Time now for some Championship action and the return to the King Power stadium of Ian Holloway, famous of course for taking Leicester out of the top two divisions for the only time in their history in 2008, now of course manager of Blackpool. Things have also changed recently again at Leicester (surprise,surprise) with Sven Goran Eriksson shown the door and old favourite Nigel Pearson brought back to the club from Hull City.
Tonights game on paper appeared a tricky one for the foxes with Blackpool, fresh from their expedition in the Premiership (minus Charlie Adam now of course) banging in the goals of late, however a little prone to conceding them, resulting in their previous two fixtures ending 2-2. Leicester have made a superb start under Pearson, notching up a 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace and a 1-1 draw away to Portsmouth on saturday.
Entering the stadium again on this cold winter evening felt fantastic with the floodlights illuminating the pitch producing a glow around the stadium that even the 'Air Asia' and 'Singha Beer' placards couldn't ruin. Night matches in the winter are a firm favourite with me, probably because my first game ever was around the winter time under the floodlights and it becomes nostalgic even as the years progress. Goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell was in fine form making Chris Weale pick balls out of the top corner as he made his best case to be allowed a spot up front beside Jermaine Beckford.
Before the game as the teams gathered in the centre circle there was a tribute paid to the late Wales manager Gary Speed who sadly died on Sunday, news that shocked the footballing world to the core, fittingly a minutes applause was observed in his memory. The first half began with Blackpool having the lions share of possession but only threatening from long range, Gary-Taylor Fletchers header brought the best out of Kasper Schmeichael only for Beckford to be denied in almost identical fashion by Blackpool stopper Matt Gilkes. Gilkes however was to be beaten just shy of half time when Andy King latched on to a through ball to pass under Gilkes to put the foxes ahead going into half time.
Bizarrely at half time the gentleman next to us produced a lap top from nowhere and began to type up notes made during the first half, leading me to believe that either there are some seriously dedicated bloggers out there or that he'd forgotton his press pass. Either way my notes on the first half barely filled two sentences. The second half began with City banging on the Blackpool door with defender Matt Mill's going close with two headers and Lloyd Dyer forcing saves from the impressive Gilkes. Holloway then decided to produce his trump card, Kevin Phillips was to be introduced to the action much to my dismay. Phillips is one of those players, like a wasp to a picnic, can just spoil your afternoon and nearly always found the net, luckily on this occasion all Phillips could find was the linesmans flag.
Leicester continued to push forward and with Blackpool's defence all at sea Lloyd Dyer rushed through to play it round the onrushing Gilkes to present Neil Dann's with an open goal to wrap the game up. Blackpool, in all fairness, never gave up and never abandoned their slick pass and move style of play but on the night Leicester were simply too good, Sol Bamba a tower of strength and composure at the back, Dyer ever dangerous on the wing and David Nugent so unlucky not to score with a chance for 3-0 right near the end just going the wrong side of the post.
Superb night for the 21,000 plus at the King Power stadium and finally after Sven's circus has left town we can now get back to watching what Nigel Pearson began building, it looks set to be a very merry christmas.
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