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Teams
Leicester: Flowers, Savage, Sinclair,
Gilchrist,
Taggart, Guppy (Impey 73), Lennon (Zagorakis
85), Izzet (Campbell 85), Oakes, Elliott,
Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Arphexad.
Booked: Taggart.
Goals: Elliott 45.
Aston Villa: James, Watson (Delaney 37),
Southgate, Ehiogu, Barry, Wright, Boateng,
Merson, Stone, Joachim, Walker (Taylor 60),
Delaney (Hendrie 82).
Subs Not Used: Cutler, Calderwood.
Att: 21,843
Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).
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Leicester City v Aston Villa
League Cup Semi Final. 2nd
leg. 2.2.00
Leicester City 1 Aston Villa
0
Peter Gilbert.
2.2.00
In a situation like this what could the
headline be:
FOXES NEVER QUIT ?
KICK AND RUSH?
FULL HOUSE CITY DO IT AGAIN !!
Whatever........ the fact of the matter is: WE'RE GOING TO
WEMBLEY!!
A few familiar faces re-appeared for this semi final encounter
with Villa, namely Messrs Guppy, Flowers, Lennon and Izzett.
But we still had to put up with a non appearance from Cottee
which meant 'Quick Feet' Matt was in the front line yet again
a position he doesn't relish but is always modest about his achievements
there. And so it was to be again tonight.
I was just beginning to think that we lacked that striking partner
for Emile who had thrashed away at the Villa defence with no
luck at all but had looked very threatening when he chased a
ball down to the corner flag, swept it back to Muzzy who slipped
it to Sav who crossed into the box and Matt turned up to nod
it home with a powerful header just moments before half time.
We went wild and pictures of Wenger and Bates chucking their
cocoa on their sitting room carpets fluttered into our minds.
A goal - a great goal in fact and fully deserved too as we had
done rather more than 'cross the half way line'. We had in fact
pummelled the Villa into an undignified submission that saw them
totally devoid of any response.
Stef Oakes had two great shots - one was well saved, the other
hit the post. Izzett flashed a shot just wide of the post. Heskey
had powered forward looking once again like the ultimate striker
and seen his shot hit James's legs when the keeper knew nothing
about it.
Guppy had looked cagey, but was only 60% fit with tonsilitis
too. Lennon and Izzett looked about 75% fit but the efforts of
Savage and Oakes compensated more than adequately.
The second half saw us unchanged and up for it, and it was good
to see the team prowling around the turf waiting for their victims
to appear. John Gregory sat head in hands behind his chairman
Doug Ellis who was wearing a Santa Hat - if you can believe that.
However Villa were obviously going to make a bit of a fist of
it and they pressured us throughout the second half. Someone
had told me though that MON has never lost a semi final and apart
from a shot from Steve Stone, Tim Flowers never looked at all
troubled as Villa begin to look more and more desperate and as
a result less effective. They hit their high spot around the
75th minute but by the 80th they were all but fizzled out.
Guppy, Lennon and Izzett went off to be replaced by Impey, Campbell
and Zagorakis and I never saw the join, it was as smooth as that
and Leicester City's squad once again showed it's quality.
There were times when I felt we were sitting back too much since
Villa only had to score a goal to go through theoretically, but
it wasn't to be and we spent the last five mins. or so holding
on to the ball which was what we were doing as the final whistle
blew.
Tim Flowers leaped into the air and cried with joy.
Martin shook the hand of the ref. Paul Durkin who has recently
emerged as a 'human' being.
Robbie Savage gave his shirt to two women with a Welsh flag and
they hugged each other hysterically happy.
Muzzy Izzett danced with the Turkish flag.
Neil Lennon tied a scarf round his head in Rambo style.
Emile Heskey just smiled in that modest way he has.
Theo Zagorakis jumped for joy.
The whole team came onto the pitch in a line and we all sang
'Rocking all over the World' and 'Simply the Best'. It felt like
a rehearsal for Wembley which is where we are going and in fact
a place where we have been for 7 of the last 8 seasons, quite
a record I think.
It just felt great to be alive, on this planet and to be a part
of a wonderful night's football when we had rammed the words
of our critics firmly down their mouths.
But we still have one more job to do before we can finally say
mission accomplished. I got one last look of Martin and he saluted
the crowd with a pointed finger and a determined expression on
his face..........I for one will carry that sentiment with me
to the Twin Towers where we have the opportunity to rid ourselves
of last year's painful experience.
See you there??????
.'
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