TEAMS

Leicester: Flowers, Rowett, Sinclair, Elliott, Guppy, Davidson, R. Savage, Lennon, Izzet, Cresswell, Akinbiyi. Subs: Royce, Gilchrist, Eadie, McKinlay, Gunnlaugsson.

Derby:

Poom, Schnoor, Powell, Delap, Burley, Johnson, Burton, Elliott, Eranio, Riggott, Valakari. Subs: Kinkladze, Morris, Christie, Higginbotham, Grant.

Referee: G Poll (Tring)

Derby Silenced
Peter Gilbert 28.10.00

It was a dreadful day – weather wise that is – and the end of British Summer Time was blown away by the gales of Autumn. It was one of those days when you have to have your wits about on the road as conditions were worsened by spray, wind, wet leaves and worst of all Derby fans on the road.
Against my better judgement I bought a beef burger, I needed something warm inside and it tasted good ambling down Filbert Street munching on my feast and anticipating a fast and furious ‘Derby Game.’

I took my seat and Tim Flowers was already studiously warming up in very business like fashion.

Stan had moved on but we had new signing Billy McKinley on view as one of our subs.

PT had picked a very attacking line up with both Creswell and Akinbiyi starting the game with a midfield of Guppy, Izzett, Lennon and Savage to load the bullets. At the back Sinclair was making his first start of the season, ably supported by Davidson, Elliott and Rowett.

The pre-match chat was lively with it being rumoured that we were after Van Hoojdonk from Barcelona and Jamie Scowcroft from Ipswich. That would make life interesting, pity we couldn’t have Pierre and Stan together, that would have been like Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night all thrown into one, or rather like Nitro meeting Glycerine. Anyway enough of this speculation.

We kicked off towards Filbert Street which is always a good omen and the ball was whizzing about like a bar of soap in the bath. Derby were up and at us in fast and furious style and trying to catch us in possession at the back but we were too nimble for them with Sinclair looking particularly impressive. Rowett was cool and Davidson was cautious with Elliott looking on in imperious fashion.

It was obvious early on that the conditions would play a significant part in proceedings with the more sure footed players capitalising and Izzett in particular revelling in the grease and mud.

After 12 mins. During which time we looked more than comfortable, De Lap won the ball strode forward and skimmed a speculative shot towards goal. Flowers appeared to slip and could only grasp at mid air as the ball squelched through a sea of legs and into the back of our net. To be fair it was a good shot, the perfect shot on such a day.

We were immediately galvanised into action and laid siege on the Derby goal and were clearly the better side. Akinbiyi acted as target man with Cresswell willingly living on scraps. Guppy crossed effectively and blue shirts piled into the action.

Akinbiyi was narrowly wide with a header, Izzett shot, Savage shot, Rowett crossed and after 40 mins. we were to be denied no longer. the impressive Muzzy Izzett gathered the ball ran forward beat a man and lashed the ball into the net from the edge of the box so that we at least went in at half time on level terms. It was a brilliant goal from the best player on the pitch.

At half time that nice Mr Birchenall entertained us with his delightful ‘Performing Children’.

On the restart we turned up the heat and went at them with vengeance that really did make Derby look very poor indeed. Sav resumed his ‘War of Attrition’ with Powell and was continually in conversation with referee Graham Poll who on the hour awarded us a free kick on the edge of the box. The Derby players encroached on the ball before it was kicked and argued afterwards, so Mr Poll got out his yellow card and took the free kick 10 yards nearer the Derby goal, well within the box in fact. The Derby players all glared at the ball as Guppy ran up to take it and they failed to notice the unmarked Cresswell who’s shot at goal lacked venom and was saved. This was however a quite unique moment and I’ve never seen it’s like before.

Eadie came on for Guppy and Gunnlaugsson came on for Cresswell and both players immediately injected speed and venom into our attacks and they too clearly enjoyed the conditions Arnie in particular as he ran at the jittering jelly legged Derby defenders who really were sheep in sheep’s clothing. For all our pressure and supremacy we still were only drawing. However Gunnlaugsson collected the ball with his back to goal, ran away from goal turned 360 degrees advanced and from the edge of the box skilfully slipped the ball along the ground with such force that it appeared to gather speed on it’s way into the net. It was a glorious moment for the player, the team, the manager and the Leicester Fans who sometimes feel they are deprived of skilful strikers.

In truth we should have had more goals such was our supremacy on the day which left Derby rooted at the foot of the table Forest bound and Leicester in 3rd place. Champion’s League bound?

Player Performance

Flowers: He seemed ‘quite happy’ at the end of the match!!!!!!

Rowett: Took the Impey role, very good defender needs to practice going forward.

Elliott: Very good afternoon’s work, always in command.

Sinclair: An excellent first start.

Davidson: A competent defender, needs to be more confident going forward.

Guppy: Good crossing worked hard.

Lennon: An improvement, obviously struggling to get fully fit, won some important tackles always available.

Savage: Very good, collapsed with cramp in 92nd minute, he’s a workhorse, an invaluable asset..

Izzett: Breathtakingly brilliant, great skill sure footed, intelligent, perceptive and a great goal.

Cresswell: Cannot be faulted for his eager work rate.

Akinbiyi: An effective target man, layed the ball off well.

Subs:

Eadie: Ran at them with electric pace, often caused problems.

Gunnlaugsson: A brilliant goal, if he is finally fit he could be the ‘overnight success’ that took 2 years to materialise, looked really good.