By CCFC Sid
October 16 2004

A much improved display should have resulted in three points for CCFC - an improvement probably helped by Sherwood dropping to the bench! And had a few more CCFC passes been under- or over-hit by an extra yard, chances aplenty could have been created, and the chance to climb the table a possibility. The re-called Johnson gave the sort of display that suggests he wants to stay in the first team, while new loan signing Rohan Ricketts looked useful in spells too. Shaw kept Dion in his pocket for all but one moment in the match, and Leacock also looked assured in defence.

Once again Luke Steele attempted to win the Man Of The Match Award, with a few more top class saves to add to his already impressive list - it's been said before, but signing him on loan for the entire season should be CCFC's first priority (And trying to keep him for the whole of next season too!).

Playing Leicester every week would be a great idea, as supporters turned out in far more numbers than usual (Admittedly, a few more away fans than normal, but there were clearly a few more CCFC than usual), and those that did were in fine voice!

Leicester were forced to make two substitutions in the first 25 minutes, with Wilcox being stretchered off (And receiving generous applause from both sets of supporters), while Gemmill was also replaced (Benjamin and Williams their replacements).

CCFC had a few minutes around the half-hour mark where they dominated proceedings, with a Morrell cross or shot flying across the Leicester goal-mouth with nobody able to get on the end of it, then a fine move involving Ricketts and Staunton seeing the latters shot blocked, and another over-hit Morrell cross managing to miss out Stephen Hughes, who was in a great position to score - and Hughes wasn't happy!

An off-the-ball incident saw Johnson left flat-out on 32 minutes, with neither the referee or his assistant seeing anything - something that continued in the second half, with three blatant offsides not given (One such incident led to the games opening goal, scored predictably by Dion Dublin), and three muinutes later a Johnson run saw Keown threaten to score an own goal (Putting the ball over his own bar).

The second half saw CCFC threaten first, with a glorious pass from Ricketts picking out Stern John, who in turn found Steve Staunton. The seemingly unpopular left-back saw his shot go over the bar.

A speculative 30 yard effort from Benjamin went just wide of Steele's post, and two minutes later Connolly managed to put the easiest chance of the match 30 yards over the bar from around six yards out! CCFC were the next to threaten to score, with a Doyle free-kick glanced agonisingly wide of the post by Johnson on 56 minutes.

Suffo replaced Stern John after 64 minutes, and was put through a minute after coming onto the pitch, but sadly missed the chance to enhance his 'super sub' reputation. Soon after a Shaw tug on Connolly in the penalty area was missed by the match officials (Had a penalty been awarded this would have been a major disappointment, as Connolly wasn't even threatening to score, making Shaw's actions pointly, and possibly costly).

Connolly, who looked way offside, stormer down CCFC's left and crossed to set up Dublin for the former CCFC man to give Leicester the lead, and for some reason at this point, Leicester supporters, having celebrated the goal, began to chant: 'You're Not Singing Anymore' - despite the fact CCFC supporters quite obviously were! Explanation please?

A minute after going behind, CCFC managed one of their most impressive moves of the season, managing to gain the ball from a Leicester corner, and break up the pitch at a speed rarely seen at Highfield Road in recent years. The move was ended when a shocking challenge on Whing stopped him in his tracks.

With 10 minutes of the match left, a CCFC break saw an Andrew Whing cross intended for Andy Morrell, turned into his own net by Chris Makin - queue riotous celebrations in the home sections of Highfield Road, and silence in the away end! The celebrations almost increased when a fine effort from Johnson hit the outside of Pressman's post and go out to safety.

Despite the improved performance, CCFC are still on a worrying run of matches without victory....