Fastest goal not enough for Foxes

Although beaten Leicester City claimed a nine second goal against Preston today which, if confirmed, would be the fastest in their 122-year history.

The previous fastest goals were all in 10 seconds, two in 1953 and one in 1957.

Whether fastest or not, Matty Fryatt’s fifth goal of the season was so fast that many fans who were still taking their seats at the Walkers didn’t see it.

After Fryatt’s kick off the ball moved via Gudjonsson and Hughes to Williams whose deft through ball caught Preston playing offside and Fryatt clean through. The striker coolly evaded the goalkeeper and slotted home with controlled efficiency.

The joy of such an early goal in Rob Kelly’s first game as newly contracted long term manager, didn’t last.

Leicester had several worthwhile attempts to increase their lead before being undone by two goals in quick succession either side of the break.

First, almost on the stroke of half-time midfielder Simon Whaley was allowed to retain the ball unchallenged in midfield before turning and rifling a low shot across Henderson into the corner of the net from close to 30 yards.

Then, four minutes after the restart, a well worked Chris Sedgwick corner was nodded on at the near post by Claude Davis for Jason Jarrett to head home from close range.

So Preston guaranteed their top six play off place with a 2-1 win and Leicester were left to reflect on why they were beaten by a taller, stronger and more physical side.

Leicester posed the greater threat in the first half with Gudjonsson twice forcing second attempt saves from Preston keeper Carlo Nash.

Matty Fryatt almost got a second goal when he twice turned defender Youl Mawene before having his goalbound shot parried in a move where Johanson deserved much credit for a run which took a second covering defender out of the equation.

Gareth Williams gathered a clearance from his own corner but had his ferocious shot blocked and soon afterwards saw another goalbound shot deflected for a corner.

Sadly, in the second half, when Leicester lost the lead they also became very narrow in midfield and the ball spent far too much time in the air where City were invariably second best.

Williams did show one tidy piece of ball juggling which ended with an attempted lob- volley just clearing the bar.

But it was otherwise uninspiring stuff until Kelly brought on Chris O’Grady for Alan Maybury and went with three up front with Andy Welsh moving to a traditional wide role instead of being smothered in midfield.

The result was a flurry of flowing moves which might have brought an equaliser and which at last opened some gaps up between the big Preston defenders.

First Welsh’s pinpoint cross brought a might leap from Momo Sylla (substitute for Hughes) but his header at the far post flew far too high.

Hume found space in the box from a clever pass by Fryatt but was adjudged offside and then a marvellous move involving successive back-heeled passes by O’Grady and Hume saw Fryatt finally blast over the bar.

Leicester’s last chance fell to Hume whose close range piledriver was somehow blocked by Nash when a goal looked certain.

Preston were resilient but rarely threatened in attack.

Patrick Kisnorbo flung himself in to block one early Whaley shot from the edge of the area in the sixth minute.

Henderson got down well to smother at the feet of Jason Jarrett on 22 minutes and Alan Maybury headed clear off the line when Henderson only half-stopped a Whaley lob.

Otherwise the most memorable things about Preston’s contribution was their remarkable ability to spoil the game and waste time in the second half and the extraordinary red card escape for Brett Ormorod when, in the 65th minute, his apparent attack on Joey Gudjonsson left the diminutive midfielder flattened.

For Leicester, Fryatt had another excellent game ably supported by Hume, Kisnorbo was a warrior at the back, Williams probed and showed a refreshing willingness to shoot but there were too many indifferent performers who simply failed to find space against a well-organised Preston who obviously set out to do a job without in any way elaborating.

City: Henderson, Maybury © (O’Grady 77), Gerrbrand, Kisnorbo, Johansson, Hughes (Sylla 71), Gudjonsson, Williams, Welsh, Hume, Fryatt. Subs not used: Stearman, Douglas, Brevett.

Preston: Nash, Mears, Alexander ©, Mawene, Davis, Whaley, McKenna, Jarrett, Sedgwick (Stock 81), Ormerod (Dichio 67), Agyemang (Neal 73). Subs not used: Ward, Wilson.

Yellow Cards

City: None

Preston: Mears (59), Ormerod (64), Jarrett (69), Neal (77), Stock (85)

Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxon)

Attendance: 21,865

Man of the Match: Matty Fryatt.

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** Fryatt also holds the record for scoring the fastest goal at Walsall – in only seven seconds.