Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

11 Jan 2003: Leicester City 0 Stoke City 0 Att: 25,038

FOXY FOOTBALL BY POTTERS NEARLY BAGS MORE THAN A POINT AT LEICESTER by AndyP

In the lead up to this match, Leicester manager Micky Adams described his team as being pretty average without Mussy Izzet (who was out for the game against Stoke through suspension). The 2000 Stokies who witnessed the Leicester performance against Stoke at the new Walkers Stadium discovered Adam's comment proved to be a honest, frank, and fair assessment of the Foxes. Second in the table, Leicester might have been expecting a easy three points against relegation threatened Stoke. However the visitors played the better football in the first half, created more dangerous chances most likely to win the game, and then defended stubbornly in the second half to claim a priceless point. All Leicester had to offer was long balls forward, and crosses from the flanks seeking out the head of Brian Deane.

Bjarni Gudjonsson had been suffering more than normal with his asthma in training, and he'd reported feeling breathless. As a precaution he was left on the bench, and new loan signing Frazer Richardson from Leeds took his place on the right wing. The young Leeds starlet was expected to start at his favoured right-back position, but his versatility enabled the straight swap and Thomas kept his place in defence. Elsewhere Hoekstra was given the task of being chief creator, taking up the left wing role, while the flourishing partnership of Greenacre and Iwelumo continued up front for the Potters.

It was an early start from Leeds to get to the impressive Walkers Stadium in time for the 1pm kick-off. Despite a late depature (due to Log_of_Leeds lovingly preparing some sarnies for the trip!!) we sped down the M1, and parked up in side streets near the ground to be there 15 minutes before the start of the game. Stoke kicked off and almost immediately had a free-kick in midfield as O'Connor was hacked down. The opening exchanges were a bit scruffy, with both sides knocking hopeful long balls forward looking to exploit the height of Iwelumo and Deane. Indeed on 3 minutes a cross from the left was headed down by Deane in the box, but Handyside was on hand to hoof clear as a Leicester striker looked to shoot. On 5 minutes Iwelumo went on a run beating one defender before being tripped. The resulting free-kick from 25 yards was smacked straight at the wall, and cleared to safety after a bit of a scramble in the box. Richardson put a good ball back in straight to the feet of Greenacre who appeared to be pushed off the ball as he steadied himself to shoot.

On 9 minutes a Leicester corner from the right side was intercepted well by Iwelumo and he stormed forward on a break. Unfortunately he was forced out towards the wing and the ball ran away from him and out before he could put the Leicester defence under pressure. A minute later a deep cross from the right side of midfield picked out Deane, and his header from 6 yards went back across the box to seek out a team-mate. He was not successful thanks to a good clearance by Stoke. On 12 minutes Richardson tried a deep high cross from the right that had Walker back-peddling as the ball fell on to the roof of the net. The young Leeds player on loan was involved a minute later when a good Stoke build up finished with Richardson sending a better cross into the six yard area. Walker tried to gather under fair pressure from Iwelumo, but the keeper could not claim it, and the ball fell free, sadly not kindly for Stoke, and the danger was cleared.Stoke were now beginning to take the upper hand, and grow in confidence. On 15 minutes Iwelumo was clambered on, resulting in a free-kick on the left side some way out. Hall's cross was headed out by the defence, but it fell nicely to O'Connor who controlled it, took a step to make room, and then sent a 25 yard dipping effort just over the bar.

Leicester did manage a short spell of pressure around the 20 minute mark. A fair tackle by O'Connor on the right side level with the area was deemed a foul, and the free-kick nearly caused the visitors a few problem of their own making. The cross into the 6 yard box was punched straight up into the air by Banks, and Gunnarsson was forced to head behind for a corner on the left. This cross the Icelander had to turn behind again, this time for a corner on the right. There was a long delay at this point for an injury to a Leicester player, but eventually the corner was taken on 22 minutes, and it was wildly sliced up in the air from a poor shot by Deane 12 yards out, and Stoke cleared their lines. On 25 minutes Iwelumo tried his luck from long range with a shot that looked goal bound until it hit Greenace on the back as he desperately tried to duck out of the way. The rebound fell to Richardson on the right, and he had a go from range, but the shot sailed into the grateful arms of the keeper. On 27 minutes a Stoke free-kick 35 yards out was wasted when Shtaniuk hit an awful effort wide by some distance. Two minutes later Gunnarsson played a fine ball out wide right to pick out the run of Richardson, and the young lad's ball slipped into the box almost got Iwelumo in.

It was Gunnarsson who had Stoke's best chance to score on 30 minutes. It was move of real quality and similar to ones that led to Gunnarsson's goals against Sheffield Wednesday and Preston. Hoekstra had the ball out left, put in a fine cross that looked to be falling to Greenacre, but he dummied it for Gunnarsson to run out to the loose ball about 15 yards out. Gunnarsson seemed to opt for a touch to steady himself, which actualy let the ball run to far and when he got his shot away it was weak and straight at Walker. A first time effort as he ran in probably would have found the net. On 33 minutes Gunnarsson picked up the ball in midfield, strode forward and released Greenacre in the box. His shot was blocked and Hoekstra's follow up was blocked again this time for a corner which was ultimately fruitless. A minute later a Leicester attack ended with another hopeful punt into the box which was met with a back flicked header from 10 yards that went well over. Back down the other end on 35 minutes Richardson tried a powerful shot from 30 yards that was going in until tipped over the bar by a full stretch Walker. The resulting corner was a waste, failing to get past the first man. The next minute Stoke had another corner on the right side, and although Thomas got a header on target the ref blew for a pushing infringement. Stoke won another corner on 39 minutes after Hoekstra trickery on the left, which again counted for nothing.

After a quiet and seemingly nervous start, Hoekstra was now getting more involved and clearly worrying Leicester. On 40 minutes he was part of a good Stoke move, and his ball found Gunnarsson 20 yards out and his shot went straight into Walker's arms. O'Connor tried his luck from similar range on 44 minutes with the same result. In the very same minute Greenacre made a smart turn on the edge of the area and sent a shot just over. In injury time Iwelumo picked up the ball on the right and went off on a run down the right beating three men, only to lose the ball to the final challenge near the edge of the box. To his credit he picked himself up, pressured the last defender who slipped allowing Iwelumo to dispossess him and run in on goal. It was a tight angle on the right 8 yards out when Iwelumo shot, and sadly it was off target and flew wide, when maybe a pass across the box to the waiting Greenacre might have been a better option. The half-time whistle went soon after and a fine Stoke display was unlucky not to have produced a lead at the break.

During the interval Gary Lineker was paraded on the pitch and although he got decent applause from both sets of supporters, the Stokies managed to drown out the P.A system with a chant of "There's only one Nick Hancock!" Classic! No doubt that will be getting a mention on the next "They think it's all over" on the BBC!

Leicester kicked off the second half but almost immediately the attack was ended with a cheeky flick over his head by O'Connor before he stormed up the field leading the Stoke counter. He got to the edge of the Leicester box drawing the defender before slipping the ball to Greenacre, joining him in support, whose shot from 18 yards was once again straight into the arms of Walker. Two minutes into the second half Stoke had a let off when a cross from the right was headed over by Deane from 12 yards, the ball landing on the roof of the net. On 52 minutes Leicester came even closer when a corner from the left enabled Taggart to have a free header from 8 yards that went straight into Banks grateful clutches. Taggart had come on at half-time to replace Jordan Stewart at the back for the home side. Leicester started the second half by applying more pressure and on 57 minutes for once Stoke failed to clear a cross effectively and Dickov put an angled shot inches wide of the post from just inside the area. On 60 minutes Stoke broke and Greenacre was hacked down by Taggart to earn the stopper a booking, yet any advantage Stoke had was lost as a free-kick was awarded. A minute later Handyside looked to have made a fine tackle on the edge of the box, but the ref awarded a free-kick and Handyside was booked for complaining too much about the decision.It looked a dangerous position but Stoke's wall stood firm, and the effort smacked against it and the rebound was smote well over to the jeers of the massed Stokies.

Leicester were now having the lion's share of the possession and pressure but the Stoke defence was doing well. On 65 minutes a corner fom the left was headed clear well under presure by Iwelumo, back to help out his defenders. Three minutes later a deep cross from the right was headed wide by Deane from 15 yards. Just after, Nicky Summerbee was substituted and Trevor Benjamin came on to give Leicester three strikers. Then on 68 minutes disaster struck for Stoke. Handyside and Dickov went for the same ball and a tussle ended with Dickov's theatrical collapse to the ground. The ref judged it a foul meriting a booking, and Handyside saw the red card. Banks claimed the resulting free-kick. It now looked like all the good work was to be thrown away as surely 10 men Stoke couldn't hold a fierce onslaught from a Leicester side now boasting three strikers and an extra man. However with Stoke desperate to bring on Marteinsson to steady the ship, and the ref ignoring the linesman's feeble attempts to catch his attention, Stoke had an unexpected reprieve! On 72 minutes a foul by Gunnarsson on Benjamin gave Leicester a free-kick, but for reasons best known to himself Taggart decided to shove his face in Iwelumo's and his subsequent booking meant both sides were down to ten men! Stoke finally made their substitution and Marteinsson came on for Hoekstra on 76 minutes.

Two minutes later another dubious decision gave Leicester a free-kick on the left when their man had clearly fell over. (The ref might have been fooled, but the Stokies weren't and from this point on they passed judgment on any Leicester skullduggery with the chant "Same old Leicester, always cheating!") The cross came in low through a forest of legs and Dickov managed to prod a shot goalwards from 6 yards that disappeared agonisingly behind the crowd of players only to emerge in the arms of Banks, just as I expected a bulging net. On 80 minutes the same player managed a good turn to get an angled shot in from 8 yards but it was miles over and met with suitable jeers. On 81 minutes Stoke tried to relieve the pressure by replacing Greenacre with the pacey Goodfellow, hoping his speed might trouble the Leicester defence and keep play away from the Stoke box. Just after he'd come on a good long ball forward by Richardson seemed a perfect weight for Goodfellow to run on to into the box for a chance on goal. Much to the disgust of the Stoke following, Goodfellow seemed to pull up at the vital moment allowing Walker an easy task of collecting a ball that the young Stoke striker was a certain favourite for. On 82 minutes the Stokies' fury was evoked again when a clear foul on a Stoke player was ignored only for the referee to book O'Connor seconds later for what clearly looked like a dive by the Leicester player.

On 84 minutes a break down the right by Leicester produced a dangerous low cross into the box, and the rebound of a block fell invitingly for a shot, and the strike was deflected for a corner. There were a few hearts in mouths following the scramble, but Stoke eventually got it clear. With two minutes left of normal time Gunnarsson put a brilliant pass down the right to free Goodfellow. The yound lad sped after it, cut inside and curled a shot over from 16 yards, only for O'Connor to berate him for failing to supply a pass to players in a better unmarked position. After that let off Leicester went down the other end and a dangerous cross was met with an excellent clearing header at the expense of a corner. The set piece was swung in powerfully into the 6 yards area, but Thomas put in another fine clearing header which actually started a Stoke break, although the ball ran out before Goodfellow could latch on to it. In the final minute Jones was booked for Leicester and the free-kick to Stoke was on the left side edge of the area. It was played short and Goodfellow hit an angled shot across the 6 yard box which went out by the far post without any Stoke players able to add a killer touch. The fourth official produced a board showing 5 extra minutes of stoppage time, which Leicester made the most of. It took a fine clearing header from Thomas from a free-kick, and an Iwelumo header to quell a Leicester corner, the rebound thankfully blasted over. At long last the whistle went and a spirited second half display had earnt Stoke a well deserved point. Final Score 0-0.

Team Marks:

GK Banks (7) Didn't have much to do but did what he had to do well. Presided over Stoke's second league clean sheet of the season!

RB Thomas (8) A great display from Thomas especially when he had to move to central defence after the dismissal of Handyside. Some fine clearing headers under pressure from the Leicester big men.

LB Hall (7) Another good game, doing well at the back. A few crosses were coming in from the right though.

CB Shtaniuk (8) Good stuff from Shtaniuk, dealing well with Deane for most of the match.

CB Handyside (6) Good play up to the sending off. The decision against him for his first booking looked harsh but as captain he shouldn't be getting booked for dissent. After that any foul was likely to lead to his departure. Luckily Taggart's mentalism meant it wasn't a costly sending off in the long run.

RM Richardson (8) Fantastic first half, showing off his attacking and creative prowess. A steady second half in a more defensive mode, especially when dropping back to RB after Handyside walked. Still managed a fine pass at the end to pick out Goodfellow who sadly wasted the chance.

CM Gunnarsson (8) At his best again. Involved in some great Stoke passing moves and helped run midfield with O'Connor.

CM O'Connor (8) Some passing was a bit of a let down, but overall a top display tackling everything that moved in midfield. Delightful cheeky chip to break away from his own box and set up a Stoke attack.[STARMAN]

LM Hoekstra (7) Started shakily but grew stronger. Tricks set up chances and troubled Leicester. Quieter second half as Stoke came under more pressure and an obvious candidate to sub when we needed to beef up midfield.

CF Greenacre (7) Ran around willingly and made intelligent use of the ball. A few chances from long range which were just off target or too close to the keeper

CF Iwelumo (8) Hard-working and committed, winning plenty of headers. Helped out at the back in times of need. A couple of good charging runs, but disappointed with his one real chance where he should have at least hit the target.

SUBS

Marteinsson (6) Came on in last 15 minutes to steady the ship and helped do this.

Goodfellow (5) Looked uncertain, unwilling to put himself anywhere near the big defenders, and wasted a couple of decent chances to win the game at the death.

Conclusion

An excellent first half display from Stoke deserved more than a 0-0 half-time scoreline. We had played the better football and created the most chances. After the pressure they faced in the second half it was some achievement to come through the game with a point and a clean sheet. Stoke can be proud of this performance against high-flying Leicester who were made to look very ordinary for long periods in this game. Most Stokies would have settled for a point before kick-off so a slight feeling of disappointment that we didn't snatch more, is testament to the effort shown by the Stoke players. Some very good individual displays and overall a great team performance. Hope it boosts the confidence and gives the lads the belief to escape the relegation zone.

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