City give Chelsea Scare

Leicester City nearly provided a League Cup shock yesterday, twice taking the lead over the Premiership club and current holders of the trophy.

On paper the teams looked leagues apart, City had a midfield injury crisis with Clemence, Wesolowski and Hume all out. Darren Kenton came into a makeshift midfield of Stearman, Newton, Kenton, Chambers and Sheehan.

Chelsea rested some of their squad but were still able to field the likes of Shevchenko, Lampard and Wright-Phillips.

Yet City showed no fear and went in the game with the intent of playing a full part in the tie. Their efforts were rewarded when, after just 6 minutes, Matty Fryatt crossed for Gareth McAuley to nod the Foxes in front. Over 6000 travelling City fans went nuts!

Chelsea however, took control of the game from then on, having large periods of possesion. Frank Lampard put Chelsea on level terms after 20 minutes and took Chelsea into the lead before the half-hour mark.

City hung on though, thanks in part to a huge performance from keeper Marton Fulop and went into the break trailing by only a goal.

With one goal in it, a possible comeback was always on, if a little unlikely. In an attacking change, Malouda came on for Ferreira shortly after the restart as Chelsea looked to try and make the game safe.

City too changed their shape, DJ Campbell and Levi Porter coming on for Fryatt and Newton as Leicester went 4-4-2.

It was Porter and Campbell that combined to get City back into the game, Porter crossing from the left and Campbell heading past Cudicini to make it 2-2.

City were back in the game and kept pressing, Porter again proving to be a handful and gaining City a freekick just outside the Chelsea box. As he done against Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley recently, Alan Sheehan provided an excellent set piece which Carl Cort was on hand to finish from close range, his first goal for the club.

City were again in front, and with under 20 minutes left in the game, a shock was on the cards. On came the big guns for Chelsea, Kalou and Essien coming on to try and salvage the game.

Porter who had a big part to play in the City comeback went off with an injury, Alan Maybury replaced him and meant that Leicester were fielding 4 right backs for the latter stages.

City continued to play their attacking game and refused to try and sit back and hold on, Carl Cort coming close from a Stearman cross.

In the end though a brilliant peice of skill by Shevchenko put Chelsea level again, turning and shooting from all of 20 yards to beat the excellent Fulop.

From then on in, City were against a barage of Chelsea attacking play, they looked to be on the way to extra time but deep in stoppage time, Lampard scored to complete his hattrick.

City will be disappointed with the result, but we played some good attacking football and nearly beat a team who are unbeaten at home for over 60 games, Barcelona being the last to beat them at home in any competition.

A great night out for the City fans, and they will have real belief that we can go on to put in some good performances in the league, starting with Colchester at the weekend.
Frank Burrows
‘Where we matched them and maybe shaded them was our heart and fighting spirit.
‘Chelsea have not been beaten here for 60-odd games. Bigger and better clubs than Leicester have gone away from here with their tails between their legs.

‘To have come so close is a bitter pill to swallow but we have to do that.’

Avram Grant
‘We enjoyed the winning and scoring four goals but we didn’t like what happened in the game because we conceded three goals.
‘More importantly it showed that we have good character. I’ve never in my life given up until the last moment even if we’re losing 2-0.

‘In the last 10 minutes the players showed they have a big heart.’