" Match report Leicester v Cardiff 11 Feb 2012 "

Well guys I've missed the last 2 match reports because I have not managed to get to the games. So it was good feeling I had locking my front door knowing I was off to a game. I decided to catch the train as it is only 25 minutes from my local railway station. However that station is 15 minutes away on the bus. So off to the bus stop I went and when I got there I noticed there was a new service in operation to Leicester. So I caught this bus to Leicester which turned out to be a big mistake as it took twice as long as the 15 minutes bus ride and 25 minute train journey. Oh well you live and learn.

Any I was meeting up with a mate who is a Leicester fan. He invited me to his local pub which is about 10 minutes walk from the Walker Stadium. Thing was the bus terminated on the other side of Leicester and it took me 10 excuse me where is the football stadium questions to some of the locals. Eventually I got to the pub knackered but it was worth it in the end.

As you can imagine it was full of Leicester and the beer was flowing. Damn cheap beer it was specially if you had a students card which my mate did. I can't remember when I drank so much before a game so don’t expect much of a report.

I arrived at the away turnstiles about 15 minutes before kick off. I was met by a couple of friends who both commented on my red face. Oh dear I felt, I think I need to disappear into the crowd where there will be a lot more red faces for the same reasons as me.

I ended up right at the back up there in the heavens it felt and it really felt I was looking down from the heavens. I looked down onto the pitch and saw 22 sticks. To my right were a lot of Leicester fans and to by left a lot of Leicester fans. In front of me were quite a few Cardiff fans and they were the ones that started my recovery.

The home fans were in good voice and started waving their scarfs quite a lot. I think this was due to the fact their team was playing football while our team were not. The home side attacked the goal at the other end so it does not take a genius to work out that us Cardiff fans did not see much going on.

I totally concentrated on Marshall and waited for him to pick the ball out of the net. I was surprised that after 20 minutes he had not done that. In fact I don’t think he touched the ball at all in that period.

In the meantime Cardiff had one attack down the far side as we looked. The ball was crossed and just basically went pass the goal and bounced just near the corner flag in front of us. I looked around at the Cardiff fans who were a picture of boredom. My recovery was complete as the buzz of a few drinks had been quashed by what was going on the pitch.

Now I'm going to be abruptly honest here but it felt like the expected had arrived and our bubble had burst. I will elaborate a bit more on this when I talk about half time.

Back on the pitch all the play was still up the other end. Finally Marshall was forced to make a save from a powerful shot from about 25 yards. After that it was a period of the football being played up the other end again. It was boring for us to watch but at least we had not let a goal in I thought. Wished I did not have these thoughts sometimes.

Just before half time there was quite a lot of the sticks in the Cardiff penalty area. The home fans then went wild as the play stopped. The players just stood there and us Cardiff fans did not have a clue what was going on. Next thing Marshall picked the ball up and slammed it to the ground. The home side were awarded a penalty and all us Cardiff wondered why.

I saw some Leicester player place the ball on the spot, with his back to the goal took a few steps back then on hearing the whistle quickly turned around and slammed the ball into the net. The faith amongst us away supporters evaporated there and then.

It felt like we were going to need a miracle to get back into this one and we thought we got that right on half time. A hoofed ball from the far side was won by the new boy Vuckic who flicked it onto Miller who perfectly lopped the ball into the net. However our joy was short lived as the linesman flag went up.

The half time whistle blew and we all made our way into the concourse. You can imagine the conversations going on. However I have never witness Cardiff fans deciding to go to the pub instead of watching the second half. Was it that bad for some people?

So the second half started and it was very much the same as the first. This time we could see what was going on as all the play was this time down our end. It came clear what the problem was though. Whittingham was being hounded out of the game and we had no other plan. In fact when we tried to get into their half we lost the ball and were on the back foot very quickly. One such breakdown resulted in a Leicester free kick about 25 yards out. From this free kick Marshall could only watch as the ball hit the back of the net.

The Leicester fans were in full voice now and us Cardiff fans were not having a good day. We were not having a good time at all.

By now I was a bit more with it and started to focus more on the game. From the kick off it looked to me that Leicester dropped a gear. Cardiff started to create some chances but did not trouble the Leicester keeper. Whittingham though was still hounded which allowed the home side to do some counter attacking.

Then Cardiff got back in the game when some sloppy defending by the home side saw the ball in their net. However the referee blew his whistle earlier to give the away side a penalty of which Whittingham hit the net.

Cardiff looked like they had another goal in them as they started to take control. Well I say this because most of the play was up at the other end. One move saw a placed shot from a player wearing a Cardiff top just go wide from the edge of the box. Cardiff won a few corners in this period but then had the chance to equalise.

From a counter attack by the home side that broke down in the Cardiff half the away side found themselves with 3 against 2. Miller was in the centre circle with Rudy free on his left. As the ball came to his feet Rudy made his call. A simple pass to him and Rudy was away with the keeper only to beat. However Miller ended up stamping on the ball resulting in possession being given back to the home side.

As the game approached fulltime the Cardiff fans just wished for the final whistle. It felt like an equaliser would be nice but the final whistle would be better. The Leicester fans were adding to the misery and faith was long gone in the away section.

The final whistle came and the away section soon emptied. The Cardiff players came over to acknowledge those fans who stayed and that must have been hard work.

I was the last away fan to leave. As I left the stewards wished me a good trip back and good luck for the 26th. A nice gesture but it did not help the dank feeling inside of me.

Good report matey,

Shame about the result and fans saying they were going to the pub at half time but I didn't go today but can't blame some of the fans if they felt that way!!

Another disallowed goal which is disappointing but roll on tuesday,
Sure the boys will want to make amends!!

Missed your reports Ian, a good report as usual, shame about the game.

Good report hallam

Good report from a fans' view of the game, I was going to go to this one but I had a choice to make Leicester or Wembley.

Nice one Ian, spot on report ..It was a bad day at the office .......come to think of it, your face was quite red

Nice one Ian, spot on report ..It was a bad day at the office .......come to think of it, your face was quite red

I thought that too mate although i thought it was from Ian walking up all those steps to the last few rows at the back.

Nice one Ian, spot on report ..It was a bad day at the office .......come to think of it, your face was quite red

I thought that too mate although i thought it was from Ian walking up all those steps to the last few rows at the back.

Those steps didn't help but apparently the face was red at the turnstyles according to some. For a 2 pint wonder guy these days I think I surprised a few.

we were simply beaten by a more hungry side on the day

I was in the home end, opposite city fans and there were lots of fit women drinking coffee at half time