CITY 2 BURTON ALBION 4 Capital One Cup (second round), August 28 Despite winning their first Championship game of the season, City came into this cup tie on the back of successive defeats to Charlton and Blackburn, despite dominating both games. A Capital One Cup tie with lowly League Two Burton was a golden opportunity for a much-needed confidence boost. But things didn't quite go to plan. A deflected free-kick, a calamitous defensive error, a questionable penalty and a fine curled effort later, and Gary Rowett's side had condemned his former club to their third straight defeat in eight days. The City players were met with a chorus of resounding boos as they left the field. BIRMINGHAM 1 CITY 1 Championship, October 20 City may have made a shaky start to their campaign, but their Burton humiliation seemed to kick Nigel Pearson's men into gear and they came into this game in imperious form, searching for their sixth win on the bounce. The contest did not go to plan for the visitors as Birmingham took the lead on the stroke of half-time. It looked as though that was how things would end up but, just four minutes from time, a flash of brilliance from substitute Ben Marshall grabbed a point. Their winning streak may have come to an end, but with news that Cardiff had lost to Nottingham Forest, City were left celebrating as they took their place at the top of the table on goal difference. CITY 6 HUDDERSFIELD 1 Championship, January 1 Throughout the back end of December, City's prowess in front of goal had faded and they were now guilty of creating chance after chance but failing to make them count with just one goal in four games. Fans were crying out for someone to be brought in during the January transfer window to give them that clinical edge in front of goal. Step forward Chris Wood. The New Zealander had set the Championship alight scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances for Millwall while on loan from Premier League side West Brom. Pearson signed the 21-year-old for £2 million and it didn't take long for the striker to make his mark. Just six minutes into his debut, Wood nodded home from close range before adding a second after 20 minutes as City went on to score six on home turf for the second time in the season. HUDDERSFIELD 1 CITY 1 FA Cup (fourth round), Jan 26 An in-form City came into this clash with Huddersfield, the same side they had thumped 6-1, on the back of five straight wins. A safe passage into the fifth round looked all but a certainty. But Pearson decided to alter a winning side and made four changes. Most notably, he left out strike pair David Nugent and Chris Wood opting to give a run out to Jamie Vardy and Martyn Waghorn. His decision almost backfired completely as City found themselves 1-0 down going into the final 10 minutes until Wood came off the bench to force a replay. City may have escaped but many have since pinpointed the decision to change a winning team as the catalyst for the awful slump that followed. PETERBOROUGH 2 CITY 1 Championship, February 9 If the FA Cup stalemate had started the rot, City's trip to bottom club Peterborough sent them into free-fall. Fans were left bewildered as Chris Wood's name was a surprise omission from the team-sheet. It was later revealed that the striker had picked up a knock in training. Even without their star striker, things seemed to be going to plan when Ben Marshall fired City ahead in the second half. Peterborough levelled before Grant McCann scored the winner two minutes from time. City's misery was compounded yet further three days later when an abject performance saw them crash out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield in their fourth-round replay. Before the game, City were in second place with their sights set firmly on automatic promotion. But this defeat started the club's worst run since Rob Kelly's tenure, with just one win in 14. CITY 3 BOLTON 2 Championship, April 16 By the time City faced Bolton, their dismal run had shattered all hopes of automatic promotion and even a play-off spot was doubtful as they sat two points outside the top six with four games left. City fans were left thinking 'here we go again' as their side went behind after just three minutes. But a thunderous left-footed strike from Lloyd Dyer and a penalty from Chris Wood put City ahead at the break. Bolton levelled in the 71st minute before Jeff Schlupp volleyed home superbly to seal the victory in a pulsating contest. As the majority of City's play-off rivals faltered, this spirited performance rejuvenated their promotion hopes and even saw them leapfrog their opponents back into the top six. FOREST 2 CITY 3 Championship, May 4 City needed two miracles when they arrived at the City Ground on the last day of the season. Sitting in eighth place, and two points off the play-offs, they knew they would first have to win at a ground where they had not won in the league since 1972. And then, they also needed Bolton, on their best run of home form for 20 years, to fail to beat Blackpool. With 90 minutes up, and the game set to finish 2-2, City fans were doing up their coats ready to draw a line under another season. But Anthony Knockaert broke away with Chris Wood and history was rewritten. City sneaked into the play-offs at the final moment. WATFORD 3 CITY 1 Championship Play-off semi-final (second leg), May 12 If City fans thought events at Forest were dramatic, they had no idea what was in store for them when they made the trip down to Vicarage Road, Watford. With Watford leading 2-1, tied 2-2 on aggregate, the game looked destined for extra-time. But Knockaert tumbled in the box, City has just one kick and were 12 yards away from Wembley. No City fan will ever forget what happened next. Just 20 seconds later, it was all over. http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story-19020123-detail/story.html?#axzz2TguBNMPl
Don't forget Barnsley away! The worst performance I've seen in the last 5 years at least, fookin ****bread stood on and fell over the ball more times than he kicked it! - the useless fooker should never be allowed near a football pitch again after that display.
Blackpool at home was a big game. We was in the relegation zone as we was the late kick off, the ground was very nervous after losing the previous 3 games and there was talk Nigel was getting the chop if we lost. We won 1-0 through a debatable peno which Ben Marshall scored and then after the game Ian Holloway started ripping into Jamie Vardy
Agreed, this was the first game I got to this season and thought we looked a very good outfit, in particular Ben Marshall. We talk about his form at the tail-end of last season but he also started off this season in fine form. Game versus Burnley where we came from behind to win- Dean Marney hit the ball so hard for the goal the net came off- this sparked a very good run of form. This had been considered Pearson's last chance before the sack.
Blackpool was a good performance because they were in form - we also used Schlupp and Moore at full back to counter Ince and Phillips later in the game - it worked. I was baffled as to why we didn't then try to bed them in there with a run of games.
Didn't St. Ledger get injured though? We had to play Konchesky at CB, I don't think we had any other defenders left at that point! Credit to Schlupp for his performances at LB but I'd like to see proper cover eventually, especially as I reckon Schlupp will leave in the summer.
Didn't you lose at Peterborough? The article describes your defeat but is headed with a 2-1 win for you
For me the game that changed our season was the FA cup defeat to Huddersfield. We had just lost to Peterborough and the same team should have been selected for the replay. A) to give them a chance to restore confidence and B) there was a great chance to progress in the competition. Pearson selected a very poor team. The 'stalwarts' Schmeichel, Morgan & Nugent all had stinkers and the rest of the team couldn't have created a hot drink from boiling water & a tea bag. It all went tits up thereafter.
Think that's a good call - but for me it was the original tie at Huddersfield - Pearson committed the 'cardinal sin' of changing a winning team. A) We got out of jail when the then 'bang in form' Wood came off the bench to score but he never looked the same player after that in terns of his demeanour B) To change the team for that game, for me, showed a lack of consideration for the 5,000 travelling foxes that obvious valued the FA cup more than the manager - the rot had started.
I have never been fully convinced on St. Ledger though, I think we need someone better then him next season. I wouldnt be surprised to see Ledge leave
