This Week In History: Heskey, Taggart, Stewart & De Vries Make Headlines

Heritage
13 Sep 2020
2 Minutes
LCFC.com continues its series remembering landmark moments in the Club's history with a look back on the seven days between 7-13 September.

City have always found Arsenal to be tough opponents in the Premier League era and it was no different for Martin O'Neill's successful side in the late 1990s.

They came close to securing a rare win over Arsène Wenger's Gunners on 12 September, 1998, when Academy star Emile Heskey opened the scoring for the Foxes at Filbert Street.

After Muzzy Izzet had already nodded an effort onto the post for Leicester, Heskey charged at Arsenal's defence, sending a brilliant low drive beyond David Seaman.

In the very last minute of a pulsating encounter, though, Stephen Hughes' deflected long-range effort denied O'Neill's men three points and it ended 1-1 at the Club's former home.

Unbeaten in their first four games during the 2000/01 season, Peter Taylor's Foxes welcomed Southampton to Filbert Street in the Premier League on 9 September, 2000.

Following an opening day 0-0 draw with Villa in Leicester, City defeated West Ham United a week later - courtesy of Darren Eadie's strike - before holding Bradford City to a goalless stalemate.

That encouraging form continued against the Saints, although Tim Flowers was required to make a double save to stop Uwe Rösler and then Hassan Kachloul in the first half.

On 66 minutes, a sumptuous corner from set-play specialist Steve Guppy landed on the head of Gerry Taggart as the Northern Irishman put Leicester one goal ahead.

City held out for the win and, following a 0-0 draw at Sunderland on 1 October, 2000, they sat top of the Premier League with Flowers and Taylor winning Player and Manager of the Month.

On 7 September, 2002, on the other hand, Micky Adams was in charge of the Foxes as they travelled to Selhurst Park to tackle Wimbledon in front of a crowd of just 2,165.

Amid uncertainly about Wimbledon's future, City too were on the brink of entering administration, and Adams' men fell two goals behind in the early moments in London.

Mark Williams headed the home side in front after 11 minutes before Neil Shipperley's wonderful free-kick doubled their lead five minutes later.

City hit back, though, as Trevor Benjamin's bundled effort gave them hope. Izzet's penalty made it 2-2 and then a long-range effort from Jordan Stewart wrapped up a memorable victory.

City were back in the Championship in 2005/06 - their second successive year in the second tier - as Craig Levein looked to help City recover from a disappointing previous campaign. 

The Scotsman had brought Mark de Vries with him from his former club Hearts and the Dutchman netted a brace for the Foxes in an early-season victory over Sheffield Wednesday on 10 September, 2005.

Firstly linking up with ex-Celtic winger Momo Sylla for Leicester's first, De Vries then capitalised on a loose ball in the area to double the home side's lead over the Owls on Filbert Waty.