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LEICESTER (home - Carling Cup) 19/09/06 Leicester City ended Hereford’s interest in the League Cup for another year with a win by the same 3-1 scoreline with which the Bulls had disposed of Coventry in the previous round. The game’s major talking points centred on two penalties. The first, which saw Hereford briefly restore parity after a first-half battering from the Foxes, was awarded after visiting goalkeeper Conrad Logan had fouled Stuart Fleetwood close to the edge of the box. Logan’s misdemeanour was punished with just a caution. Talking point number two came twenty minutes later, with the awarding of a spot-kick to Leicester after Trent McClenahan had mistimed a tackle on pint-sized winger Levi Porter. This time, referee Beeby elected to show the Australian full-back a straight red, despite McClenahan not being the last man, as Logan had been earlier. Leicester, already back in front, wrapped up a place in the third round when Iain Hume sent Wayne Brown the wrong way from the spot. It was no more than Leicester deserved as, apart from a twenty minute spell at the beginning of the second half, they dominated the game. The first half in particular was one-way traffic and it soon became clear it was a matter of when, not if, the Foxes would break the deadlock. Elvis Hammond shot wide in the opening minutes, and Brown made an excellent save from Hume after the Canadian had gathered Josh Low’s knock down. Hume was causing the home defence the greatest number of headaches, and hit the bar with a header. Martyn Giles then blocked a fierce drive from the lively Richard Stearman, who had another effort saved by Brown. On 28 minutes, the pressure finally told. Hammond received the ball with his back to goal and held off the attentions of Dean Beckwith before turning and thumping the ball into the top corner of Brown’s net. Beckwith had Hereford’s only real chance to snatch an undeserved equaliser before the break, heading over from close range from a corner. It says much that the only time Logan was called upon to make a save was when he sharply dealt with a misdirected clearance from his own full-back, Stearman. As has been so often the case already this season, Hereford regrouped at half time and emerged the stronger team, passing the ball around with greater purpose and effect. Logan made two saves before he was penalised for chopping down Fleetwood as he raced into the box, and the Foxes’ custodian can count himself extremely fortunate to have stayed on the pitch. Rob Purdie punished him further by converting the resultant penalty against his former club for his fourth successful spot-kick of the season. Logan was called upon to make further saves from Andy Williams and Tim Sills before Hereford undid all of their good work by falling behind again ten minutes later. A corner was flicked on by Low, leaving Stearman with a simple finish at the back post. The game was now much more end to end: Mkandawire headed wide at one end before the impressive Patrick Kisnorbo did likewise for Leicester. Purdie then had a glorious chance to equalise, but his shot was deflected inches wide of the post. Then came the controversial dismissal of McClenhan for his trip on Porter: there was no question that it was anything but a penalty but McClenahan can count himself extremely unfortunate to be dismissed given Logan’s earlier indiscretion. Hume scored from the spot to take the game out of Hereford’s reach. With Hereford having to attack with greater purpose, Leicester made their numerical advantage count but were unable to extend their lead further. Brown made a good save from a Hammond shot and an even better one from Low’s point-blank header. At the other end Logan had to make one more save and substitute Alan Connell shot wide. Before the end Leicester’s numerical advantage was taken away, when skipper Kisnorbo received a straight red for stamping on the prostrate Williams: hardly the actions of a model captain as there were just minutes left to play. Hereford can take heart from their performance, having competed well against a very good side. They will be looking to get back on track in their next match, which sees them take on Wrexham, a side who have conceded fourteen goals in their last three matches. Team: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Giles, Travis, Rose, Purdie, Fleetwood (sub Connell), Williams, Sills. Subs not used: Thompson, Ferrell, Jeannin, Gulliver. Star man: Tim Sills
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