Game Twenty Six - Rotherham away (JP Trophy quarter final)

4th November 2008

Having already disposed of Hartlepool and Lincoln, we now faced League Two side Rotherham in the area quarter finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Now this competition has split the Leicester fans in half. Some see it as a useless waste of time and an un-neccessary distraction from the league, whereas others see it as a chance of a day out at Wembley and a bit of glory in a darker period in our history. Me? I'm of the latter breed having never seen us in action at the national stadium despite all the times we played their in the 90s. This was the only realistic chance of us making it there at the moment and so I wanted to clutch onto it with both hands.

After knocking off work slightly early, I made the short walk to the train station in order to head up to Sheffield where Rotherham are temporarily based at the Don Valley Stadium. The train was the perfect opportunity to relax and get a bit of sleep in what was to be a hectic two days of football action.

I'd agreed to meet Tash and Foz at sheffield train station and my train got in just as they arrived to meet me and we headed off to Sheffield Hallam student union for a quick drink and random chat before it was time to leave for the stadium.

The "SuperTram" would be our transport for the night but whoever named it super was clearly having an off day in the intelligence department. Nothing super about it as trams seemed to be travelling back and forth without any heading in our destination... didn't help that Foz had us on the wrong platform at one point though but we finally found the right one as the drizzle started.


With only small clues as to where we were going, we made the decision to follow the guy in the Rotherham hat as we assumed that he would be heading to the ground.... until he get off before everyone else leaving us confused.... there he goes....

Finally made it into the ground with about five minutes to kick off and found Katy who had been waiting for me in our seats. She was clearly so thrilled to see me!!

The Don Valley stadium is another strange one and one not made for football. Originally designed for athletics, the stadium is a 25,000 seater one which leads to a strange atmosphere with the 3/4000 fans that occupy it for Rotherham United games. Whilst most of the stadium is open to the elements, the area that we were in for the first half was covered and offered a fair bit of shelter.

Now I've seen some poor games in my time and this one was right up there. City didn't look interested in the slightest at making any further progress in the competition. Having already disposed of Leeds, Wolves and Southampton in cup competitions this season, Rotherham played with no fear and looked far more dangerous than us in all departments of the pitch with our only threat of the first half coming from a couple of Barry Hayles efforts.

It was left to me and Katy to create our own entertainment in the stands and the man in front of us timing the game with his stop-watch had us chuckling to ourselves.... well until Rotherham took the lead in first half injury time. A deep cross found the defence asleep and it was left for Broughton to smash the ball past a helpless Henderson.

Half time fun taking random photos was had with Titch and we then made our way down to near the front of the open stand to join the rest of the FoxesTalk lot for a bit of banter for the second half. For a midweek game there was a fair few of us who had made our way up north and so the focus was taken away from the game in parts as it was good to all be together standing in a group.

In the mean time, Rotherham added a second goal while once more, City offered little in the final third apart from a long range Oakley effort that nearly squeezed into the net. In fact until the final 5 minutes, we never looked like getting back into the game and then they finally woke up. Howard and Ashley Chambers should have both done better when it great positions and then with the clock ticking down, we were awarded a penalty (which was ironically celebrated as if we'd won the world cup to keep us amused)

and a slim chance of making a comeback....

.... but Fryatt saw his penalty saved to cap a woeful performace from the Foxes. Another chance deep into stoppage time was cleared off the line, and a goal mouth scramble was somehow cleared to send us on our way out of the competition.

Me and Katy then met up with Scoweh, Shrek, Tash and Foz and we made the long walk around the stadium to the exits before I said my goodbyes to Tash and Foz and we set off for the car park. Lift home? Yes then! (to steal a phrase once more!).

A very drunk Shrek made it an interesting journey home as he was desperate for KFC and insisted on calling everyone in his contacts list telling them how rubbish LCFC are. After a quick stop for food, we were off back to the land of Leicestershire where Katy, bless her heart, spent time dropping us all back home adding plenty of time on to her own journey. Very much appreciated though and we had a lovely sing song on the last leg of the journey after dropping the other two off. Kaiser Chiefs ("I want crisps") and the Kooks ("In all situuuuuuaaaaaaaations") made sure that the giggles didn't stop until we were back in sunny Syston complete with near empty petrol tank after her major day of travel.

A quick chat and reflection on the day and a photo for the blog and she was on her way on her long journey back home. Ta love! Major wubbage for the lift!

So that's another competition that is no more for us. Our main realistic chance of reaching a Wembley final this year is out the window and whilst it would have been fun to have continued the adventure, I found myself not all that disappointed to be out. The night itself was such a good laugh that it really took the edge off what would normally have been a bitterly disappointing result. Now don't get me wrong, it was a hideous performance, and a farce that the team put in a display like that in front of 1,500 travelling fans but at the end of the day, we need to start focussing our attention on the league. We're starting to look tired and these extra games could be the difference between success and failure in league one. Im not looking to make excuses for our recent performances but fatigue is clearly setting in... amongst me as well as the players and if it came to a trophy and another year of league one, or promotion, it really is no contest.

Good luck to Rotherham though - they played some neat football and thoroughly deserved their win. Let's just hope we lost to the eventual winners!! Next stop on the football tour.... another random game. This time, my Champions League debut.... Arsenal v Fenerbahce!!

Game Twenty Five - Bristol Rovers Home

1st November 2008

It seems bizarre to think that this early in the season, the game against Bristol Rovers had that "must win" feel about it. Such is the way the league is forming this season, a bad one of a few results and you can find yourself down struggling to retain a play off position. One win though and you're right back up there with promotion in mind, and the world is rosy once more.

I was meant to be heading up early to the ground for this one to meet up for a pre-game drink but thanks to my own lazyness, I ended up sleeping in and then following the usual routine of travelling in with my old man.

Today before the game, we had a minutes applause in memory of former Leicester defender, John Sjoberg. Minutes applauses and silences are very strange things, for one minute, everyone within the stadium is united in thought about either the person in question or loved ones who are no longer with us. No matter what the rivalry between two teams, it's very rare that the minute of respect is disgraced and that's a true tribute in itself.

And so to kick off:

Once again the first half was one that would not live long in the memory.... so much so that it hasn't even survived the space of a week as I'm struggling to recall anything of great importance that happened in that 45 minute spell... a few efforts were fired in but neither keeper had a real save to make. Jo Kuffour up front for Rovers was causing the defence a handfull but the recalled Henderson was left untroubled. A long range Andy King effort was as close as we came to making a dent on the scoreboard and the half time whistle sounded with a mixed reception of grunts and applause.

The half time entertainment was supplied by Katy and Stez's 'celeb' spotting as Einstein and Tim Flowers were checked off their list. Worst. Look-a-likes. Ever.

The second half started quite brightly and a through ball nearly released Lloyd Dyer on goal but the keeper was alert enough to snuff out the danger. It soon resorted to being a poor game again though and I amused myself by taking photos of the silohettes of the crowd watching the game. How has it come to this?

From another overhit cross from Gradel though, the game sparked into life as the Bristol Rovers right back clearly handled the ball in the area when attempting to control. A blatant penalty for the second game running looked set to turn the match in the oppositions favour. The one main job of the referee is to spot fouls but if they can't do their job then why bother even having them? Everyone in the stadium saw the hand move towards the ball yet he was the only one not to acknowledge the foul!! The heat was turned up and it was game on.

Soon though, the referee was again centre of attention when Fryatt was alert enough to pick up a loose ball and was tripped a yard or two inside the area only for the referee to award a freek kick on the edge of the area. Livid!!

With the referee controlling matters, it seemed only a matter of time before Rovers would launch the sucker punch and so it came mid way through the second half. What seemed like a harmless throw in was soon turned into a goal of the season contendor. Instead of controlling it, Kuffour allowed it to run across his body and he lashed it from 25 yards into the top corner. The first goal that Henderson was to conceed was one that no keeper would have saved. While nothing can make you feel good about going a goal down, it's always a joy to see skill like that first hand.

City then continued to press but without creating any real chances and it looked like another game was passing us by as Rovers resorted to blatant time wasting and the keeper in particular seemed more intent on taking as much time as possible and arguing every decision going as the clock ticked down.

Barry Hayles and Nicky Adams were thrown into the fray as desperation started to creep in and balls were launched forward with verocity in the vain hope that we might find a way back into the match..... and it was from one of these balls that that's exactly what happened. With three minutes remaining, Mattock launched a high ball forward, Hayles flicked it on and Fryatt slotted it past the keeper from a tight angle. Justice was done and even Filbert Fox showed his relief as he charged on the pitch to celebrate.

Were we done there though? Were we hell! As we dusted off our "Foxes Never Quit" momentos, a corner was won after a scramble in the box. Adams swung it in and the keeper flapped and pushed it into his own player. Bodies were everywhere and soon it was in the net. Time stopped as we waited for the foul to be given.... we couldn't have won this could we? 94th minute winners don't happen to us...... well they do now! Step forward Matty Fryatt and start the celebrations!

Within seconds of the restart, the ref blew for full time and we'd got the win we so badly needed. It hadn't been pretty, it hadn't been impressive but those last 5 minutes could well have changed the course of the season. With points being dropped left right and centre at the moment, three points were vital to bring back a sense of belief to the fans once more.

For the first time in a while, we could head home through the tunnel with the sound of victorious horns beeping.

It's amazing how brighter the world can seem after a win. 20 minutes before, we were bemoaning another defeat and now we were thinking of promotion once more.... football.... it's a funny old game.

Game Twenty Four - Brighton Away

28th October 2008

Another week, another game, another chance to be disappointed by Leicester in a random place. And yet having broken up with my girlfriend not two hours before kick off, I found myself now looking out over the pitch at the Withdean Stadium (or as much as I could see from the vantage point that we had.) It was with a heavy heart that I had made the trip from Brighton town centre to the stadium….so much promise of what might have been had withered out and I was now stood in the freezing cold thinking about priorities. At the moment, my main priority is football. I have to be at these games even though it costs a fortune and decides the course of my life. Every decision I seem to be making at the moment is mainly worked into whether it would result in me missing a game. Should I go to this gig? No, it’s on a Tuesday and a game may be moved or we could have an FA Cup replay game. It’s crazy - everything seems to come back to how it affects my 100% attendance record this season. Nothing else matters at the moment but being there for kick off. If you’d told me two years ago that I would go to Brighton on a Tuesday night to see us in league one, I’d have called you an idiot and asked you why on earth I would do something like that…. Now, why on earth wouldn’t I be there? I’m ploughing money into the football machine but in reality, you have to pay for the things you love. Like all those there on Tuesday night, we are paying the price financially and in terms of large amounts of time wasted. And in the case of several, we will be paying with colds and the flu for a few days.

But enough of that. Whats happened has happened and I won't dwell on things in the blog and resort to the game as if it was just another standard trip with other incidents cleared from my mind. I met up with Helen and her parents by the sea front and we took the 20 minute walk up to Brighton train station to get our (free) train up to the ground. A few brighton chavs seemed amazed to see that they had Leicester fans on their train and despite wearing a bright yellow Leicester shirt and wearing a Leicester baseball cap, they still came over and had to ask if I supported Leicester. The clues were there kids!

When we got off the train, we then found that we had to partake in about a half a mile walk down the darkest of alley ways to get to the ground. And when I say dark, I mean it!! Pitch black and we couldn't see more than 2ft in front of our faces and so had to resort to the flash on our cameras to light the floor and identify the holes in the path. 3 steps, flash, 3 steps, flash. Cue pictures of gravel!

After about 5 minutes of stumbling it started to get silly and we were trying to get photos of each other in between nearly drowning in puddles and stumbling into a random barrier that seemed to serve no purpose whatsoever!!

We finally made it in one piece and the Withdean shone out in the distance like a light at the end of the tunnel. This was probably the best view I had of the pitch all game!!

When we finally reached it, the queue for the pub was longer than the queue for tickets which spoke volumes for the type of ground that it is. I would use the term "Stadium" but that's pushing it a bit far!! We had a quick chat with Jobber outside the pub and then with the FT lot before making our way in and had the fun task of trying to get the flag up in decent place. No matter where it went though, no one would really see it!!

All the Foxes Talk lot then tried to congregate together at the back of the stand with good success for the first few minutes of the game but we were then forced to move as people continued to arrive. Soon me, Katy and Lil Dave were forced to shift our position to the right side and nearer the front (not that it made any difference to our view!)

How Brighton can charge £20 for a mid-week match when this is the view is beyond me!

Apparentley some things happened in the first half, most importantly being two goals for Matty Fryatt to give us a 2-0 lead going into the break. It's unfair for me to say exactly what they were like as we hadn't a clue what with them being at the other end of the ground. In fact we were convinced that the second was scored by Steve Howard which speaks volumes for what our view was like. Speaking of Howard, he also had another goal disallowed to add to his collection for the season. It seems to be becomming the theme at the moment as whenever the ball hits the net from him, its accompanied by the referee's whistle. Livid!

In fact the only thing we had a decent view of was the policeman's 800m walking race. Not sure who won in the end but the lead was changing hands all through that turn so I'm sure it was a photo finish!

The real entertainment of the night though was at half time when we all gathered together behind the stands. Guest appearances from Fi (a.k.a Another of Walshie's Women) and "Moby" (a.k.a Isle of Wight Fox) were combined with the usual suspects and typical banter. The theme of the night seemed to be one word sentences with "Keen!" "Livid!" and "Response!" seeming to take centre stage and answering any question going.

A test was also drawn up to show the two sides of Lil Dave. Note the stolen Cote D'Ivoire scarf!!!

Face One: The reaction to Steve Howard

Face Two: The reaction to Matty Fryatt

After the fun of those 15 minutes helped me forget everything else, it was soon time to head back to our seats and watch another victory away from home.... erm.... yeah about that..... A clear penalty wasn't given in our favour and that proved to be the turning point as loan signing Johnson lashed in two long range efforts to bring Brighton back on level terms. This caused some major pummelage from Katy as she was not "keen" on the new look scoreline. Livid!

At 2-2, this was only going to end in one way and it didn't involve us going home with any points. Step forward Mr Jack Hobbs. Even from where we were, we could tell that he'd made a massive cock up as he slid in to block a cross under no pressure. The ball spun up and evaded Martin and over the line. From 2-0 up to 3-2 down. This wasn't the stuff promotion is made of - it's that of relegation and if anyone should know, it's Leicester fans.

The real killer though was as the players walked off dejected, and didn't even really acknowledge the travelling fans. 170 miles from leicester to brighton and they couldn't even raise their hands to respect that. Cheers lads!!

The scoreline really rapped up a pretty crummy day. Despite the mutual split with my now ex-girlfriend, I still wasn't in the right frame of mind to be at the game and standing in the cold and rain didn't really appeal at all but it turned out to be just what I needed. The companionship of football fans together is better than anything else I've been involved with. We share the roller coaster of emotions and they never fail to put a smile back on your face when you're feeling down. Cheers to you all guys - you make the away days what they are! Even last season when the results wern't going to plan, they were still all great days out. Here's to many more classics!

Game Twenty Three - Manchester City v Stoke

26th October 2008

After all the poorer grounds we have to visit and kick and rush football on show, sometimes you just need a change and treat yourself once in a while so on a chilly sunday morning, I headed up north to see what the City of Manchester stadium had to offer as the new look Man City (complete with Brazilian flair) took on the Stoke City side that refused to role over at the end of last season and take the three points we needed to stay up. No prizes for guessing where my alligences lay in this one! The journey was meant to be really simple. Train from Leicester to Sheffield, and then another train to Manchester arriving at 12:30 leaving us 2 and half hours to look around the city and stadium. Sounds easy.... was anything but!


Arrived in Sheffield bang on time only to find out that every train to Manchester was cancelled due to a landslide on the rails. After running round the station like a man possessed, I was informed by the information desk to get a train to Leeds and change there for Manchester.... without thinking I ran and jumped onto the train only to soon realise it was the same train that I'd caught to Huddersfield only a few weeks before meaning it was slower than walking!! It was completely rammed and at least 20 Man City fans were on it, all on phones trying to find out how we were going to get to the stadium.

I got chatting to a couple of fans who were from Loughborough and after many phone calls to people around the country, we made the decision to get off at Huddersfield and get the train to Manchester from there.... except for some reason, this train didn't stop there and went around instead of through! Nightmare!!

We slowly trundled along with the clock ticking and poor Helen waiting patiently in Manchester for us. The next plan was to get off in Leeds and try and find the quickest train to Picadilly station.... simple. Erm.... no! The only train to Manchester was to the Victoria station as according to the guard on the platform, no trains were going to Picadilly today... utter bollocks as Helen had got there easily enough!! So after running round Leeds like idiots, me and these two City fans and their kids all jumped on the train to Victoria and rang Helen to get her to meet us there. This train wasn't due in till 20 minutes before kick off so it came to the realisation that kick off was a no go for us. This day was turning into a disaster!!

The journey itself was absolute quality as we exchanged stories and jokes all the way there. I haven't laughed as hard and much as I did on that trip. It had gone so badly wrong that all we could do was joke about it and try and work out how the hell to get home. Small matters.

When we finally got into Victoria station (10 minutes early thank God), we rang Helen as we rushed through the station to get us a taxi so we could just dive straight in and away we went to the stadium.

And have you ever seen a more beautiful sight after all that? It was such a relief to be at the ground, and with 10 minutes to spare as well! We quickly said our goodbyes to the people I'd travelled up with and me and Helen headed off to find our turnstile and make our way up to our seats in the Gods.

There was a point when I never expected to make it here but the City of Manchester stadium was finally in front of us.

And what a view it was. Completely worth the hastle of getting there and I had a genuine excitement as the teams gathered in the tunnel and the stadium started to fill up as fans made their way up from the concourse. What a stadium it is - probably the best that I've been too in all the 50 plus that Ive visited.

The teams lined up complete with Robinho (who was the main reason for being there if we're honest), and other quality players like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stephen Ireland complete with bald head.

The game itself was absolute quality and the best game I've had the pleasure of being at this season so far. Man City are starting to play football in the way it should be played, one touch pass and move with attacking being the main aim. Silky skills, cheeky flicks and tricks, and defence splitting passes were all on display. Robinho showed all his class to run from the half way line and crash a shot at the near post that Sorenssen did well to tip over. It wasn't long though before City were one up. Chipped ball into the box was headed down to Ched Evans who shaped to shoot before playing a stunning ball through to Robinho who had the simple task of passing it past the keeper.

Man City continued to press and Elano swung in a free kick that just dropped wide of the post. Stoke wern't completely out of it though and Hart showed why he looks set to be a future England keeper as he snuffed out every opportunity that came the Potters way.

As the half time whistle rang, City went in still one nil up and we took the opportunity to finally relax for 15 minutes after rushing around all day and then the intesity of the match. So we got another picture for the collection of the away day travellers - although I look half asleep after all that travelling... at least the Cote d'Ivoire scarf reigns supreme though!

The second half started with a bang as Daniel Sturridge picked up the ball on the right and ran straight at the heart of the defence before playing a superb through ball to Robinho who lashed it across the keeper and into the net to double the lead before running to the fans who idolise him. He is an absolute hero to these people and it's easy to see why as as soon as he gets the ball at his feet, magic seems to happen. The crowd love him and he loves them. People doubted he would succeed in this team but he's thriving and showing the world what he can do.

Stoke continued to look for a way back into the game but their one real weapon this season wasn't functioning as Rory Delaps long throws were dealt with with real ease by the defence as Hart, Dunne and Richards let nothing past them.

The show belonged to one man though and after a couple of great saves denied him, Robinho made sure that the match ball was his as a great flowing move was finished with a cool finish at the back post by the Brazilian boy wonder. I found myself really getting involved at this point and cheering like it was my own team that had just scored. I've really warmed to this team and they are a joy to watch, so I'm sure I will find myself watching them again before the season is out.

At 3-0 up, Man City went from strength to strength and could have had further goals if it wasn't from poor finishing from SWP and Ireland. The sun set over the stadium though and a great day out (unless you're a stoke fan).

At the final whistle we made the 25 minute walk back to Picadilly (in what we hoped was the right direction as none of the police or stewards seemed fully certain which way it was). The walk in typical manchester weather as well I might add - pissed it down all the way back.

At the station, the trains were still off to Sheffield so had to get a replacement bus service all the way back... which Im convinced took the wrong turning somewhere as it took over two hours to do the 50 miles or so. Absolute crazy and meant I missed my last train to Leicester so could only make it as far as Nottingham and had to have the old man come and bail me out by picking me up from there.

What a day it was. Absolutely exhausted by the end of it but fully worth doing. Man City play with such style and grace that they're a joy to see in action and for one day only, "There's only two City's!" Sadly it's the crash back to reality next as we go from luxury to the dive that is Brighton away. Joy!

Game Twenty Two - Northampton Home

25th October 2008

After the disappointment of Tuesday night's poor result, we were all eager to get back to action and claim the scalp of Northampton in what is probably going to be classed as our derby match for the season. Gone are the days where Sky TV would come calling to capture the atmosphere and emotion on display as we take on Derby at Pride Park in the premiership and now all we have to satisfy our passion for "bragging rights" was taking on a team thats hardly local to us. Still at this level, each game is similar to the next and this did not have the feeling of a derby day in any shape or form no matter how much the media tried to talk it up... although it has to be said that the 3000 Northampton fans who made the trip seemed eager to make the most of it and credit to them for doing so!

On the way to the ground, we found ourselves behind a car with scarfs hanging from the windows (the picture doesn't do it justice) but I've never seen that for a home game in all my time supporting city. Does this show that the atmosphere around the city is full of optimism like that we haven't seem since the trips to Wembley? Probably not! More likely that they have travelled from Northampton and wanted to make their alliegances known like any many people do on their way to away games.


After very little advertising by the club, it was discovered that this was to be the annual rememberance day fixture that the club puts on to remember those that lost their lives for their country not only in the World Wars but also in any combat. Its a great cause and raises a good deal of money whilst also allowing us to pay our respect and show thanks. What we couldn't understand though was why do it all now? We have a match next week, and one actually on November 11th..... the only thought was that this would have an anticipated higher attendance and so raise more funds...?

One of the main perks of this rememberance day match is that the match ball is delivered to the stadium by helicopter. You could just imagine the groundsman jaw drop when the idea was first introduced and he realised a helicopter would be landing on his beautiful pitch. The pitch was cleared and down it came over the family stand...
The referee came out to meet them and claim the ball before off it set.... ....circling around the stadium before disappearing off into the distance. Credit to the pilot for flying so well in the windy conditions and was a nice gesture even if some people didn't appreciate it. In fact it was the Matty Fryatt of matchball deliveries, loved by many, hated by Lil' Dave.
It was noted just before kick off that the last time we had a dispaly like this before kick off, we went on to lose 1-0... against a team that played in claret, similar to the colour of Northampton's kit. Lightning couldn't strike twice could it?

The first half was very poor. I don't recall a single shot on target from us and a shot from Andy King which was closer to the corner flag than the net is the only thing that springs to mind! Northampton looked very ordinary but we never looked like breaking through their defence and finding the key to unlock the three points and so it was some relief when the half time whistle came to the sound of boos from sections of the home crowd. I'm not going to go into this debate on booing as it has done a hundred times before. Some say it's acceptable as they've forked out vast sums of money to be entertained and aren't getting what they expected, others say how is booing going to help encourage the team and inspire them on to the three points. Personally I didn't boo as whenever we've played badly, I'm usually to frustrated to do anything other than grunt in the direction of the pitch like a deranged lunatic.

The half time helped put things in perspective though as we had the parade around the pitch of the war veterans. It was noted with some sadness though how the amount of people in the parade has declined since it first started last time we were in the premiership four or five years ago. It was a time for reflection of people no longer with us and show our appreciation to those still around. They always get a brilliant reception from home and away fans and I hope they enjoy their day out and I just hope that the club looks after them better than they do the fans at times. It does show though, that sometimes football isn't the be all and end all. It does dominate our lives but whilst we may feel like crap after a bad result, life goes on and nothing really changes. Relegation to league one seemed like the end of the world but then you think of those people who went off to war and you realise that yes, failure on the pitch hurts, but it doesn't even register on the scale of what some people have had to go through. Everyone in the parade, and everyone who has gone to fight for their country has my respect, and lets hope our appreciation never falters.

After that moment of reflection, we were back to the action and it's safe to say that for the first ten minutes we got absolutely battered. Shots reigned in on our goal and three times the ball flashed across the goal with only a touch needed to knock it in. At one point a goal mouth scramble had me waiting for the inevitable roar from the away fans .... but it never came as Kisnorbo threw himself in the way to block.

After this, we settled down more and came back into the game. Dyer missed a great chance when one on one with the keeper..... King bundled the ball in only for it to be ruled out for offside...... Howard had a shot blocked...... Corners found defenders heads instead of those of our strikers..... Kisnorbo found himself with the ball but facing the wrong way..... it was all very frustrating!

And then their was Mr Fryatt. What can you say about his performance that hasn't been said already by all those in the stadium? He tried to take on the Northampton defence single handedly without success, would shoot from impossible angles and worst of all had the single worst attempt at a one on one with the keeper I have ever seen. He had practically the entire Northampton half to himself and kind of stumbled his way forward with the ball looking less convincing than if it was Filbert Fox baring down on goal with his comedy sized foam feet. These are the type of chances that strikers thrive on, no defender around, plenty of time to pick your spot and place it past the keeper. Easy. Or not as the case may be. The only way I can describe his effort was like a Gareth Southgate penalty but with less power. The keeper didn't have to so much dive as he did bend down and pick up the shot. The kop almost stood as one to berate the awfulness of it. Simply terrible and I was forced to text LD3 with the two words that signalled the end of our Howard v Fryatt debate.... "you win".

After that miss, there wasn't much else happening. We continued to press and occasionally were nearly caught on the counter attack but it soon petered out into a nil nil draw and the boo's commenced at the final whistle louder than at half time.

There's not much that you can really say after that week. Two home games against teams we should beat if we're serious about promotion and we've come away with only two points. 8 games unbeaten but it is a slight concern that we've now taken three points from three games and not scored from open play since Dyer's scuffed effort against Huddersfield all that time ago. Are the wheels starting to come off the promotion bus or is it simply the inevitable puncture that you'll get on a marathon road trip like this? It makes the next few games vitally important to make sure we keep pace with those teams around us.....

The next two entries to this blog will be very different.... one will be a break from the league one tour as me and Helen head up north to see the brazilian flair invading Manchester as we check out the City of Manchester stadium and see what Man City v Stoke has to offer. The next game will be at the ground that is well known to be the worst in the country as we have Brighton away on a cold and miserable night game in October. Cheers then to whoever put that one into the fixture list!! The Brighton update will have to wait until the weekend though, as I'm taking a well earned break while down there to spend some time with my other half (although after dragging her to the Withdean Stadium as part of our holiday, I may be single again before too long!)

Until tomorrow.....

Game Twenty One - Walsall Home

21st October 2008

Although this season seems to have been going for a mammoth amount of time already, this was the first mid-week league game to be played at the Walkers of the League One campaign. The sun was already setting as I left work at 6pm ready to make the short walk to my second home.

Bumped into Jimmy in the city centre and after a quick stop at the bookies (waste of time that was!! Bloody Juventus) and was soon at the Walkers with a good hour or so to kill before my twenty first game of the season got under way. For the first time this season, the scarfs being worn around the stadium were to keep out the cold rather than for decoration... and typically for the first game in a while, my Ivory Coast one was sitting on the chair at home and not snuggly around my neck. School boy error and one I would come to regret by half time.

With very little activity going on outside the ground, I decided to make my way in earlier than neccessary but to get out of the cold wind that was starting to blow. I know it's getting on for winter and all that but this was the first game in a long time that the cold has been felt by all. Todays random picture.... the view as you walk through the turnstile. Now, it's not as easy as you'd think to take a picture of this while you're juggling you're season ticket, programme and backpack. Seeing it on screen though, it does make you wonder how some of our fans manage to squeeze their way through.

A quick burger inside the ground (suprisingly nice but how much can you enjoy it with the hole burned in your pocket where £3 used to sit) and sneaky scorecast (Tunchev first goal and a 4-2 win at 500/1 .... optimistic to say the least) and I took my seat for the nights fun and games.

My usual philosophy regarding the Walkers Stadium is that it's all about the game whereas away games are for the atmosphere and general match day experience which is why I opt to have a season ticket next to my old man in a part of the ground where the atmosphere suffers yet the view is spot on. It gives me a chance to spend some genuine time with him and actually has helped to bring us close in that he is almost more of a friend at the football than a father figure during those 90 minutes. Without trying to sound soppy, it's a great bond to have and one that I wouldn't change. Tonight, though, he was away on holiday with my mum and so while the cat's away, the stadium is open to all possibilities. Would I move over to the Kop.... position myself on the half way line .... or move to L1 and see what all the fuss is about? Much thought went into this (I say much, I gave it 5 seconds) and finally took a seat.... TWO seats away from my normal one. Rebelious or what? Frankly, I just couldn't be arsed to shift myself after a long day at work so just decided to move slightly along where I could spread out and just relax in the freezing cold.

And seeing as I focussed on the match, I suppose I should comment on it in someway.... so where to start? We started brightly with Fryatt looking sharp and eager to impress, chasing every ball, pushing Walsall back.... and then as seemed to be the way last season, we conceeded when on top. A really sloppy goal with comical defender allowed Nicholls to sneak in a prod the ball home. They then went with their original game plan.... hastle and push everything. We had no time on the ball what-so-ever whether it be the strikers or defence. Credit to Walsall, they gave us nothing and restricted us to set piece efforts.

And it was from one set piece that brought about the equalising goal before half time. A Max Gradel corner (who had a very poor game it has to be said) was headed home by Andy King. What King was doing in the box winning headers is beyond me but I'm glad he did! One all and the game was open once more with City pressing forward to try and gain the lead before the break. The pic below by the way is the corner leading to the goal.... I was slightly trigger happy and snapped slightly early.

The other main feature of the first half was the presence of Clayton Ince in the Walsall goal. For some bizarre reason he's one of those players that I really like and think he's quite under-rated. He's also the only goal-keeper I've ever seen who doesn't bother with a run up for goal kicks and just swings a leg and launches them up field. I'd dread to see how far he can whack it if he opted for the traditional method.

The second half started badly as a deep cross saw 45 minute England international Michael Ricketts appear from nowhere to head it into the back of the net. Back onto the closing down and playing against 10 men behind the ball again.

We tried to walk our way through the defence at times and it just wasn't working, Gradel in particular was guilty more than once of giving the ball away when trying to be too fancy. Pass and move, pass and move - that was what was needed not the fancy stuff. In fact at times he reminded me of a Christmas Tree... nice to look at and all that but at the end of the day, is it really needed?

As the game went on, we started to push more and eventually the break through came from another set piece as a corner to the near post was headed in by Tunchev to put us level. This lifted everyone and from then on we went for it, looking for that illusive third goal that wouldnt arrive but that would have been harsh on a very organised Walsall side. They had come to the Walkers looking to not get beaten and that's what they'd done. We'd been tested by Millwall's bully boy tactics and failed and now we'd been tested by Walsall's closing down tactics and failed once more. We don't seem to have that X-factor needed to unlock defences at times and in fact our last three goals have come from set pieces now. At the end of the day, a goal is a goal but free flowing football is always nice to see.

So the first mid-week league home game is done and dusted and my feet have finally regained some sense of feeling after a night in the cold. Winter's coming folks and with it the game's are coming thick and fast. This is coming up to the vital point of the season as squads are starting to gel fully and understand how team mates work. There will be no room for weak players and no room for the weak of heart.... if we're serious about promotion, we need to make the Walkers Stadium a fortress (Yeah Right!).

And with that, i'm signing off with only a runny nose and slight cough to show from the nights activities. Cheers City! Next stage of the season, three games in four days - see you there!

Game Twenty - Oldham away

18th October 2008

You know sometimes when your personal life doesn't appear to be going the way you want, distractions are needed and what better distraction than an away day with the one consistant thing in my life. Leicester City. Whilst the players may not be consistant, and the manager changing more times than I change my underwear in the last couple of years (ok, maybe a slight exageration), it is still the club that gives me hope, picks me up when I'm down, and sometimes helps to put major issues into perspective. If I take the time to look back at what it has done for me then sometimes I feel that it has really shaped my life and made me into the person that I am. The people that I have met, the time and expense spent on them, and the way the club has always been there for me on the other side. Friends and aspects of my life have come and gone but rain or shine, there has always been a match to look forward to... a light on the horizon and the aticipation of how we'll be feeling after 90 minutes of action. One team, one dream.


Anyway so now that the philosophical mumbo jumbo is out of the way, we can get back to the day itself. Due to the sheer lazyness and the expense involved in the train, it was yet another journey on the mighty Fox Travel. Of course the advantage of that being that I could sleep and act anti-social for the whole journey. The stuff dreams are made of! As with the usual FT journeys, I was asleep before we even hit the motorway and didn't wake until the services - it worries me how well I can sleep so well in such a cramped environment. Nothing of interest at all happened throughout the services or the rest of the journey.... in fact the only memorable thing was waking up and getting confused that we appeared to be up some moors and then seeing a sign saying we had reached the summit of the highest motorway in Britain. Now if that's not something to write home about then nothing is!

We arrived at Boundary Park in good time and me and Jimmy left the coaches and headed down the road to the pub to meet up with some of the other Foxes Talk regulars who were stopping for a drink. It turned out to be the busiest pub in the world and spent the whole time in there holding me breath so people could squeeze past.

After that we made the short walk back to the ground, stopping at the Ree Ming chinese chip shop and had Lisa explain to me that the best chips had to have fluffy middles. If you ever bump into her, make sure you ask her for the international symbol for "fluffy middles". It will change your life forever.

The ground itself is your standard league one ground to be honest with the outdoors concourse and one larger stand compared to the two smaller looking ones. The stand to our right is mid-way through revelopment so was just a building site in front of the car park. Im sure there will be one or two smashed windows before the season's out.

The game itself turned out to be quite eventful. I squeezed into the back row alongside Jimmy for it and watched as Fryatt missed a glorious chance, Dyer missed an open goal and Big Steve headed against the woodwork. Oldham offered little going forward and another three points on the road looked a possibility as the referee called time on the first half.

Half time was all about Lil' Dave and his thermals. Two scarfs (including my Ivory Coast one - theif!!) and Tommeh's old school hat. With this look he could almost be the new Bernie or at least some kind of future mascot!

As appears to be the theme with our season, we started the second half well and some good work down the left saw the ball pulled back to Dyer who fluffed his shot when we were ready to celebrate. The boy was for once living up to his name!

Soon after though a free kick was awarded on the right.....

...... the ball was swung in and Kisnorbo rose..... and missed...... and there was Big Steve following up to smash it home with his head. 1-0. Commence carnage! I soon had an Lil Dave jump on my back and when he'd let go, I turned to see everyone seem to be lying on the floor behind me and JME standing there, looking confused having been a good two rows and seven seats away before the goal went in. Interesting to say the least!

After the goal, we proceeded to sit on the back foot and allow Oldham back into the game. It seemed only a matter of time before they scored and when it came it was a peach. Whittaker collected it on the edge of the earlier and curled a beauty past Martin into the top corner. From our position you knew it was in from the second it left his boot.

From then on there wern't many clear cut chances althouth Oldham looked more likely to take the three points and so when the final whistle came we were happy to take a point back to the East Midlands.

I knew that car park would be a bugger to get out of but the amount of Oldham fans who left early to make sure they could get away was pretty shocking. The queue had already built up before we'd even left the stand.

Boundary Park - Traditional old ground. Good set of fans and a nice place to watch football. Love it! I certainly wouldn't begrudge seeing them getting promoted at the end of the season (so long as its with us and not in our place).

The journey home.... very much like the journey there and gave me time to listen to music and watch the world go by deep in thought and admiring the views (in a manly way of course).

And so that was the latest trip in the league one adventure and the start of the busiest period of football we'll have this season. Every tuesday and saturday for about four weeks in three different competitions..... combine that with random trips to Manchester City and Arsenal and you'll see me asleep at work before you know it. Two home games in a row to follow now and lets just hope we can bring some of our away form to the Walkers and see the week out with 6 points. COYB!