Dodgy penalty costs City

Leicester City fell to Southampton at the weekend, thanks in part to a poor referring decision that gifted Southampton the winner from the penalty spot.

In the build up to the game, chairman Milan Mandaric had been arrested and questioned by police in a high profile operation by the London Police’s fraud squad.

5 men were arrested, each one of them having links to Portsmouth, Milan’s former club.

Milan publicly appealed for calm from the City fans and urged them to get behind the team, as they did previously for the Cardiff game.

Unfortunately, the lack of free tickets meant that the attendance for this game fell 7,000. A crowd of over 20,000 on a cold December afternoon is still an excellent show of support from the City fans however.

Ian Holloway, chasing a first home win, recalled Carl Cort to the squad to replace the suspended Fryatt. King and Hayes both started after coming on in the 2nd half of the Cardiff game.

Holloway continued to show a desire to try out City’s youth players, with Sappleton joining Ashley Chambers on the City bench again with the notable absence of a goalkeeper.

Leicester started the game brightly, first Hayes crossed for Carl Cort, who needlessly gave away a foul whilst in a good attacking position.

As early as the 5th minute, Gareth McAuley’s headed clearance found Iain Hume, and when his shot was blocked by Saint’s keeper Kelvin Davis, Shaun Newton should have done better with the rebound, clearing the bar when the open goal was gaping.

Moments later Cort again failed to make the most of a good effort from Hayes on the wing, this time failing completely to connect with the ball.

Southampton started coming back into the game, Surman bringing Fulop into the game as the Hungarian had to be alert to come out and clear the danger.

Stern John, then had a goal disallowed in a warning of what was to come.

Alan Sheehan, playing at left back for the injured Mattock, again caused problems from set pieces, but neither Stearman or Kisnorbo could test the keeper from 2 good deliveries.

City were made to rue their earlier chances as Stern John again found the back of the net, Nathan Dyer finding the Trinidad and Tobago striker with a header and John having the easy task of finishing past a helpless Fulop from 6 yards.

City then began to test Davis in the Southampton goal, Clemence having a go from 30 yards but failing to find the target.

With seconds to go in the 2nd half, Welsh youngster Andy King unleashed a rocket from 35 yards. His right footed effort beat Davis and found the top right hand corner of the net. City went into the break level with the last kick of the half.

City started the half going for the win, Carl Cort was again adjudged to have committed a foul as he found the net shortly after the restart.

More good chances from Sheehan set pieces failed to test the keeper, this time Cort and Clemence were the culprits.

Leicester were again punished for failing to take their chances, a scramble in the penalty box saw the ball bounce up and hit Clemence on the arm, handball said the ref but there was little doubt that Clemence knew nothing of the incident in a clear case of ball to hand.

Surnam made no mistake from the spot and City were again behind. Bradley Wright-Phillips might feel he could have done better, his effort well saved by Fulop on the hour mark.

With City still trailing Holloway made the changes, Cort and Newton, both culpable of missing good chances were substituted for youngesters Chambers and Sappleton. Sappleton making his first team debut.

Clemence tried to emulate King from range with 10 minutes remaining, his shot however was pushed away by Davis.

Holloway made his last chance change with time running out Hayes coming off for N’Gotty leaving Kisnorbo free to add some aerial presence in the City forward line.

Chambers forced another save from Davis late in the game, but Southampton held on to condemn Holloway to his first defeat as City manager in his third game.

The two teams will meet again for the FA Cup 3rd round having been drawn together at the weekend, the away tie at The Dell will be a tricky one for City.
Holloway furious with reffing decision
‘To say I’m incensed, shocked and bemused is an understatement. I would like anyone on this planet to tell me that was deliberate handball.

‘The ball was spinning viciously and came down and bounced up and hit the player.

‘He (Stephen Clemence) was looking the other way and not one Southampton player appealed for it.’

Burley pleased with win
‘I’m very pleased with the performance because with Leicester having a new manager it was always going to be a difficult game.

‘We were disappointed not to be in front at half-time but they scored a one in a million wonder goal and you cannot legislate against that.

‘I was pleased with the determination we showed because apart from their goal Leicester didn’t create any chances.’