However, both were there and after a 4 hour drive, both were very welcome
The Foxes’ fans were full of questions as to how long it
took and which route we took, all eagerly looking forward to a weekend in the
sunny south later in the season.
That’s how it should be – a bit of banter and the
realisation that we are all just people – no need for the anger and “hatred” so
often seen in the actual stadium – however mocked up we pretend
A lot of people like the “old school” stadiums, but not me –
I like to sit in a stadium where all the gaps are plugged and their set up of
having lots of home fans both to the left and right suited me perfectly.
Yes we were in the corner – but I had a great view – no complaints.
So glad I wasn’t seduced by the cheaper price of the “mixed” area – seeing all
those kids waving their scarves around and screaming would have driven me mad.
After the warm-up all the players came over and threw their
tee-shirts into the crowd. What a shame Addison wasn’t there – we could have
used his shirt as a stadium display like we do with the giant flag….
The Foxes fans, less in numbers than Forest, which was a bit
disappointing considering they started third, were much more vocal. That doesn’t
say much, I appreciate, as the City ground was the proverbial library but there
were a good variety of songs.
If I was totally picky I’d say that 23,000 should make a
hell of a lot more noise than they did – but being the home team doesn’t
guarantee noise – we of all teams should know that
The game started with some early AFCB pressure but Allsop
was called to make the first save as the impressive Dyer swept through and
smashed the ball point blank at him. He took it in the stomach and it was hit
so hard it winded him – I think it would cut me in half
This was to prove a theme. Leicester were so much quicker
and more fluid than last week and in Dyer, not only did he torment Francis so
badly he didn’t know his ar$e from his elbow, he totally negated the attacking
threat of returning Fraser as he constantly had to cover back to help Francis
out.
If our right was a worry, at the back in the middle, Ward
might have well been wearing oversized shoes and a big red nose. He was so far
off the pace it was laughable, making the job that Cook did even more
impressive, doing his own job while carrying Ward all over the pitch.
I don’t, however, want to turn this into a negative report –
because those points apart, there were plenty to be happy about.
Arter and Collison looked excellent in the middle and Pugh
is in the best vein of form I can remember for a couple of seasons – especially
good with Daniels back in the side.
It was a Pugh and Daniels combination that fired a low cross
to Grabban deep in the box. Turning his man brilliantly he inexplicably fired
wide from 8 yards.
I’ve never seen a front 2 so lacking in confidence. I’m not
going to fault their effort but they both need a goal so badly it hurts.
Like two World of Warcraft geeks suddenly presented with a living,
breathing woman, their over-eagerness buggers up their first touch and it’s all
over, for the worse, all too quickly
Straight after the Grabban chance, Leicester tore upfield
and the hapless Ward brought down Vardy
Yellow card . tick, tick, tick
Three minutes later, AFCB were 1 down. Dyer rinsed Francis
again, cut inside and passed to supposedly out-of-form Nugent. A quick look up
and from the left side of the box, he curled a beautiful shot just inside
Allsop’s right post
From that goal, even though no blame whatsoever could be
levelled at Allsop, like a tall pack of cards, he just fell apart.
He looked like he was seeing ghosts in front of him, so
scared did he look and proceeded to pass out hospital ball after hospital ball,
putting the already woeful Ward under even more pressure.
This was such a shame because as soon as we got the ball to
midfield, we looked fast and spirited and caused all sorts of problems down
both left and right – just a shame we had the cutting edge as sharp as a blamange
On 38 minutes a disputed free kick on the half way line had
Ward kicking the ball away. All 1007 AFCB fans held our breath. How can someone
with his experience be so monumentally stupid?
The referee approached and took him to one side………and just
talked. Thank God for that. Tick, tick, tick…..
On 40 minutes, more good work on the right by Rantie and
Grabban had the ball quickly move to the middle to Pugh.
As the ball rolled to him, Pugh span a 1000 times in a
second, emerging wearing a giant S on his chest and smashed the ball into the
top left corner, beyond Schmeichel’s
reach.
What a goal – the AFCB fans, who quite frankly were magnificent
the whole half, erupted in a frenzy – we were back in the game !!!
Half Time 1-1
A quick mention of the toilets at the KP Stadium. If I’d
wanted an advanced trigonometric
work-out I’d have applied for the Krypton Factor – they had the weirdest
angles ever which meant getting in and out was nigh on impossible – I was lucky
to make it for the start of the second
Which was just as well, as AFCB were SO much better.
Leicester are a good, flowing, attacking side – but so are we – and we really
started to show it.
But for some heroic blocking, maybe Rantie or Grabban could
have given their confidence a well deserved shot in the arm
Despite all the good play, it was an old fashioned hoof that
was Bournemouth’s undoing. On ran Vardy but the ball was well over-hit
Unfortunately, Allsop was in the middle of a thrilling game
of Stuck in the Mud with Ward and hadn’t been tagged so of course he didn’t move
– he’s no cheater. Surely that is the ONLY reason why a championship keeper
doesn’t walk out 5 yards and collect the ball?
Instead, the never say die Vardy collected the ball, rounded
the statue and slotted the ball away.
I know getting on Allsop’s back isn’t going to help him, but
I think being around the likes of Jalal is having an adverse effect – as being
tied to his line was one of his problems
Two minutes later, the game was over. The ticking time bomb
that was Ward stuck out a leg and down fell their attacker. I couldn’t see
whether he actually made contact – but it almost didn’t matter. He gave the ref
a decision to make and after the kicking the ball away incident, the yellow was
obvious to all who watched.
Even though the game was effectively dead, with Pitman,
Thomas and Elphick coming on – I really did enjoy the way the lads banded
together.
There were times that you didn’t know that we were a man
down as everyone raised their game. I will say, having Pitman on the pitch,
someone who can hold the ball and win headers , really brought a better
dimension to AFCB’s game
That should be a real head scratcher for Howe
Final question of the day – when are the training coach
going to turn to page two of the long ball manual?
AFCB have definitely got the long ball to the likes of Pugh,
Francis and Pitman and they often win the header
Unfortunately, it is on page 2 where all the other players
learn to anticipate winning the ball. Without that, let’s face it, rather crucial
element, what exactly is the point?
Full Time 2-1
Summary – The irony is that AFCB played a LOT better than
last week, yet walked away with nothing. The game was turned on 2 errors. One
minor in that Ward really should have been subbed – he was red man walking and
Howe was the only one not to see that Hollands’ moment repeating itself.
The second, more catastrophic error was in Allsop’s decision
making. If that had been Rantie running through, Scmeichel would have kicked both ball and player clear
out of the stadium – you don’t get time to dwell at this level
Star Man – Pugh – Excellent going forward AND defending and
a goal that just looked so pretty you could dress it up and take it to dinner
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