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Leicester: Arphexad, Sinclair, Guppy,
Gilchrist, Elliott, Impey, Izzet, Lennon,
Savage, Eadie, Cottee. Subs: Walsh,
Marshall, Oakes, Price, Zagorakis.
Bradford: Clarke, Wetherall, Halle,
Dreyer, Jacobs, McCall, Beagrie,
O'Brien, Windass, Blake, Saunders.
Subs: Westwood, Lawrence, Sharpe,
Rankin, Davison.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
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Leicester City 3 Bradford
City 0 6.5.00
No Celebrations for Uninspired
Bantams.
Our visitors today found Filbert Street
indulging in 'end of season celebrations' before todays game,
but they were unlikely to have been in similar spirit as they
ran out to fight for their survival in the Premier League. If
they expected the Foxes to show similar goodwill on the pitch
they were sadly mistaken. Although it could be argued that we
hadn't much more to fight for this season, we, in true Leicester
spirit, were committed to fight until the very end, because that
is the nature of our successful club.
Bradford played in an uncannily defensive
manner throughout the first half and it appeared that they had
not come to fight for three points, but were prepared to accept
a safe draw on the assumption that Wimbledon would lose. This
resulted in a rather dull opening to the game with City continually
breaking from midfield with Andy Impey and Robbie Savage surging
goalwards down the right hand side. The nervous Bradford defence
thwarted these forays until the 18th minute when Tony Cottee
had a serious shot at goal saved brilliantly by Matt Clarke and
about five minutes later, Phil Gilchrist headed over the bar
from a Lennon corner. During the last fifteen minutes of the
first half the game brightened slightly when both sides launched
attacks but failed to score.
The second half commenced in a more positive
manner and the attacks by both sides became more spirited. Now,
it appeared that at last the game was 'on' and after 59 minutes
Matt Elliott directed a corner kick from Steve Guppy into the
net. This appeared to dissolve any fighting spirit Bradford had
left and after a further five minutes Matt Elliott struck again
from a Guppy cross. This goal was followed three minutes later
by a third goal when Tony Cottee shook off Weatherall and O'Brien
and quietly slipped the ball into the net.
Bradford by now were demoralised but we
must applaud their fans who remained loyal to their cause until
the end.
We wish Bradford well, but only a miracle
can save them now.
We are gratified to know that our usual
'Top Ten' place is now assured.
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