Last Time At The Walkers/Kings Power Stadium
Tuesday, 23rd Aug 2011 09:23

Its been nearly four years since our last trip to Leicester City.

Coming in season 2007/08 a year in which Saints escaped relegation to league One on the final day and Leicester plunged into that division instead of ourselves, most will consider that this fixture was a relegation battle six pointer, but they would be wrong.

On the morning of December 1st 2007 both teams sat comfortably in mid table, Saints 15th on 23 points after 18 games and Leicester one place behind with 21 points but having played a game less.

Therefore both teams were looking up the table and in the hope of a possible play off spot rather than relegation, despite George Burley's failings and how obvious it was that he didnt seem too bothered anymore, most Saints fans although not that confident of the play offs, certainly didnt think that the team was in any danger of getting dragged into a relegation fight.

20, 070 including around a thousand Saints supporters saw us line up

Davis

Ifil, Bennett, Davies, Wright

Dyer, Safri, Surman, Euel Wright- Phillips,

John

A formation with the intention of using Dyer & BWP to attack when we had the ball but get back when we didnt.

Saints took command of the game early doors and it was no surprise when they took the lead just after the half hour, a Safri cross was headed back by Dyer and Stern John did what he did best, prodding the ball home from six yards.

Saints looked comfortable defending and Leicester were mainly relying on long range efforts going nowhere, until just before half time one ixeplicably went somewhere and that was past Davis from 28 yards to put Leicester back in a game they should not have been anywhere near.

After the break Saints dug in ready for the onslaught, but they held firm and got their grip back mainly due to their determination to pass the ball rather than hoof it which must have been a temptation, ten minutes into the second half Saints got the break they needed.

Phil Ifil was playing a storming game at left back and he got forward well to put in a cross, Fulop in the home goal punched it out and as Stern John challenged, the ball spun up and hit Stephen Clemence on the arm, it was harsh but the ref pointed to the spot and Andrew Surman tucked away the penalty for what would be the winner.

Leicester strangely couldnt exert the pressure that they would have liked and Saints closed out the game in fine style to take all three points.

The table after this game saw Saints in 13th on 26 points, only four behind sixth place, indeed as late as 12th January Saints were still only five points off the play offs, but the cracks were showing by then and the turmoil was about to begin

Photo: Action Images

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bstokesaint added 13:06 - Aug 23 Quite frankly I'm amazed we even won a game with this team. With the exception of Davis, Davies and Surman I wouldn't have thought the rest of them would have got in our League 1 team last season!! It shows how far we have come when you look at that team versus our current one man for man.
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