Leicester City 2009 Review – What A Year

From League 1 Champions to fast emerging play-off contenders in the Championship it has been a great 2009 for Leicester fans, Leicester players, Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and chairman Milan Mandaric. Leicester City were able to graft in some silverware at the end of May this year, the first piece of competitive silverware since the Worthington Cup win in 2000, as the club were crowned League 1 champions, as vital wins over Leeds United and Southend United plus a draw against Scunthorpe saw Leicester cap off a great 2008/2009 campaign.

The final half of the 08/09 season saw Leicester kick off January with a 0-0 draw, in the 3rd Round of the Fa Cup against Crystal Palace. Leicester then went onto lose the replay at Selhurst Park. Also in January The Foxes were able to edge out Huddersfield Town at the Walkers Stadium, with Huddersfield taking the lead twice, Leicester were able to come out of the game with a 4-2 win. Also in January Nigel Pearson and his players travelled down to Yeovil in which was a long bitter journey for the Leicester fans.  That game resulted in a 2-0 win for the Foxes, as Joe Mattock now with West Brom scored his first and only goal for Leicester City. The month of February proved to be a tough old month for Leicester, as the Blue Army were left frustrated at home, as Oldham and Swindon both picked up important draws at the Walkers Stadium. On the other hand at the end of February Leicester travelled down to Stadium:Mk in what was the most nail biting Leicester match I have ever been to.  95 minutes were on the clock as the Mk Dons led 2-1; however a last minute free-kick from Max Gradel sent the Leicester fans into raptures as the Foxes went back to Leicester with a vital point.

The month of March proved to be a very inconsistent month for the Foxes. The 4-0 thrashing of Cheltenham Town was only one of two highlights in that month for Leicester City, the other being a 1-0 win against Millwall at the New Den as Steve Howard scored the winning goal after 23 minutes. However March proved to be the worst month yet for Leicester in League 1, Nigel Pearson and his side were overdone twice in that month, as both Tranmere and fellow promotion side Peterborough defeated the Foxes 2-0.  Moving onto April as that month proved to be one of the best months in Leicester’s history, the Foxes were able to pull away after a 1-0 win against Leeds United at the Walkers Stadium, however it was the away game at Southend which eventually crowned Leicester as the League 1 champions, as two goals from Matty Fryatt gifted the Foxes promotion back to the Championship. The season finished on a high as Leicester ended April with a 2-2 home draw against Scunthorpe, and the only game in May against Crewe ended in a 3-0 win for the Foxes.

Now into the 2009/2010 campaign and for a Leicester fan it has been a high flying exciting first half to the season. It all started with a 2-1 home win against Swansea as new signings Martyn Waghorn and Dany N’Guessan netted for the Foxes, August also saw Leicester bag decent draws away to Ipswich Town and Sheffield United. However that month ended on a low as Newcastle defeated Leicester City 1-0 at St James Park. September however proved to be an excellent month for Nigel Pearson’s side as City defeated Ian Holloway’s Blackpool 2-1 at the Walkers Stadium. Leicester City also threw a 2-0 lead away against Watford at Vicarage Road, however Dany N’Guessan saved Leicester from humiliation as the game ended 3-3. September was finished off with a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough, thanks to a goal from Lloyd Dyer.

With August and September complete the Foxes moved onto October, that month Leicester went unbeaten. With draw’s against local rivals Coventry and Derby, Leicester then moved onto three wins in a row as they defeated Crystal Palace as Paul Gallagher scored a sublime double in that match. Then it was a tricky trip to Reading in what proved to be a snatch and grab contest, as the Foxes won 1-0 at the Madjeski. Leicester then finished off the month with an impressive 2-1 win against QPR at Loftus Road. November however was a very short month, and in that month Leicester lost at home against West Brom, beat Plymouth and drew Scunthorpe.

Now we have reached December as there is only one more game left until the first half of the 09/10 campaign closes. Leicester City are currently 6th in the Coca Cola Championship, however this month has been an utter disaster as rivals Nottingham Forest defeated the Foxes 5-1. Also only three days later Bristol City stunned Leicester at the Walkers with three fine goals, as the match ended 3-1 in favour of the Robins. Lastly things have got bettter after them two defeats as Leicester eased to a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, that game proved to be the last game that Brian Laws took charge of as the manager of Sheffield Wednesday.

Leicester City have almost finished the 2009 year as this year has been a one to remember for the Leicester City fans, two more games left against Sheffield United and Doncaster then the Blue Army will be set for a battle in 2010, as the Foxes host Swansea in the FA Cup, the first game of the new year. Hopefully Leicester can end this year on a high as they try to stay in the play-offs as long as they can. FOXES NEVER QUIT!!!