Premier League     Leeds v Leicester 26/12/99 3.00

Leeds (2) 2 Leicester (1) 1 FT
Bridges 29      Cottee 10
Bowyer 45

Bah - Humbug!!!

Peter Gilbert. 26.12.99.

I love Boxing Day; I always have. When I was a very young we used to have marvellous family 'get togethers' at relatives in rural Leicestershire consuming salmon sandwiches and trifle, playing games and singing songs, on our best behaviour of course.
These days I like to start this day with a long crisp walk, but living in the hills of Derbyshire as I do I was somewhat thwarted by a sudden heavy snowfall. I trudged back to the car feeling like maybe flu was trying to get a hold on me.

My spirits were raised by witnessing representatives of Leicester's claim to be the sporting capital of the world in the shape of Darren Maddy batting for England and listening to a snatch of Leicester v Bath on the radio.  I made my own sporting contribution with a nice little post Christmas win on the lottery, maybe - just maybe - the force was with us today although it was going to be a battle.

I could settle back and wallow in my flu and nostalgia or I could get out there and go for it, after very little agonising I settled on the latter and crossed white moorland en route for Elland Road.

I was not alone and The Blue Army though depleted was in good voice and once again my spirits were lifted by the collective voices of Leicestershire folk.
Maybe the mulled wine in my flask or my new LCFC socks or my blue and white Santa hat would do the trick for us, I was looking for positive vibes or a witch doctor's magic bones.

Somehow though, despite Leeds Utd being top of the league,  just don't rate them and I think they are living on a prayer somehow, although defensively they are very good.  So if we can keep their defenders busy we could be in with a shout, that was my final thought as the teams came out.

There was a spirited start to the game with both sides throwing themselves at the situation. After only 9 mins. though Leicester took the lead when Oakes played a good ball down the left which Emile Heskey raced after and his speed deceived everyone including Nigel Martyn in goal who committed himself to a wildly unsuccessful challenge and the ball was crossed into the box and was met by Cottee's head for a sweetly placed goal.
Suddenly the home side with 11 straight wins at home were struggling to gain some rhythm and a pattern to their play. Martyn was booked for a clumsy challenge on the speedy Eadie and Bakke was booked for clutching at hot tottie Cottie.

The Leeds crowd are incredibly biased and cannot judge or evaluate any situation with a degree of rationality, they scream and snarl at every decision which goes against them.
On the half hour they had something to shout about when their side drew level with Bridges tidying up some goal mouth confusion.

Now it was City's turn to go into their shell but not for long as Cottee, Izzett and Sinclair all threatened Martyn's goal as the boys in blue began to re-build their game plan and self belief.

On the stroke of half time a cross ball from Bridges found Bowyer on the edge of the box and the impish midfielder sent the ball flying into the back of the net for an undeserved half time tonic for O'Leary's lads.
City hit back with a corner which came to nothing and the final action before a rest was another shot from Bowyer which was well saved from Arphexad.

At half time we heard that The Tigers had beaten Bath and Darren Maddy had carried his bat in the third test in South Africa, we were wanting to be the final piece in the Boxing Day jig saw and we wished for Martin to work his magic over the half time cup of tea to complete the Christmas cheer.    It was going to be an uphill battle but we felt some optimism based on our first half performance.

The Leeds crowd were jubilant crowing all sorts of sentences at us mainly starting with 'tha's and thees', very tasteful. Mind you having heard the things they like to sing about Man Utd  I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies;  'Eeeeh ba gum!'
Early on Emile slaughtered Radebe for speed and crossed a ball which was narrowly too far in front of Cottee who would surely have scored.
A Leeds corner however restored the home crowd's Christmas cheering and joy.   Possession of the ball was narrowly in favour of Leeds and was clearly the key to success.
Arphexad's frailty manifested itself when he failed to cut out a corner. Huckerby had a deposit into the back of the net ruled out for off-side and we appeared to be rocking a little.
A fascinating dual between Bowyer and Izzett ensued with both players clearly pressing for England selection. Sinclair was looking good at right back but Gilchrist at left back appeared short of pace and more suited to a trio of centre backs line up, he looks OK in a more central location.
The game was open and flowing and we felt that a goal could go in at either end and that the next goal would surely be crucial.
A great header from Harte pulled out a great save from Arphexad, he's a great shot stopper but he lacks some organisation.
Great pressure from Leeds put our backs to the wall and our hearts in our mouths as the young Leeds side began to visibly grow in confidence. We needed to hurt them and soon - but it was Arphexad who was the next 'keeper in action; blocking well for a corner.
More was needed from our midfield who had so far failed to impress with Eadie being particularly anonymous. We were taking a battering but we were digging in and taking it on the chin.   Emile Heskey looked like the most likely outlet and cause for hope.
Kewell was all over the pitch, Bridges was shooting on sight, Bowyer was lively and the two full backs Kelly and Harte were getting forward too.
Zagorakis came on replacing Gilchrist which indicated a change in line up and sure enough Oakes and Savage went to wing backs with Taggert, Elliott and Sinclair going to centre back. Eadie would now hopefully move into an advanced location as we needed to push for a goal.
Unfortunately Peguy Arphexad was seeing more of the ball than we would have liked but Robbie Savage was getting wound up and his hyper-active behaviour began to surface.
Our back three were by now our only true defenders but our advanced play failed to silence the Leeds crowd.
Another good save from Arphexad.
Eadie wins a corner, Oakes takes it, Heskey heads wide.
Kewell free kick to Harte who shoots, Peguy saves well again.
Cottee seems isolated up front.
Izzett/ Heskey one two wins a corner, Oakes takes it to no avail.
15 mins to go.
Leeds give the ball away Eadie feeds Heskey who crosses low and hard which Cottee just misses.
Wilcox on for Huckerby and is booked almost immediately.
Leicester looking better.
Arphexad robs Bridges in the box.
Heskey to Izzett to Zagorakis to Oakes who crosses but Heskey's header goes straight at Martyn.   With a little more direction we would surely have drawn level.
Zagorakis wins the ball well in midfield the ref waves play on,Bowyer and Bridges go down injured. Oakes puts the ball out of play then the ref. books Zagorakis which really didn't make sense at all.
7 mins to go; City still pressing.
Bakke shoots wide.
Bowyer dives in the box.   City break away but Harte intercepts.
Good passing from Oakes.
Bridges misses a cross as Leeds try and dampen the game while City are desperately fanning the flames.
3 mins to go.
Zagorakis loses the ball to Kewell who goes for a 50/50 ball with Peguy but sadly the Aussie could not resist an extravagant dive for which he should have been booked.  This kind of behaviour must be stamped out.
Kewell takes the ball to the corner flag and behaves like a boxer hanging onto the ropes and he wins a corner.
1 min to go Leeds fans are whistling like Canaries in a cage and not strutting about like The Peacock's they claim to be.
Final whistle goes for Leeds to gain their 12th win in a row at home and for us to suffer 3 defeats on the trot.
City just could not come up with the goods with 4 key players still out injured and we need to re-group, lick our wounds and re-surface in 2 days time to end our Millennium on a high note.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Kewell, Bridges, Huckerby (Wilcox, 77).

Subs not used: Mills, Jones, Duberry, Robinson.

Booked: Martyn, Bridges, Wilcox.

Leicester: Arphexad, Elliott, Taggart, Gilchrist (Zagorakis, 65), Sinclair, Savage, Izzet, Eadie, Oakes, Cottee, Heskey.

Subs not used: Gunnlaugsson, Campbell, Thomas, Hodges.

Booked: Zagorakis.

Attendance: 40,105.

Referee: M Halsey