 |
Coca Cola Championship |
 |
Barnsley 1 |
Leicester City 0 |
|
Colace 77
|
-
|
A huge sigh of relief from everyone connected to Barnsley Football club, as the reds register the first win of 2010. The line is so thin between getting involved in the play-offs or indeed the relegation dog fight, that this was a crucial result, that keeps any slim chances of a play off position alive. The reds travel to struggling Reading on Saturday, where we hope to continue the winning habit.
Leicester have been impressive this season, and had new big name signing Norberto Solano in the squad for this visit to Oakwell, so it can be classed as a good result, any win in this division is a good result.. but it wasnt pretty, with the first half almost featureless.
Amazingly it was the reds first goal against the foxes in 14 years, but Hugo Colace's strike was enough to secure victory.
The Tykes had not scored in seven meetings with Leicester, but changed that record with our first Championship win of 2010.
The winnning goal came 13 minutes from the end when Colace stroked home the rebound following Ryan Shotton's header had been saved by Foxes keeper Chris Weale.
Our recent steady climb towards the top half of the table had faltered in recent weeks after defeats to Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday.
It turned out to be a deserved fifth home win of the season by shading their opponents in the second half after a poor first half.
Nigel Pearson's team began the game only one point away from the play-offs, but they are left still waiting for their first win of 2010 after another average showing in front of a crowd of 12,065 at Oakwell.
Nathan Doyle gave a spark of excitement in the 28th minute to intercept the ball in midfield before bearing down on the visitors' penalty area.
Doyle played in Hume, but Leicester centre half Wayne Brown rescued his side with a good cover tackle to ensure Weale did not have to make the game's first save.
Leicester's Dany N'Guessan blazed his side's first shot at goal high and wide, but home goalkeeper Luke Steele saved from Martyn Waghorn in the 38th minute with a fine save and Tykes skipper Stephen Foster was on hand as he blocked N'Guessan's follow up.
N'Guessan then headed wide unmarked from Paul Gallagher's cross just before half time.
Hammill lit up the game with a flashing 30 yard shot that Weale turned away at full stretch in the 54th minute.
Some desperate Leicester defending kept the away side in it, as subsequent corners saw Shotton and Foster both have headers cleared off the line by Matt Oakley.
A low strike from Hammill after he had wriggled his way into the area, was then saved by Weale as the game sparked into life with Hume toe ending a chance wide from 10 yards.
Leicester sent on strike pair Steve Howard and Matt Fryatt in the 66th minute, but Barnsley still pressed and Shotton's cross shot went close.
Andy King came on for N'Guessan in the 74th minute with Jon Macken making way for Andy Gray just moments before Barnsley took the lead.
Shotton powered Hume's corner towards the bottom corner and although Weale kept the ball out one-handed, Colace reacted fastest to side foot home the rebound in the 77th minute.
Weale saved again in style again from Anderson's powerful half volley, Leicester pressed at the end forcing successive corners but the reds defence kept them out to secure the three points.
BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC - BFC
BARNSLEY FC v Leicester City | BARNSLEY v Leicester City FC REVIEW | BARNSLEY v Leicester City MATCH PREVIEW | BARNSLEY v Leicester City FC RESULT | BARNSLEY v Leicester City report | BARNSLEY v Leicester City team news |
Barnsley FC | Leicester City FC | Barnsley FC | Leicester City FC | Barnsley FC
