Knock three times. Woodwork again denies City

Last updated : 30 October 2004 By Michael Morris
It was like the Leeds game from a few weeks ago. City should have won 3 - 0. Maybe 3 - 1 after Leicester were denied firstly by a superb save from Tony Warner from a Dion Dublin header and when Gabbidon cleared a Conolly effort off the line.

Apart from that it was City all the way. Paul Parry played a more advanced role after Peter Thorne was ruled out with a recurrance of his neck injury and the excellent youngster Joe Ledley played wide left.

Man of the match was given to James Collins in the City defence but for me it was Gary O'Neil who ran the show.

O'Neil saw a first half free kick hit the bar and a superb cut insde and shot (which reminded me of many Earnie used to do) that left Kevin Pressman grasping thin air but the ball hit the post.

I like O'Neil and Kav playing together. Kav can play the now deeper role he seems to have settled into with O'Neil probing forward.

Paul Parry had a good game and was unlucky to see his shot from distance beat Pressman but not the post. The rebound fell to Lee who selfishly shot straight into the wide girth of the Leicester keeper when City had men free in the box.

Pressman produced another stunner to keep an effort from Kav out, the ball was heading for the top corner when Pressman pushed it away.

City attacked right until the end and a breakway in injury time saw Jerome enter the box wide right, his cross to O'Neil got tangled in the midfielders legs with the winning goal just inches away.

City were shooting from distance and looking threatening from all angles. The stats show City had 17 efforts to Leicester's 6. It was a shame to see the points go begging but the performance deserved all three points.

Leicester, like Leeds a few weeks ago will be relieved to be leaving with a point.

Next up it's West Ham at Ninian Park on Tuesday. The Hammers have not won away in 5 games. City have not conceeded at home in the last 3. (0 - 0 it's going to be then).

City move up a place thanks to a Crewe loss last night and with Forest losing today we were not overtaken.

There have been too many draws of late but considering before that there were too many defeats we have definately improved. After West Ham we go to Rotherham next Saturday.

After two weeks in Florida it was nice to be back at Ninian Park (even though it was 30 degrees F cooler).