LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK
SUNDERLAND - NOVEMBER 22nd 2014
LOOK BACK- Since our last home game and a disappointing defeat to West Bromwich Albion, that incidentally caused me some grief! More misery followed with another disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southampton that had fickle supporters questioning Nigel Pearson’s tactics and ability to manage in the top flight.
I am not going to jump on the Pearson out bandwagon because to me he has nothing to prove and although I have concerns why we have suddenly forgot how to shoot at the goal never mind score. I believe that Nigel Pearson is still the right man for Leicester City.
LOOK FORWARD - Next up at The King Power Stadium is Sunderland who themselves have been finding life tough recently. And with us bemoaning that 2-0 defeat at Southampton let’s not forget how good Southampton are as they put 8 past our forthcoming visitors! Sunderland appear to have steadied the ship a little in their last two fixtures with an impressive 3-1 win at Crystal Palace followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Everton.
Looking at the Sunderland team they have some quality players and I personally thought that they would be ok this season under the guidance of Gus Poyet. In goal they can call on Vito Mannone who I rate highly, but who no doubt had his confidence rattled after conceding eight at Southampton. If Mannone is still feeling shell shocked, then Costel Pantilimon will be on hand to step up to the plate.
In defence Sunderland have the Manchester United connection with former reds Wes Brown and John O Shea at the heart, and also former fox Patrick Van Aanholt may be included. Van Aanholt spent a loan period at The King Power Stadium from Chelsea when Sven was manager!.
In midfield Sunderland have some quality with Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson and Lee Cattermole all in contention and Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham, Jozy Altidore and Danny Graham will be vying for a place up front.
LOOK BACK - Once again my first game looking back is to the 1969/70 period, as you are probably aware this is one of my favourite times being a fox, and on January 3rd 1970 Leicester who were playing in the second division following our relegation in the previous May, were at home to first division Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup. Once again I was sitting in the double decker stand (what a great view that was ) and my brother Roy was with me and he was celebrating his sixteenth birthday on that day, he even had a request played on Richard Thompsons ‘sound off ’ before the game. I remember it being Susan Maughan singing Bobby’s Girl and fittingly it was captain Bobby Roberts who scored the only goal of the game that day to send us into round 4. We enjoyed a decent cup run until being knocked out in the fifth round after a replay by a star studded Liverpool team and unfortunately we just missed out on an instant return to the first division by finishing third in the table that season.
Fast Forward to March 5th 2000 and Leicester were playing Sunderland at Filbert Street in the days of Martin O Neill, and one Stan Collymore was making his home debut.
City were still basking in the glory of winning the Worthington Cup against Tranmere Rovers as they faced Sunderland that day and Collymore could only have dreamt how his debut would unfold.
Leicester were kicking toward the family stand as we won a free kick well inside our own half, and following a headed flick on from Heskey, Collymore superbly smashed the ball home from outside of the box to make it 1-0. City went 2-0 ahead when Neil Lennon won a challenge on the half way line and sent a precise pass into Heskey who scored from the edge of the area. Sunderland pulled a goal back with a superb finish from Kevin Phillips ( who we hope will now be plotting the downfall of our visitors ) but Leicester restored their two goal advantage when Collymore scored his second with a powerful header from seventeen yards out. Niall Quinn scored another brilliant goal to make the score 3-2 but Stan Collymore stole the show when he scored from close range from a superb Emile Heskey cross. Oakes completed the scoring by lashing home a free kick from from some distance that was deflected into the Sunderland net. An impressive performance by City and in particular from Stan Collymore.
Unfortunately Stan broke his leg against Derby County and only played a few games for us when he returned from injury before moving on to Bradford City.
Let us hope that we can put an end to the illness that has swept through The King Power Stadium and after being diagnosed with ‘ post traumatic Manchester United disorder ‘ the foxes will rise to the challenge and get us back to winning ways.
Shout loud for the Foxes
Alan ‘ Meashamfox ‘ Bennett
Leicester Till I Die
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