perhaps never done before, the famous drummer boy Lee. So the game against Leicester on Tuesday night could turn out to be a real telling one to test our intentions of promotion this season, perhaps.

Tom Heaton has cemented his place between the sticks with in front of him McNaughton, Hudson, Keinan and Quinn. Across the midfield there was Whittingham, Oli, JET and Ramsey with Chopra and Bothroyd up front. This felt like it was going to be a real test for this selection against an inform Leicester. I for one did not feel confident.

From the start my fears became a reality as Leicester took hold of the game. Cardiff looked like they had 5 in midfield but this did not seem to bother Leicester as they seem to be passing the ball around nicely and advancing on the Cardiff goal through the middle. The Cardiff defence held firm but it was only a question of time before the Foxes would have a good chance on goal. This soon came after 10 minutes when their inform striker Yakabu received a ball inside the Cardiff area unmarked and in space. But his shot was well saved by Heaton.

Cardiff tried to attack but every time they did it there was no communication between the strikers and every move seem to break down before the Leicester penalty area. Leicester capitalised on this show of lack of confidence with some nice counter attacking but they were restricted to long shots that were easily handled.

Then the Leicester defence went to sleep. In the 21st minute JET picked up a ball from another Cardiff attack that looked like it had broken down again. He was surrounded by Leicester defenders but he seem to just skip pass them and found Chopra all alone on the box. Chopra put the ball in the net with the visiting defenders just watching him. Totally against the run of play and how refreshing it is to see it happen to our advantage for once.

Leicester responded positively to this set back but was restricted to long shots. However they did go close from a corner that saw a header go wide thanks to an important challenge from Oli.

The last 10 minutes of the half was a dour affair with neither team creating any chances. The half ended with Cardiff holding onto their lead.

The second half started very much like the first half with Leicester attacking. Heaton was soon in the action making a fine save from a powerful 20 yard shot. Moments later the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the Cardiff area. The kick was well taken leaving Heaton standing. The ball went into the goal but through a hole in the net. The referee must have not seen this as he gave a goal kick.

After that lucky escape Cardiff had their first attack of the half. JET found McNaughton on the left side in space. McNaughton advanced into the Leicester area and looked like he was about to let loose with a shot. However he passed the ball across the area with such confidence that everyone knew it was a goal before Ramsey slide the ball into the net. Two attacks and Cardiff were two up, very strange.

It was a different game after the second goal. Cardiff made a substitution with McPhail coming on for Chopra. This swap basically killed the game for Leicester as they struggled to keep their midfield dominance with McPhail taking control. Every attack they tried was easily defended with some counter attacking by Cardiff that saw a Bothroyd effort blocked. Another substitution, Burke for Bothroyd, created problems for the Leicester defence with Burks pace. Finally the final nail in the Leicester coffin was the third substitution of Parkin the beast for Oli. The beast just bullied his way towards the Leicester defence with some nice moves.

Those three substitutions totally baffled the inform Leicester to submission as they became none plus for the last quarter of the game. The referee brought their misery to an end with the score Cardiff 2 Leicester 0 and the away nursery stand went home not happy.

Summing up: Lucky to find ourselves 2 up, perhaps. The substitutions were inspired, no perhaps about that. Well done DJ on your tactics. Let us have more of it.

Thanks again Ian for a great honest match report

Did Leicester really get the ball into the net i didn't see that and surely they would have gone mad if the ball had gone in but out through a hole in the net??????????

Otherwise very good summary we scored both goals against the run of play but once we were 2-0 up we never looked in any danger and could possibly have added a couple more great cameo performances by both Burke and Parkin and as you said well done to DJ for getting the sustitutions and tactics spot on he certainly out foxed Sven

Did Leicester really get the ball into the net i didn't see that and surely they would have gone mad if the ball had gone in but out through a hole in the net??????????

Otherwise very good summary we scored both goals against the run of play but once we were 2-0 up we never looked in any danger and could possibly have added a couple more great cameo performances by both Burke and Parkin and as you said well done to DJ for getting the sustitutions and tactics spot on he certainly out foxed Sven

I thought until We scored, Leicester looked the better team, but once it was one nil in my opinion we were the only team that was going to win it

Did Leicester really get the ball into the net i didn't see that and surely they would have gone mad if the ball had gone in but out through a hole in the net??????????

Yes it did. Did you notice how quickly they removed the nets after the game before anyone noticed it.

Did Leicester really get the ball into the net i didn't see that and surely they would have gone mad if the ball had gone in but out through a hole in the net??????????

Yes it did. Did you notice how quickly they removed the nets after the game before anyone noticed it.

Was this in the first half at the Family Stand end or in the second Half at the Canton End?

I didnt see this.

Why didnt the Leicester player celebrate and then kick off if the ref didnt give it?

Surely there would have been something in the news about this

Ian

Looking forward to Hull City Match Report

Ian

Looking forward to Hull City Match Report

Cheers Annis. They better get that net fixed before the next home game.