Leicester 1 - 2 Watford Match Report.
Nathnaiel Chalobah scored a stunning goal to seal a 2-1 win for the Hornets away at Leicester on Friday night in a match that was televised on Sky Sports. With Hull loosing 2 - 0 the following day to Barnsley, the Hornets moved to just 1 point behind the tigers and if they the better Hull's result next weekend, then the Hornets would be promoted. Troy Deeney and Nathaniel Chalobah put the Hornets 2-0 up before half time. Harry Kane got one back in the 60th minute but the Hornets held on to secure the victory. The victory meant that the Hornets did the double over Leicester this season. Gianfranco Zola made one change to the side that beat Blackburn 4-0. Matej Vydra replaced Fernando Forestieri who dropped to the bench. Nigel Pearson put out an unchanged Leicester side. The game started brightly with both sides having half chances. Leicester had the first real chance in the opening ten minutes with Wes Morgan heading over a Matty James corner. But Watford may have been ahead 5 minutes later. Anya had a cross parried incovinsigly by Kasper Schmeichal. The ball dropped to the on rushing Jonathan Hogg who saw his effort tipped over the bar. Almen Abdi then saw a shot go over after good build up play from Deeney and Vydra. Leicester came back fighting and Andy King saw a half volley go narrowly wide after Hogg misjudged his leap. The end to end nature of the game continue and the Hornets broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. Almen Abdi saw his effort well saved in the 40th minute. Abdi then took the resulting corner which was nodded back across goal at the far post by Joel Ekstrand. The ball was met by Troy Deeney who poked the ball home. This was the Hornets strikers 19th goal of the season and put the Hornets 1-0 up. Just two minutes later, Watford had a second and what a goal it was. Matej Vydra pased the ball to Almen Abdi who miscontrolled the ball. However the ball rolled to the on rushing Nathaniel Chalobah who rattled an unstoppable shot from 30 yards in off the post. The stadium was in shock at what they just saw. This was the Chelsea Loanee's 5th goal of the season and probably his best for the Hornets so far. Chalobah said after the game that it was his best goal he had ever scored. It would have been worthy of winning the goal of the season award for the Hornets but the voting had already closed. It is already being touted as goal of the season in the championship. This put the Hornets 2-0 up to the delight of the travelling fans. On the stroke of half time the Hornets nearly had a third. After a goalmouth scramble in the Leicester area, the ball fell to Jonathan Hogg whose effort was somehow cleared off the line.
Half Time - 0-2
Pearson made one substituion at Half time which saw David Nugent replace Jeffrey Schlupp. The foxes flew out of the blocks and seemed determined to get something out of the game. David Nugent came close when he flicked over Manuel Almunia's bar 5 minutes after the restart. Harry Kane then replaced Lloyd Dyer in teh 58th minute for Leicester. After numerous attacks, Leicester pulled one back in the 61st minute. Paul Konchesky's deflected cross was met by Harry Kane whose header flew into the back of the net giving Manuel Almunia no chance. Ben Marhsall then came on for Knockhaert in the 65th minute as Pearson played his last card. In the 70th minute, Pawson waved away penalty appeals after Hogg felled Wood and the ball fell to Marshall whose shot was saved by Manuel Almunia. Matthew Brigs then replaced Ikechi Anya in the 71st Minute. Zola made two more changes towards then end of the game. Mark Yeates replaced Chalobah in the 78th minute and Cristian Battochio replaced Almen Abdi in the 83rd minute. Marco Cassetti, Lloyd Doyley and Joel Ekstrand had been solid all game and had to be aware during the final minutes of the game as Leicester constantly attacked. But to no avail and after 5 minutes of injury time, the Hornets ran out 2-1 winners moving them to just one point behind Hull City.
Full Time - 1-2
Team Lineups
Leicester - Schmeichal (GK), De Laet, Morgan (C), Keane, Konchesky, Knokchaert (Marshall 65), James, King, Dyer (Kane 58), Schlupp (Nugent H/T), Wood.
Subs Not Used - Logan (GK), Drinkwater, Whitbread, Moore.
Goals - Kane 58
Yellow Cards - Schlupp, Nugent
Watford - Almunia (GK)(C), Cassetti, Ekstrand, Doyley, Anya (Briggs 70) Abdi (Battochio 83), Chalobah (Yeates 78), Hogg, Pudil, Vydra, Deeney.
Subs Not Used - Bond (GK), Murray, Geijo, Forestieri
Goals - Deeney 41, Chalobah 43.
Yellow Cards - Briggs.
Possession - 46% Leicester, 54% Watford.54%
Attendance - 25,091 (1364 Hornets Fans)
Referee - Craig Pawson.