Match Reports - from different sources

[davieG]

Matty Fryatt's first goal of the season helped Leicester City secure a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. The Foxes were unfazed by the atmosphere generated by Roy Keane's first home game in charge of the Black Cats and demonstrated their resilience and strength of character to earn a precious point.

Fryatt slotted home the opener soon after half-time before Tobias Hysen, with his first touch of the contest, equalised to set up a grand-stand finish.

But, despite the hosts' best efforts, City dug deep to return home with a share of the spoils.

The visitors created the first opportunity of the game on two minutes when the ball fell to James Wesolowski 20-yards from goal.

The Australian, making his first league start of the season, hit a first time shot but his effort failed to trouble Ben Alnwick in the Black Cats goal.

On five minutes Stephen Hughes' inswinging free-kick was touched behind by Kenny Cunningham for a corner while at the other end, a timely tackle from Darren Kenton prevented Ross Wallace from advancing into the Foxes penalty area.

Sunderland came within inches of opening the scoring on 10 minutes when Chris Brown's diving header from captain Dean Whitehead's dangerous free-kick just drifted wide of the right-hand upright.

The hosts were forced into an early change in the 15th minute when new signing Dwight Yorke replaced the injured Daryl Murphy.

Paul Henderson was called into action four minutes later when he saved brilliantly from Stanislav Varga's close-range volley.

Wallace's free-kick on the left flank was inadvertently flicked on by Andy Johnson and Varga's side-footed effort was tipped around the post by the Australian.

Fryatt almost connected with Levi Porter's near-post cross in the 23rd minute but Cunningham was first to the ball and managed to avert the danger.

Porter's back post volley from Kenton's deep cross was deflected behind by Neil Collins for a corner, which resulted in Paddy McCarthy heading the flag-kick over the bar.

The Foxes were enjoying a spell of possession and Ben Alnwick just did enough to palm the ball away from the on-rushing Fryatt and Wesolowski after Chris O'Grady's neat pull-back from the left hand by-line on 29 minutes.

Varga's back-header was enough to prevent Fryatt from meeting Kenton's cross two minutes later.

It was all City at this point and the visitors carved out another opportunity in the 35th minute.

Porter crossed to the back-post for O'Grady, who in turn headed back across goal for Fryatt. But Varga was equal to the challenge and cleared the danger at the second attempt.

Fryatt was cautioned for not retreating at a free-kick four minutes before the interval and that was to be the last meaningful action of the half as the game remained goalless at the break.

But it was the visiting fans who had something to cheer about on 48 minutes when Fryatt put his side ahead with a neat finish.

After Johnson had won possession in the middle of the park, the midfielder freed the former Walsall man down the left, who took one touch, cut inside his marker before firing a low shot past Alnwick and into the far corner for the opener.

McCarthy then headed wide Porter's corner as City looked for a second.

The home side made their second change on 55 minutes when Grant Leadbitter replaced Collins.

At the other end, McCarthy got down well to head clear Yorke's dangerous cross from the right on the hour before Hysen came on for Liam Miller on 64 minutes.

Moments later, O'Grady capitalised on a Sunderland mistake but his effort could only find the side netting.

And City were made to pay when with his first touch, Hysen drilled home an effort from the edge of the area past the outstretched arm of Henderson for the leveller on 65 minutes.

Hysen then headed Wallace's first-time cross just wide five minutes later before Henderson gathered well under pressure from Leadbitter's teasing left-wing cross.

Sunderland had appeals for a penalty turned down in the 74th minute then Porter shot straight at Alnwick on 83 minutes.

Collins head over the bar from Wallace's free-kick late on while at the other end, after Fryatt's breakaway, Hughes curled his shot over the bar which failed to trouble Alnwick.

But despite four minutes of injury time, the Foxes stood firm and ensured they collected a hard-earned point from the contest.

City: Henderson, Kenton, McCarthy ©, Kisnorbo, Johansson, Hughes, Wesolowski, Johnson, Porter, O'Grady, Fryatt. Subs not used: Maybury, Hume, Tiatto, McAuley, Logan.

Sunderland: Alnwick, Cunningham, Varga, Whitehead ©, Murphy (Yorke 15), Brown, Collins (Leadbitter 55), Elliott, Kavanagh, Wallace, Miller (Hysen 64). Subs not used: Ward, Collins.

Yellow Cards

City: Fryatt (41)

Sunderland: None

Referee: Mike Pike

Attendance: 35,104

[davieG]

Spencer Vignes at The Stadium of Light

Sunday September 17, 2006

The Observer

You've got to hand it to Roy Keane. Just when you thought it was all about Sunderland and the art of learning a new craft, the ghost of Christmas past raises its ugly, albeit extremely juicy, head in the shape of an interview encompassing the Irishman's take on everyone and everything from Alex Ferguson to the Wags. He just couldn't let it lie after all.Not that the average Sunderland fan gave a monkey's about what appeared in one of yesterday's tabloids. After back-to-back wins on the road against Derby and Leeds, this was Roy Keane - The Homecoming. The same crowd that less than 12 months ago sang anti-Keano chants in support of Mick McCarthy during Manchester United's visit to the Stadium of Light rose as one in support of a man who within the space of a fortnight has galvanised a ship that appeared Division One-bound.

Article continueshttp://""' target="_blank"> Several hundred extras had also flown in from Ireland for the big event and there were more Tricolour flags around the ground than Leicester ones. The PA announcer even played something by U2 - and not just any U2 song, mind you. With morale plus Sunderland's league standing on the rise, 'Elevation' captured the moment perfectly.Keane had spoken beforehand of his desire to see a 30,000-plus attendance for the visit of Leicester, a team struggling for goals and just one place above the relegation places.

In the event there was considerably more than that present, although the ground was far from full even allowing for a low turnout from the Midlands. Those that did bother to make the long trip north saw City play some attractive football during the opening half without really creating any chances, the story of their season so far.

Sunderland on the other hand had three good ones with Ross Wallace, a Keane import from Celtic, playing a key role in each one. It was his free-kicks from the left in the 11th and 18th minutes which saw Chris Brown and Stanislav Varga go close with a header and volley respectively, while Wallace himself came dangerously close to putting the ball in the top corner with a clipped shot from 10 yards out. Graham Kavanagh's deflected free-kick five minutes before the break very nearly fell kindly for Liam Miller, but he was beaten in a race for the ball by Paul Henderson.

Far from being intimidated, Leicester came out for the second period looking like a side that had either been given smelling salts or the proverbial rocket from their manager at the break. In the 48th minute Miller was caught in possession inside his own half. Johnson collected the lose ball and fed Matt Fryatt, whose low shot beat Ben Alnwick to the goalkeeper's left to give City the lead and only their fifth goal of the season. Cue several renditions of 'Keano Keano, what's the score?' from the visiting supporters.

Five minutes later a Patrick McCarthy header from Levi Porter's left wing corner saw Leicester come close to doubling their lead, the ball sailing narrowly over the bar.

With his side in need of a lift and the crowd beginning to get edgy, Keane began to make changes. One of these saw Tobias Hysen, son of former Liverpool defender Glenn and a Niall Quinn purchase BK - before Keane - replace Liam Miller in the 65th minute.

Within 30 seconds Hysen was advancing on the Leicester goal. With nobody in support the young Swede chose to let fly from the edge of the area, the ball beating Henderson to the goalkeeper's left to register the first home goal of the Roy Keane era. To say the vast majority of the 35,104 crowd went ballistic would be an understatement. 'Keano give us a wave' sang the home fans. And he did, albeit a tad self-consciously.

Although Sunderland did most of the attacking during the final 20 minutes, a winner would not come, their attacking play lacking the cutting edge necessary to unlock Leicester's sturdy defence. Brown's header from another left-wing Wallace free-kick was about as close as they came to getting all three points.

Keane's 100 per cent record had gone, but the Black Cats remain unbeaten under their frequently provocative but far from dull manager.