Ricketts the ticket as City hound the Foxes

Last updated : 14 September 2005 By Michael Morris
Ricketts the matchwinner
"We'll take the three points even if it's an ugly 1 - 0 with with a goal off a defenders arse" - Quite a popular cliche.

Well in fairness to Michael Ricketts it was his head and not his backside that scored the winner against Leciester but it wasn't a pretty game and City for once managed to survive the final onslaught as Leicester threw the proverbial "kitchen sink" at us.

It started so well. Ricketts got his head to Jason Koumas' corner and City were one up after 8 mins. Other chances came as Jerome blasted over and at the other end Alexander had to make a smart diving save to his right before Leicester blew a great oportunity with an edge of the box free kick on the stroke of half time.

It was fairly even with City happy to be one up. Leicester are a big side and part of their gameplan was to push, pull, niggle, nudge, and generally be quite a dirty team. City struggled to cope at times and as the second half progressed Leicester became more imposing. I can't actually think of a decent save Douglas in the Foxes' goal had to make.

It was getting desperate to watch as a City fan. After a 92nd minute goal scored by Wolves, and 89th minute goal scored by Burnley you just feared the worst.

On 83 mins the ball was in the back of the City net. I felt like I'd been hit with a cricket bat. Then the joy that the flag was up and the goal was disallowed.

It was still hard going. Balls pumped into the City box meant the nerves were getting freyed. Then the board went up with 4 mins minimum to be played. For that four mins City kept the ball in the left hand corner as they attacked the Canton Stand.

Leicester finally managed to hoof the ball forward. We were closing in on 5 mins extra played. The heart stopped when they won a free kick on the corner of the box. I had then resigned myself to another draw. Leicester played the ball into the box and City players got touches. It came out again before another effort into the box went high and wide. Surely full time. 5 and a half mins played extra. No, deflection, a corner to Leicester. The ball swings in, a good cross, arms, legs and bodies spilling in all directions before a Leicester gets the final touch sending the ball into Alexander's arms. Then relief, the whistle goes. For the first time all game you get a rush of adrenaline when you realise it's a victory and the three points are ours.

Now an hour or two after I'm happy as you'd imagine. The stress levels are receding. I'm never convinced we can win unless we are 4 nil up so please City, this weekend against Crystal Palace make it easy for me.