Foxes striker Matty Fryatt came off the bench to score the only goal of Leicester City's pre-season friendly against Spanish side Real Valladolid at the Walkers Stadium this afternoon.
The first half was very competitive and ended scoreless with City having the slight edge. On came Fryatt on the hour mark for Dany N'Guessan, his first appearance in the pre-season because of a leg infection, and in the 84th minute he found the net.
A clearance from Jack Hobbs was won in the air by Steve Howard, the ball landing to Richie Wellens whose pass found Fryatt unmarked, the striker going in round the keeper to complete a clinical finish.
It meant another pre-season win, and another clean sheet for City but manager Nigel Pearson was muted in his comments about the victory taking his side into next Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship opener against Swansea City at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.
He reflected: "I thought it was a poor game, a lot of spoiling tactics from them and there were a lot of decisions I thought weren't very good as well so, happy to get it out the way without too many injuries and we now look forward to next week.
"I would like us to have put on a better show than that. Unfortunately it was very difficult to do that because of the style of the game basically."
The Spanish side's niggling tactics prevented the action from being as free-flowing as hoped and that was the cause of the City boss's frustration.
City threatened as early as the second minute when a Richie Wellens effort from close range was well blocked by the Spanish keeper and later, after a good build-up, a Bruno Berner volley sailed just wide and Andy King had a good shot blocked to safety.
At the other end, a free-kick from Nauzet was well cleared by Wayne Brown then moments later City swept upfield with Howard sending Dany N'Guessan in but the new man mis-cued his effort which was saved.
An Oakley corner then bisected the six-yard box with no-one getting a touch and towards the break it got a bit tasty, Real defender Barragan booked for a foul on Berner and both Morrison and Sesma yellow carded in a flare-up.
City rang the changes at the break in more ways than one, parading the new away kit and with Max Gradel and Luke O'Neill on for Andy King and Michael Morrison respectively, O'Neill looking very comfortable and efficient.
At the restart, City looked very bright and a super run by Dyer ended in a left-wing cross which Gradel headed just wide.. Next, a Gradel cross from the right was headed behind for a corner as City stepped up the pace.
City had the edge but Real came close when a swerving shot from Sesma skimmed inches over the bar although Chris Weale appeared to have it covered.
Steve Howard had a headed goal disallowed for off-side before being harshly booked for a challenge but Fryatt finally made the breakthrough to send the home fans away happy with a goal so heartening for all concerned.
On the injury front, Matt Oakley was taken off with a twisted knee but Pearson explained "It was just a precaution. He was down for a while so we felt it would be best to take him off ."
City 4-4-2: Weale; Morrison, Hobbs, Brown Berner, Oakley, A King, Wellens, Dyer, Howard, N'Guessan. Subs Fryatt (60 for N'Guessan), Logan, O'Neill (46 for Morrison), Tunchev, Adams (53 for Oakley), Dickov, Gradel (46 for King), Powell, Neilson, Chambers, Burns (77 for Dyer), Ajdarevic, Verma.
Real Valladolid 4-5-1 Fabricio; Barragan, Arzo, Nivaldo, Marcos, Nauzet, Pele, Borja, Canobbio, Sesma, Diego Costa. Subs Justo Villar, Bueno, Aridane, Assier (66 for Barragan), Alvaro Anton (77 for Sesma), Carlos Lazaro (77 for 10).
Referee L Mason, Bolton.
Attendance: 6,141.
