Match Report

Premier League

Leicester v Leeds 26/03/00 3.00
Leicester (1) 2 Leeds (1) 1 FT
Collymore 14 Kewell 38
Guppy 48
City Clinch Championship

Peter Gilbert   26.3.00

As poor and lacklustre as was last week's game this one was as bright and brimming with life.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in early spring in England there is no finer place but you can add to that treat by watching Leicester City play football against Championship wannabe's......and indeed playing them off the pitch for lengthy periods of time.

Anyone who thought that this might be a 4.00pm kick off and who had forgotten to put their clocks forward for BST would have been very disappointed as they would have missed a most scintillating afternoon's entertainment.
Before the kick off Birch was wandering about with The Worthington Cup and so anyone who happened to have a camera with them would be delighted to be snapped with this trophy.
From the very start of this game City looked 'up for it' and they snapped away at Leeds with great ferocity. Leeds are of course a good side but they look destined to not actually win anything this season as they lack a certain amount of what can only be described a as class.
A fascinating battle between Collymore and Radebe swung into action right from the kick off as these two class acts locked horns.
First blood went to City when a Collymore free kick was bashed away by an uncertain looking Nigel Martyn in the Leeds goal, Izzett was unlucky with the rebound which he sent just over the bar.
Leeds demonstrated their ability to break forward in numbers with great skill and always posed a threat. Speaking of posed.....Harry Kewell looked in lively form throughout the 90 mins to be fair.

After 15 mins. Sinclair cut out a Leeds attack and accurately found Savage who surged forward 15 yards before passing to Izzett. He in turn moved on another 15; beat a man and then on the edge of the box he slipped the ball through to Collymore who chased , turned and shot into the top right hand corner all in one movement for a sublime opening goal. His goal celebrations seemed to be a take off of a certain short haired England player with a pop star wife who take themselves far too seriously.

Leeds hit back almost immediately and a beautiful ball from Haaland wrong footed Taggert and found Kewell who's snap shot hit the post. Taggert was beaten only once more during the course of the afternoon on the occasion when Kewell ran on to score smoothly to make the half time score 1-1.

Arthur Rowley of 457 goals fame was on the pitch at half time to draw the raffle and it was great to se him looking so sprightly.

He had hardly made his way back to his seat before City were in front again when Guppy latched on to a ball from Savage played hopefully across the box to side foot home left footed to restore our lead. He ran sheepishly away and celebrated in typical low key manner but this was an important strike, we all knew that.

Leeds, it has to be said never gave up but a determined City outfit held out admirably and snuffed out the challenge in most convincing manner. Collymore had a good effort go over the bar as did Izzett and suddenly we looked like a believable outfit again and one that deserved to be making a game of it with the best.
Cottee came on to replace an industrious Darren Eadie and nearly scored with his first kick. Gilchrist competently replaced Sinclair who went off limping and we always looked like we would win in the end and so it was.

During the course of the last 8 days we could well have decided the Championship by losing to Man Utd and then winning against Leeds.

Next weekend we could be starting our relegation campaign when we play Derby, that should be really interesting. We seem to be the sort of side who if we bother to try we can beat almost anyone, but if we try to play in second gear we can lose to almost anyone too.