Can the Mags outwit the Foxes on their turf?
Posted on January 30th, 2010 | 60 Comments |
Location: Walker’s Stadium, Leicester. Kick Off: Saturday 30th Jan, 5:20PM. TV: Sky Sports 1.
With this weeks new signings Mike Williamson and Wayne Routledge being joined by on loan defenders Fitz Hall and Patrick Van Aanolt today, the face of the Toon squad is literally changing day by day, and at times even hour by hour. Both new(er) lads trained with the rest yesterday morning and will almost certainly go straight into the squad as the Toon take on Leicester City’s ‘Foxes’ at the Walker’s stadium. Leicester City are expecting their biggest attendance of the season so far for this fixture, with almost 29,000 tickets sold before the game.
Leicester have always been a bit of a dodgy team for us, so I’m hoping we do alright today but I still feel a bit uneasy about this match. The Foxes are suffering from a bit of a blip having lost their last 3 games so we should be able to take advantage. but they will also be keen to get back on track as they lie only 3 points outside of a play off place. Commenting on those 3 matches City captain, Matt Oakely, said:
“We didn’t play well in the first half against Swansea but were much better in the second half and had chances to get something out of the game but didn’t.
“I thought we were the better team at Cardiff and were really unlucky there. In this league if you take your chances you take the points but we are just not taking them and getting in front.
“When you see our statistics, when we are in front we don’t get beat, so we have to make sure we do that.”
Leicester have lost just once in their last six home games, winning four and drawing the other one. A total of 10 goals have been netted by the Foxes in those games, with 6 conceded. We’ll need to watch out for Matty Fryatt, who is their top scorer with 12 goals, and also 20 year old striker Martyn Waghorn, currently on loan from the unwashed, who has managed to bag 5 goals in only 7 starts.
With ex Toon right side legend, Nobby Solano, eagarly awaiting clearance to play against us, and ex Toon coach, Nigel Pearson managing the team there’s a bit of a Toon connection. On Pearson, Chris Hughton commented in the Chronicle:
“I speak to Nigel quite regularly and he’s somebody I’ve got to know quite well over the years. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He did a fantastic job here and he’s doing a wonderful job at Leicester.”
On the match he said:
“It will be a tough game and one we’re all looking forward to.
“It will be a tough end to the season but we have to stay focused now.”
“They’re a side that will be there or thereabouts this season, and they are where they are for a reason – they’re a good side.”
Chris Hughton will at least have a few more experienced options to choose from with all the recent signings as he tries to plug the gaps of his injury ravaged team with Steven Taylor out for a few months, Danny Simpson, Jose Enrique, and now Shola ruled out with a dodgy shoulder. One glimmer on the injury front is the report of Joey Barton back in training.
Foxes team Tuesday evening who played Barnsley:
Weale, Morrison, Hobbs, Brown, Powell, Gallagher, Oakley, Wellens, N’Guessan, Waghorn, Kermorgant
subs: Logan, Neilson, McGivern, Howard (66 for Kermorgant), King (73 for N’Guessan), Dyer, Fryatt (66 for Waghorn)
Possible Toon side: Harps, Taylor / Hall, Williamson, Coloccini, Van Annholt,Routledge, Smith, Guthrie, Jonas, Nolan, Carroll
Nolan has been pretty ineffective the last few games and Smudge hasn’t been playing as well recently either but I still think he will pick them both.
I think this will be a draw, but good to see some of the new lads in action.
Full match report by Toonsy coming later.
Howay the Lads.
NUFCBlog Author: geordie deb
geordie deb has written 38 articles on this blog.
on recent form iam expecting a win leicster are not playing well and they dont score many and also hope nobby dusent get clearence in time too play