What an amazing day yesterday was!
I've been to quite a few away games, if you discount Wembley trips that was probably the best. Its been a dismal season but results like that make it all worhtwhile. We looked dead and buried after last week's match, and we scrape a 1-0 win in such a hugely important game with a lateish goal. Incrdible stuff, and 4-5000 other away fans to enjoy it with. Brilliant relaxed stewarding too! Great result. Sure we rode our luck, what with them hitting the post twice, having a decent penalthy shout waved away, and us having to endure the longest 15 minutes of football ever trying to hold onto our advantage towards the end. But we did it and this one result could turn around the direction of our season!
A very scrappy game, but most championship games are, and even so we didn't play great. Some great defensive performances, and one or two individuals did well ( take a bow Sir Barry of Hayles, David Bell, Patrick Kisnorbo, Gareth Macca and Iain Hume), but we look so clueless and toothless in the final third, its almost untrue. But it matters not, if we scrape a win in the same way next week at home to Wednesday, we are safe!
And this time last week I did not think that would be the case. Results elsewhere went ok for us.
Henderson 6.5 - not too much to do, needlessly gave away a corner on one occasion
Stearman 7 - stong in the second half
*Kisnorbo - 8.5 - man mountain
McAuley - 8 ditto
Clapham - 6.5 steady
Bell - 7.5 great player, just needs to work a bit on his final ball
Oakley - 5.5 anonymous again and gave the ball away a fair bit
Weso - 6 - again gave the ball away a lot but really stood up to the plate in the last 15 mins
Hendrie - 5.5 didn't look himself and went off injured early.
Howard - 6 - held it up ok but plays far too deep for a centre forward leaving Hume isolated
Hume - 7 - not the best from him but he got that oh so crucial goal - good reactions.
Subs:
* Sir Barry Hayles - 8.5 LEG END!!
Turned the game in our favour. Cult hero. We all dream of a team of Barry Hayles! ;D
N'Gotty - 6 - not on long, sured up the defence when we were hanging on
DJ - not on long enough (a time wasting sub!)
Still, lets not get carried away and finish the job next week. Beat Sheffield Wednesday we stay up. Draw the last 2 we stay up. Get the job done city!
Leicester manager Ian Holloway:"I was actually overwhelmed when I walked out the tunnel at the start of the game. The welcome I received from our massive travelling army of fans was incredible. I don't think I have ever experienced anything like that before in my whole career.
"I cannot thank the supporters enough for their efforts today. It was freezing cold but they kept going throughout. I loved it. They gave us a massive boost and the victory is reward for their incredible loyalty.
"It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up before the game had even started. It was incredible. I know how much these people care and I know how proud they are of their club. I just wanted the lads to show them that they care as well and I thought that they did that today."
"I told the players that we had three games to get promoted to the Championship. We were in the relegation places and we knew what we had to do today.
"But it's far from over yet. We've now got to focus on our game against Sheffield Wednesday next weekend.
"I don't care if it is ugly - I really don't give a monkey's. We will start the game with a point and then we have got to get out there and get the other two.
"We have got to try and keep building and moving forward. That's the only way we will succeed."
Goalscorer Iain Huuuuummmeee:Striker Iain Hume dedicated his match-winning strike against Barnsley to the travelling Blue Army.
More than 4,000 City fans made the trip up the M1 to Oakwell and they did not go home disappointed after the Canadian international's 10th goal of the season handed the Foxes a vital three points.
Hume pounced in the 73rd minute to send the City support wild and in the process moved Ian Holloway's men a step nearer to safety.
Article continues
Advertisement
Hume said: "To have over 4,000 of our fans come away from home to watch us at this stage of what has been a difficult season and sing their hearts out for 90 minutes in the freezing cold tells you everything about this club.
"They helped turn the atmosphere in our favour and we are so grateful to them for making the effort because we couldn't have got the win without them.
"They never stopped singing and hopefully my goal helped put a smile on their faces and send them all home happy.
"It was great to celebrate in front of them and had the stewards given me half a chance then I would have been in there with them!
"Hopefully all the fans could see how much it meant to all the players."
City rode their luck at times but the victory has lifted the Foxes back up to 20th in the table with just two matches remaining this term.
"It was exactly the same here as last season - very scrappy but whether it's beautiful or not, who cares? Three points is three points and we've got those vital points on the board now which no one can take away from us," added Hume.
However, the 24-year-old striker knows the job of staving off relegation is far from done just yet, with a massive game against third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday at the Walkers Stadium next Saturday.
"It's a massive game but one that we are looking forward to," he said.
"I'm sure it's going to be another great atmosphere and hopefully our fans will again come out in force and fill the stadium.
"We need them again because we all know if that we beat Sheffield Wednesday then we are safe."
;D
well done leicester
