Game Thirty Eight - Peterborough Home

20 December 2008

The christmas run. Games come thick and fast and it's a great way to shape a season. With so many games in a short space of time, you can find yourself going from top to the play offs in the space of a week so it's vital that we hit the ground running, starting with what some have christened: "The A47 derby". For me though, this had nothing to do with bragging rights and was all about creating a larger gap for ourselves ahead of the team in 4th place who were apparentley unbeaten since August. I can't say I was very optimistic though as we headed into town on what was the busiest day Leicester City centre has seen in a while. Final weekend before christmas and both the Tigers and City playing at home. Good luck with the parking!!

A lot had been made about the front pairing of McLean and Mackail-Smith that we would be facing today and we knew that we'd be playing with fire trying to deal with those two's pace and power. Maybe it was a sign then that this guy was juggling flaming torches to entertain the shoppers. If he can play with fire and not get burnt then maybe so could we!!

10 minutes around the city centre though and I was getting really frustrated with people getting in the way so I gave up on the chance to do any last minute shopping and headed over to the stadium in good time to chill out.

Katy arrived about 20 mins before kick off and we had our normal random natter - this time though she was slighty tipsy (although Im sure she'd try and deny that!) Hugs a plenty, and the exchanging of cards and we headed off our seperate ways to see what the Walkers had in store for us today!

Posh seemed quite up for this and their 3000 strong away seemed intent of enjoying their day out at the Walkers as I'm sure we'll do when we head over to their place later this season. The players responded to their efforts and for the first few minutes, we never left our half as Peterborough forced a succession of corners which Martin resorted to flapping at and were scrambled away. Less than convincing!!

However after 6 minutes, we took the lead in bizarre circumstances. A lost ball was chased down by Fryatt, who then managed to bamboozle the defender and swing in a cross which was mis-kicked into his own net by Craig Morgan. A freakish attempt at a clearance spinning back behind him and past Joe Lewis.... an early christmas present gratefully received!

Oakley fired an effort just over after cutting in from the right and Steve Howard drilled a shot just wide as City looked to increase their dominant position over the game. Posh were restricted to a couple of long range efforts, all of which went straight down Martins throat but then on the half hour, they nearly got back into the game against the run of play. George Boyd had an effort that deflected onto a post, the rebound fell to Mackail-Smith who smashed against the bar with an open goal in front of him and that rebound was headed over by McLean with the goal gaping! A real let off and it felt like we'd just gone two goals to the good.

Fryatt missed a good chance just a couple of minutes later when he was played through but forced wide by the defender and eventually had his shot blocked.

He wasn't to be denied though and from another ball played over the top, he outpaced the defender, flicked the ball past Lewis with his head and rolled it into the net.

A third goal before half time came close as Dyer fired just wide and Oakley's free kick forced Lewis into a fine save before the referee called a hault to the first half and the team left the field to a standing ovation.

Half time was spent in my seat for the first time in ages as I'd seen Katy earlier and decided grab something to eat having been on the move since 8am without stopping for food. Had been a busy day!

After the break, the game continued in much the same fashion as before. Peterborough had a couple of long range efforts, one that went narrowly wide, and City always looked dangerous going forward.

Crofts nearly found Posh a way back into the game on the hour mark as he fired a volley into the side netting which sparked furious celebrations amongst the visiting supporters as from their point of view, it looked like it had found the back of the net. You kind of had the feeling that this was going to be our day. Own goal, open goal missed and the away fans celebrating a goal that never was. It's all good!

King came close with a header from a corner as we looked to finish the game off once and for all.
Dyer also found himself clear but for once his pace proved his downfall as he almost sprinted past the ball and had to wait for it to arrive at his feet, allowing the defender to get back and get in the challenge.

The third goal soon came though and from a free kick on the edge of the area, King raced in and planted a bullet header past Lewis at the near post.... and for once, the timing of the photo was spot on as you can see the blur of the ball just crossing the line - sweet!

With that goal, a large chunk of the away fans left the ground and headed back to the station. We had three points and they would be home 20 minutes earlier than planned. In my eyes, that makes everyone a winner!!

There was one thing that we were willing though before the game was out and that was a goal for Steve Howard. He does a lot of the dirty work and doesn't get the luck in front of goal to show for it but today, he made his own luck. Picking the ball up just inside his own half, he headed goalwards and then placed a great effort into the corner from 25 yards. You can tell how much that goal meant to him and the players as they all came over to join in the celebrations with him. If anyone deserved to be on the scoresheet then it was him!

With not much time after that for anything else, the referee soon blew his whistle for the end of the game and we headed out of the stadium full of christmas joy! Santa is a Leicester fan!!

Headed round to the front of the megastore after leaving the stadium to meet Lovejoy from FT and bumped into Helen's folks outside too. With her old man a Spurs fan, he was keen to find our where we were sitting for our trip to White Hart Lane next month when I travel down to see them against Wigan.

Also bumped into Jobber and Helen as we headed back into town, and had a quick chat with them as well to wrap up what was a great day down Filbert Way. It's hard to ever really sum up a game but as days at the Walkers Stadium go, that was nearly perfection in every way.

I'll be back after christmas reporting on what looks set to be the biggest clash in League One this season. Leeds away, on boxing day! With over 30,000 fans already having secured tickets, this looks set to be the biggest attendance of the season and will probably be one of the biggest in the country that day. Will it be Leeds 6th straight defeat or give them the win they need to kick start their season? We shall soon see.

And with that, all that's left to do is to wish everyone who reads this blog a merry christmas and to hope Santa brings us what we all want - 3 points from Elland Road!