Leicester City 3-2 Birmingham City

Written By: Oliver Osborn (The Bluenose Bible)

Three goals in the last fourteen minutes saw Leicester City snatch victory from Lee Clark’s side, who now have only picked up one win in the opening four league matches.

The home side were looking for their first home win of the season and Birmingham ‘keeper Darren Randolph was in the thick of the action early on. The Irishmen came bravely rushing out to deny Jamie Vardy in front of goal, with a blow to the head his reward for a fine piece of goalkeeping.

Despite being under early pressure, Matt Green scored the opening goal for the visitors after 12 minutes from one of Blues first chances in the match. Shane Ferguson made a good run down the left hand side before producing a low teasing cross for Green to poke home his first goal since the striker’s move from Mansfield Town.

After gaining the lead, Birmingham soaked up plenty of Leicester pressure in the first half, but chances from Chris Wood, Matty James and Danny Drinkwater couldn’t be directed on target.

It was clear that Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson wasn’t impressed with his side’s first half performance with the introduction of wingers Lloyd Dyer and Anthony Knockaert before the second 45 minutes began.

Even with the fresh faces Leicester still struggled to find the net as David Nugent forced Randolph into a good save down to his right on the hour mark.

With the bombardment on their goal, the only real second half chance Blues could muster up was a free kick from Neal Eardley that required a full stretch dive from Kasper Schmeichel to prevent a second for the West Midlands’ side.

The equaliser was eventually scored by Vardy in the 78^th minute. Substitute Dyer passed to the unmarked striker to score his second of the season with a low effort from just outside the area.

Just four minutes later the Foxes got their noses in front with a similar goal to the first except it was Nugent who supplied King before grabbing a third himself from the penalty spot after Eardley fouled Dyer inside the Birmingham City box.

The changes at half time proved to be instrumental in the game as the extra width in midfield created more space for King and Vardy to score their long range efforts.

Chris Burke staked his claim to Lee Clark for a chance in the starting line up following a run inside from the byline and a lovely left footed effort into the top corner of Schmeichel’s net, but there wasn’t enough time left for Blues to look for a dramatic leveller.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson:

“It was a good three points although we made heavy weather of it.

“We wasted a lot of good chances to score and conceded with their first meaningful attack. So it looked as though it was going to be a potentially frustrating afternoon.

“But we were able to come from a losing position to win the game and I was really pleased with the response from the players in the second half.”

Birmingham manager Lee Clark:

“I warned the players at half-time that we had to do something different. We were leading 1-0 but it was like the Alamo at times the way we were having to defend.

“Unfortunately there is nothing financially in the way of changing things. We have just got to work hard and try and improve it. We need more at the top end of the field. But as I’ve said there are no finances. I’ve got no money.

“I am feeling frustrated but I still feel that, given time, I will get it right. I don’t believe there is anyone who can do it better.”

Starting line up: Randolph; Eardley, Mullins (Burke 82′), Burn, Robinson, Ferguson (Bartley 78′); Adeyemi, Elliott, Spector; Green (Shinnie 58′), Novak

Unused subs: Doyle, Ambrose, Reilly, Allan

Man of the match: Andy King