What the papers say: Leicester

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com

Leicester 1 Reading 2

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc ... =leicester


Waghorn is pursed by Khizanishvili.

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a stoppage-time penalty as Reading stole a win at Coca-Cola Championship play-off hopefuls Leicester.

Sigurdsson stepped up to convert his 14th goal of the season as resurgent Reading picked up their ninth win in 11 league games.

Jimmy Kebe had opened the scoring with his seventh goal of that 11-game run but Martyn Waghorn appeared to have earned Nigel Pearson's side a draw with a header before the break.

But the late drama continued Reading's amazing form as the Foxes held on to fourth place in the table to keep dreams of a second consecutive promotion alive.

The Royals had barely broken out of their half after a bright start from the hosts before they took a 16th-minute lead through the transformed Kebe.

Sigurdsson won the ball in the centre-circle and produced an inch-perfect through pass for Kebe to sprint clear.

The Mali international is full of confidence after his recent run of form and showed a deft touch to dance around goalkeeper Chris Weale.

He had gone too wide to finish but was criminally allowed the time to take a touch and steady himself before slotting beyond Weale.

The game opened up and Leicester twice came close to an equaliser through Lloyd Dyer and Andy King before Waghorn did level in the 40th minute.

Dyer was again involved and he took advantage of a slip from Reading right-back Andy Griffin to motor down the wing before picking out Waghorn with a great cross that the on-loan Sunderland man planted in off the base of the far post.

The electric Dyer then picked out King with another superb run and cross but Adam Federici produced a sensational reaction save to tip his effort over the top.

Kebe fashioned a chance for Sigurdsson at the start of the second half but King made a goal-saving block on the edge of the six-yard box.

Dyer was then involved in an ugly spat with Griffin and in the aftermath Royals midfielder Jay Tabb had to be carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury after he was clattered by Richie Wellens.

Brynjar Gunnarsson came on in Tabb's place and it was the visitors who looked most likely to sneak a winner as the half wore on.

Jobi McAnuff and Sigurdsson both saw efforts blocked before Weale made a fine save to keep out a curler from Ryan Bertrand.

Dyer again went close before the Royals stole the win in stoppage time.

Substitute Grzegorz Rasiak found fellow replacement Simon Church with a flick-on and the Wales international cut inside before he went down under a challenge from veteran Nolberto Solano.

Sigurdsson has made a habit of late penalties recently and made no mistake with a cool finish to send the away fans home happy.

TEAMS

Leicester
1. Chris Weale
7. Nolberto Solano (yellow card)
4. Michael Morrison
25. Jack Hobbs
3. Ryan McGivern
8. Matt Oakley (71)
19. Richie Wellens
10. Andy King
11. Lloyd Dyer (yellow card)
18. Martyn Waghorn (yellow card)
24. Paul Gallagher (74)

SUBS
13. Conrad Logan (GK)
6. Wayne Brown
9. Steve Howard
16. Nicky Adams
17. Dany N'Guessan (74)
22. Yann Kermorgant
34. Jay Spearing (71)

Reading
1. Adam Federici
40. Andy Griffin (yellow card)
5. Matthew Mills
44. Zurab Khizanishvili
24. Ryan Bertrand
14. Jimmy Kebe
7. Jay Tabb (61)
34. Brian Howard (yellow card) (64)
25. Gylfi Sigurdsson
11. Jobi McAnuff
9. Shane Long (75)

SUBS
21. Ben Hamer (GK)
6. Brynjar Gunnarsson (61)
18. Simon Church (64)
19. Hal Robson-Kanu
20. Jem Karacan
23. Grzegorz Rasiak (75)
26. Alex Pearce

STAT ATTACK
Leicester............Reading
8.....Shots On Target......9
9.....Shots Off Target.....4
12....Fouls (Conceded)...12
6..........Corners...........7
3.......Yellow Cards........2
0........Red Cards..........0

[Far Canal]

Leicester 1-2 Reading: The Daily Mirror Match Report

Published 22:30 24/03/10 By Jon West

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Le ... 66881.html



Reading remain on course for a play-off charge that was unthinkable a few weeks ago thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty winner at Leicester.

The Icelander kept his cool in stoppage time to seal Reading’s ninth win in their last 11 Championship games.

Just two months ago the Royals were rock bottom and staring League One football in the face.

Now they are just eight points shy of the play-off places and in the hottest form since they clinched promotion to the Premier League in 2006.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround of fortunes under Brian McDermott, who replaced the sacked Brendan Rodgers just before Christmas.

“Listen, to even discuss the play-offs considering on January 20 we were four points adrift at the bottom is testament to how far the players have come in the last two months or so,” McDermott said.

Leicester remain fourth but only because Cardiff drew when they could have gone ahead on goal difference by beating Sheffield United.

Reading winger Jimmy Kebe opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he latched on to a Sigurdsson pass and slotted under Foxes goalkeeper Chris Weale.

Leicester were level five minutes before the break when Martyn Waghorn headed home a Lloyd Dyer cross after Reading defender Andy Griffin slipped.

But when the veteran Nolberto Solano impeded Reading substitute Simon Church in the box Sigurdsson stepped up to seal victory with a cool finish.

“We have done that a few times this year and from the penalty spot as well,” McDermott mused.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson had no complaints. “I’m disappointed because we didn’t deserve to lose,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Nobby about the penalty - he says he touched the ball - and I’ve seen them given and I’ve seen them not given.”

[The Surgeon of Crowthorne]

But we weren't actually bottom

[Flyingkiwi]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010 ... ampionship
Championship round-up
Gylfi Sigurdsson sinks Leicester to keep Reading revival rolling• Reading beat Leicester with late penalty

Glyfi Sigurdsson celebrates after scoring Reading's winner at Leicester from the penalty spot. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a stoppage-time penalty to give Reading victory at Leicester City and dent the hosts' play-off ambitions while maintaining their own excellent run of form.

Sigurdsson stepped up to convert his 14th goal of the season as Reading picked up their ninth win in 11 league games.

Jimmy Kebe had opened the scoring with his seventh goal of that 11-game run but Martyn Waghorn appeared to have earned Nigel Pearson's side a draw with a header before the break. But the late drama continued Reading's amazing form.

The visitors had barely broken out of their half after a bright start from the hosts before they took a 16th-minute lead through Kebe. Sigurdsson won the ball in the middle of the pitch and produced an inch-perfect through pass for Kebe to sprint clear.

The in-form Mali international showed a deft touch to skip past the goalkeeper, Chris Weale. He had gone too wide to finish but was allowed time to take a touch and steady himself before scoring beyond Weale.

Leicester twice came close to an equaliser through Lloyd Dyer and Andy King before Waghorn equalised in the 40th minute. Dyer was again involved and he took advantage of a slip from the Reading right-back Andy Griffin to motor down the wing before picking out Waghorn with an excellent cross that the on-loan Sunderland player planted in off the base of the far post.

Dyer then picked out King with another superb run and cross but Adam Federici produced a sensational reaction save to tip his effort over the top.

Dyer was shortly involved in a spat with Griffin and in the aftermath the Reading midfielder Jay Tabb had to be carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury after he was clattered by Richie Wellens.

Brynjar Gunnarsson came on in the stricken Tabb's place and it was the visitors who looked more likely to sneak a winner as the half wore on. The visitors were rewarded in injury time when the substitute Grzegorz Rasiak found his fellow replacement Simon Church with a flick-on and the Wales international cut inside before he went down under a challenge from Nolberto Solano. Sigurdsson has made a habit of late penalties recently and made no mistake with a cool finish.

[sandman]

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson had no complaints. “I’m disappointed because we didn’t deserve to lose,” he said.

A. Saying that they didn't deserve to lose seems like a complaint to me. And B. Now he knows how we felt after losing the Mad Stad game.

[SpaceCruiser]

But we weren't actually bottom

Just what I was about to say!!!

Thanks!

[Mr. Reading]

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson had no complaints. “I’m disappointed because we didn’t deserve to lose,” he said.

A. Saying that they didn't deserve to lose seems like a complaint to me. And B. Now he knows how we felt after losing the Mad Stad game.

To be fair one of his comments was "both teams had chances to win and they did, so no complaints there", and he admitted after the home game that we should have won. Have no problem with Pearson really, one of the more honest managers around!

[rabidbee]

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson had no complaints. “I’m disappointed because we didn’t deserve to lose,” he said.

A. Saying that they didn't deserve to lose seems like a complaint to me. And B. Now he knows how we felt after losing the Mad Stad game.

I took that to mean no complaints about the penalty decision. And expressing disappointment is not the same as complaining, anyway.