Season Review: January

Gameday 24: 

Millwall 1-3 City 

Wednesday 1 January, 2014 

Goals: Chaplow 67; Knockaert 6, Nugent 47, Schlupp 90 

Attendance: 10,014 

Match Report: 

Goals from Anthony Knockaert, David Nugent and Jeff Schlupp gave Leicester City the perfect start to 2014 as they secured an impressive New Year’s Day victory over Millwall at The Den. 

Knockaert opened the scoring in just the sixth minute when he drilled a brilliant effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards, before Nugent headed home Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s cross just after the break. 

Millwall’s Richard Chaplow did raise hopes of a comeback for the home side with 20 minutes to go when he fired in from close range, but a stoppage time strike from substitute Schlupp helped the Foxes expertly see out the victory to claim another three points. 

City’s fourth consecutive win maintained their four point lead over Burnley at the top of the table, while they strengthen their grip on the automatic promotion places by moving five points clear of third placed Queens Park Rangers. 

Manager Reaction: 

“It’s nice to start the New Year off with a positive result. It was a ridiculously heavy pitch – the conditions weren’t great, but I thought we stuck at it well and the lads that came into the side contributed very well and they will benefit from having pitch time. 

“We’ve got players in the squad who need a game. We felt that with the games being in quick succession, some of the players have had a lot of football and we did look as though we tired towards the end. 

“I was really pleased with how the players approached it and it would have been easy on the back of some good results to maybe not drive our advantage home. 

“That again shows a positive improvement from last year’s squad.” 

League Position: 1 

FA Cup with Budweiser Third Round: 

Stoke City 2-1 City 

Saturday 4 January, 2014 

Goals: Jones 16, Adam 55; Nugent 77 

Attendance: 16,844 

Match Report: 

Leicester City’s FA Cup with Budweiser campaign came to an end in the third round at the Britannia Stadium, despite a spirited performance against Premier League side Stoke City. 

Kenwyne Jones headed in Oussama Assaidi’s cross in the 16th minute to hand the Potters a lead, which was doubled shortly after the break when Charlie Adam crashed a 25-yarder in off the woodwork. 

City substitute David Nugent breathed life back into the tie with 15 minutes left, as he powered a brilliant header past Jack Butland from Marcin Wasilewski’s first-time cross. 

However, despite a late onslaught from the energetic Foxes, Mark Hughes’ Potters were able to cling on for the victory, which sees them clinch a place in the fourth round draw. 

Manager Reaction: 

“We did okay in patches, but we didn’t manage the ball as we are capable of. You’ve got to give them (Stoke) credit, but when you give ball away against Premier League sides, you work hard to get it back. 

“We didn’t quite play as we can, but we had our moments. We came with the intention of winning and made chances. We’ve shown again that those players that come in can do a good job. 

“We started the game brightly but weren’t able to keep possession enough to cause enough problems. We had to change formation slightly, but all in all we did well. 

“Our biggest problem was that we didn’t do the simple things well enough and conceded too much possession.” 

Gameday 25:

City 4-1 Derby County 

Friday 10 January, 2014 

Goals: De Laet 25, Nugent 48, pen 60, Vardy 64; De Laet og 59 

Attendance: 23,140 

Match Report: 

Leicester City moved seven points clear at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a dazzling display of football at King Power Stadium to put East Midlands rivals Derby County to the sword. 

Ritchie De Laet had given the Foxes a half-time lead with a great finish after a neat one-two with David Nugent, but the best was still to come after the break. 

Just three minutes into the second half Nugent added to the tally following some good work from Jamie Vardy, before Jake Buxton’s header gave the visitors hope at 2-1 on the hour mark. 

That hope lasted for about a minute, as Vardy won a penalty for Nugent to convert for his 16th of the season, and then added a fourth himself with a confident finish under the goalkeeper shortly afterwards. 

Manager Reaction: 

“It’s satisfying to come away from any local derby with a win. To play in the fashion that we have and achieve the score line that we have is that little bit extra I think. 

“The players have played exceptionally well and I’m delighted for them. We’ve had a pretty solid season so far, we’re in good form at the moment, but as far as a single performance goes that’s certainly up there. The difference is the pace that we have at our disposal in attacking situations. 

“We’ve caused them a lot of problems and they are a good passing side with good players. Over the entirety of the game we’ve looked dangerous and created some good chances. 

“Of course we took them as well. Throughout it all, there’s no doubt that we deserved to win the game and it’s encouraging for us at this stage of the season that we’re able to churn out back-to-back performances that get results. It’s about continuing that now.” 

League Position: 1 

Gameday 26:

Leeds United 0-1 City 

Saturday 18 January, 2014 

Goal: Nugent 87 

Attendance: 22,678 

Match Report: 

David Nugent’s 17th goal of the season stretched Leicester City’s winning run to six games as they snatched a late victory over Leeds United at Elland Road. 

With just three minutes of a tight encounter remaining, new signing Kevin Phillips produced a clever dummy from Liam Moore’s cross to open the door for Nugent to roll the ball past Paddy Kenny. 

The Foxes dominated the possession stakes in the second half but Leeds will have felt they could have taken something from the game, particularly after a first 45 that saw Ross McCormack have a string of chances go begging. 

It was a determined and patient display from City though, and extended their lead at the top of the Championship. 

Manager Reaction: 

“This remains a difficult venue and we talked about the fact that they probably would have a response from recent results, so it’s probably a little hard on them I have to say. 

“But we won it with a bit of quality and I always felt that we had another gear. 

“You can’t play sparkling football every time, but what I am pleased about today was that when we made mistakes, we were always there to make amends, that’s what being a team is all about. 

“I think we showed at Millwall that you have to be able to win different types of matches.” 

League Position: 1 

Gameday 27: 

City 2-0 Middlesbrough 

Saturday 25 January, 2014 

Goals: Vardy 52, De Laet 73 

Attendance: 26,047 

Match Report: 

Second half goals from Jamie Vardy and Ritchie De Laet helped send Leicester City eight points clear at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a deserved victory over Middlesbrough. 

David Nugent teed up his strike partner for a close-range finish in the 52nd minute, Vardy’s ninth of the season, before De Laet settled matters with 15 minutes left when he headed home a Matty James free-kick. 

The result was City’s seventh straight league win, which equaled a Club record, in a match that also saw Shay Given save a Nugent penalty during a second half that belonged to the Foxes, following a severely rain-hit first 45 minutes. 

Manager Reaction: 

“It was a tough game, especially in the first 45 minutes. The weather conditions were such as it made it difficult to play the type of football that I think our fans have become accustomed to at home, but all in all, it was good to get in at half time with it being level and without being caused too many problems. 

“In the second half I think the weather eased up a little but and we were able to impose ourselves more dominantly on the game and that was the biggest influence. 

“It was never a case of us thinking we had to go back to front and launch the ball. The most important thing today was for us to keep playing our own football. 

“I’ve got a very strong belief in the quality of the players that we have here both in terms of the starting XI and the quality of the players we had on the bench. So we feel that we have quality in depth here and if we are able to dominate or stay in games, then we’ll have the quality to come through in the end.” 

League Position: 1 

Gameday 28:

Birmingham City 1-2 City 

Tuesday 28 January, 2014 

Goals: Lovenkrands 90; Dyer 24, Vardy 83 

Attendance: 14,763 

Match Report: 

Nigel Pearson’s table-topping Foxes stormed to a new Club record as they swept aside Birmingham City at St Andrew’s to record their eighth straight Sky Bet Championship victory. 

Lloyd Dyer hammered home a brilliant opener from David Nugent’s pass in a hugely one-sided first half, before an equally impressive finish from Jamie Vardy made it 2-0 with seven minutes remaining. 

Birmingham City substitute Peter Lovenkrands handed the hosts a lifeline in the final minute when he headed past Kasper Schmeichel, but City saw out the win, which also saw them equal a Club record of four consecutive away league wins. 

Manager Reaction: 

“It was a fantastic result for us but we should have been out of sight in all honesty. That’s (the first half) the best 45 minutes that we’ve played this season by a long way. I thought we were absolutely outstanding. The performances that we’ve had at home stand out, but that surpassed everything. 

“I suppose you could always reflect and say that we hoped that we weren’t going to get punished [for not taking chances], but the players are playing with so much confidence at the moment that I don’t really want to introduce negative thoughts. 

“We caused them a lot of problems but I thought our performance was unbelievable in the first half. In the second half they had to rally and they changed to 4-4-2. 

“All in all we’ve done exceptionally well to get the three points. I’m disappointed not to get the clean sheet, but I’m not going to be too picky about that. The important thing is three points.” 

League Position: 1 

Top scorer: David Nugent (5 goals) 

High Point: In front of the Sky TV cameras, the Foxes tore apart a much-fancied Derby County side to send out a clear message of intent to the division and move seven points clear at the top. The match finished 4-1, but the rampant Foxes could have inflicted far more damage. 

It was a tough task in the FA Cup Third Round away at Stoke City, but the Foxes will have wanted to provide a result for the huge travelling support. Instead they were edged out 2-1 by the Premier League experience of Kenwyne Jones and Charlie Adam.Low Point: