Newspaper Reports

[davieG]

The Sunday Mail

FOOTBALL: LEVEIN MARCHES DION TO CUP GLORY

Feb 20 2005

CHARLTON ...........................1 LECEISTER ............................2

John Alexander Reports

DION DUBLIN scored a dramatic last minute header to send Craig Levein's Leicester into the last eight of the FA Cup.

The match looked to be heading for a replay after Shaun Bartlett cancelled out Nikos Dabizas's 38th-minute opener with a goal deep in first-half stoppage time.

Both teams struggled to make an impact early on and 12 minutes had gone before the first chance of the match fell to Levein's men.

Dublin flicked a cross from the left into the path of Stephen Hughes but the former Rangers star failed to connect with the ball.

Charlton had eased past lower league opposition in their previous FA Cup clashes but struggled to get a foothold in the match.

Alan Maybury flashed a powerful half-volley across goal as the Foxes pressed for the opener.

Despite having the lion's share of possession the visitors were unable to force Dean Kiely into a save.

Leicester took a well-deserved lead in 38 minutes when Joey Gudjonsson sent a free-kick deep into the box.

Mark De Vries and Hermann Hreidarsson both missed the ball but Dabizas nipped in at the far post to head past Kiely.

Charlton tried to up the tempo but despite a more positive approach they still lacked ideas in attack.

But the Addicks snatched an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Paul Konchesky found space to cross from the left and Bartlett arrived ahead of Dabizas to flick the ball into the far corner.

Charlton made one change at the break with Jerome Thomas replacing Dennis Rommedahl.

Leicester almost regained the lead right at the start of the second half but Keith Gillespie could only head Maybury's cross wide.

At the other end Bartlett floated over a cross to Hughes who knocked the ball well past the post.

But Alan Curbishley's side were unable to trouble the Leicester keeper further as the match entered the final 25 minutes.

Murphy tried his luck from a free-kick but his effort struck the wall.

Former Rangers man Jonatan Johansson replaced Jonathan Fortune in 70 minutes as Curbishley put two up front. Dabizas looked to have scored his second nine minutes later with a point-blank toe-poke that Kiely somehow managed to keep out.

But Leicester had the last laugh as Dublin popped up in the last minute to head home from a corner.

The People

FOOTBALL: HEAVEN SCENT FOXES

Feb 20 2005

Addicks hounded out as Dublin hunts down late winner Charlton 1 2 Leicester

Neil Silver

THEY BANNED hunting on Friday - and how the Foxes celebrated yesterday.A last-gasp winner from the wiliest Fox of all - Dion Dublin - put Leicester into the last eight of the FA Cup.The last time Leicester reached the final was back in 1969, the same year Dublin was born. At The Valley he launched an almost single-handed bid to take them to the final again.Dublin, who made his name as a striker, was outstanding at centre-half and, as this tie looked to be heading for a replay, he turned Fox in the box to head a dramatic winner.Until Dublin scented a winner, this was a dreadful advert for the greatest knockout competition in the world. It stunk, to be honest.It did not flicker into life until the 38th minute when Greek international Nikos Dabizas headed the team from the Championship into a deserved lead.Charlton's home holds unhappy memories for Leicester as it was on this ground last season that they were officially relegated from the Premiership.However, it was a happy Valley for the travelling Foxes fans when their team, so disappointing this term in the Championship, opened the scoring.The goal came about when hard-working lone striker Mark De Vries won a free-kick because Talal El Karkouri was climbing all over him in an aerial challenge, just left of centre and just inside the Charlton half.Joey Gudjonsson floated the ball towards the back of the six-yard box and Dabizas slipped the attention of Shaun Bartlett before placing his header inside the far corner.The same two players at the heart of the Leicester goal were involved in Charlton's equaliser 35 seconds into stoppage time at the end of a quite dreadful first half.Paul Konchesky delivered a low cross from the left and this time Bartlett nipped ahead of Dabizas in the six-yard box and flicked the ball inside the far post.Considering Charlton were bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in the past 10 years, and Leicester were aiming to claim a Premiership scalp, The Valley wasn't exactly overflowing with Cup fever at the start.Konchesky fired in a low drive from 30 yards in the third minute but it was a good few yards wide.Then, after 12 minutes, Jordan Stewart did well down the Leicester left but his cross just wouldn't settle for Stephen Hughes and his effort was easily gathered by goalkeeper Dean Kiely.Five minutes later, Alan Maybury played a neat one-two with Hughes on the right edge of the Charlton area before flashing an angled drive beyond the far post.The best chance of the half arrived after 33 minutes when El Karkouri brought the ball out of defence and chipped a neat pass into the path of Brian Hughes on the right edge of the area.The youngster hit a fine half-volley but former England goalkeeper Ian Walker stood his ground and tipped the ball over the bar.Charlton tried to stir their fans during the half-time break when, on the pitch, they presented shirts to Peter Croker and Bert Johnson, the only two survivors from the 1947 Cup-winning team. Then, as a brief snow shower fell, the tannoy announcer said it was time to look at the first-half highlights on the giant screen, and that brought a huge ironic cheer from the crowd who knew there had been none.Alan Curbishley introduced Jerome Thomas on the left flank at half-time in place of Dennis Rommedahl, but there was good work down that flank from Leicester in the opening minute as Maybury crossed and Keith Gillespie headed the ball straight at Kiely.Thomas's teasing cross into the six-yard box saw Hughes scoop wide of the near post when it looked easier to hit the target.Curbishley clearly didn't fancy a replay at the Walkers Stadium because he made an attacking change after 71 minutes, switching to 4-4-2 by taking off defender Jonathan Fortune, pushing Konchesky back and sending on striker Jonatan Johansson.He followed that after 79 minutes by sending on Jason Euell for Hughes. However, there was no way past a defence marshalled by Dublin.The Foxes pushed until the final minute and when another cross came in from the right Dublin's header was tipped over by Kiely.The left-wing corner was delivered to the near post by Gareth Williams and Dublin flicked it with his head into the roof of the net to spark scenes of wild celebration from the blue army behind the goal.What a chance now for Leicester to emulate the 1969 side that reached the FA Cup Final before losing to Manchester City (who knocked them out in the third round least season).The Foxes have enjoyed a great record in the League Cup in the last few years, reaching the final three times in four seasons between 1997 and 2000, but their FA Cup record is nowhere near so impressive.And how ironic it would be if, in the year Fox-hunting was finally banned in Britain, it was the Foxes hunting glory at the Millennium Stadium in May.

Dublin at a glance

By Colin Malam at The Valley

(Filed: 20/02/2005)

The Telegraph

Charlton (1) 1 Leicester (1) 2

Leicester reminded us yesterday that they used to be a Premiership club not so long ago. A promising work in progress under new manager Craig Levein, they were often superior to Charlton and fully deserved the victory won for them in the hectic closing stages by Dion Dublin.

He sent them into the sixth round after Shaun Bartlett had cancelled out the lead given Leicester in the first half by Nikos Dabizas.

Cup shock: Dion Dublin heads the last-minute winner

Since Charlton were back virtually to full strength, had enjoyed a fortnight's rest and were playing at home, everything seemed to be in their favour.

Leicester had other ideas, however, and proceeded to dominate a first half so tedious initially that the away fans started a Mexican wave. Even so, the Championship club's play was a good deal brighter than the drab, beige strip they preferred, no doubt for commercial reasons, to their traditional blue.

In the first half hour, what little excitement there was came from Leicester. Stephen Hughes shot weakly when a half chance fell to him in the Charlton area, while Alan Maybury and Keith Gillespie both got round the back of the home defence to drive shots across the face of goal. During that fallow period, Charlton's laborious football yielded precisely nothing.

Then, in the 33rd minute, the home side suddenly awoke. A pass carefully flighted down the inside-right channel by Luke Young enabled Hughes to strike a fierce half-volley that Ian Walker fisted over the bar.

But back came the visitors to take the lead five minutes later with a header by Dabizas from Joey Gudjonsson's free kick.

Dabizas stole into space while the Charlton defence was preoccupied with the strapping Mark de Vries.

It was less than Leicester deserved then when Charlton snatched an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Paul Konchesky, who had enjoyed little freedom on the left previously, got away from Maybury at last and sent over a centre that Shaun Bartlett, nipping in front of Dabizas, touched past Walker.

Leicester ought to have regained the lead immediately after the restart, but Gillespie, popping up unexpectedly in the centre-forward position, headed Maybury's inviting centre straight at Dean Kiely. It was more like a proper cup tie now, with play swinging back and forth.

Hughes, stealing forward repeatedly from Charlton's midfield, might have scored twice in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

First Hughes, who had scored in both the previous rounds for Charlton, headed wide. Then, when substitute Jerome Thomas picked him out with a centre from the right, the midfielder somehow squirted the ball off target with the goal gaping. Dabizas came close to deciding the contest in the aftermath of a 78th minute free kick.

The Greek international spun on the ball a yard out and jabbed what he thought must be the winning goal towards the line. To his disbelief, however, Kiely managed to fling out his right leg and hook clear. The respite was brief for Charlton, though.

In the last of the regulation 90 minutes, Dublin went forward from central defence in a successful attempt to secure victory. First, he forced Kiely to tip over his half-volley and, when the corner came over, Dublin's head glanced in the winner.

Match details

Charlton: Kiely, Young, El Karkouri, Fortune (Johansson 70), Hreidarsson, Rommedahl (Thomas 45), Murphy, Holland, Hughes (Euell 79), Konchesky, Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Perry.

Booked: Thomas.

Goals: Bartlett 45.

Leicester: Walker, Maybury, Dabizas, Dublin, Stewart, Gillespie, Hughes (Nalis 82), Williams, Gudjonsson, Tiatto, de Vries (Connolly 85).

Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Canero, Heath.

Booked: de Vries, Gillespie.

Goals: Dabizas 38, Dublin 90.

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

[shen]

Until Dublin scented a winner, this was a dreadful advert for the greatest knockout competition in the world.

<_<

[Anish]

The People - what a crap piece of journalism <_<

[Who ate all the pies?]

This is a cracking review from the Guardian

[MON]

Even so, the Championship club's play was a good deal brighter than the drab, beige strip they preferred, no doubt for commercial reasons, to their traditional blue.

How true

[Cobbo]

Even so, the Championship club's play was a good deal brighter than the drab, beige strip they preferred, no doubt for commercial reasons, to their traditional blue.

How true

68901[/snapback]

Indeed, that is spot on.

Mace you arse.

[davieG]

More reports - Mondays Rags

The Independent

Curbishley hurt by Leicester's brew of energy and experience

Charlton 1 Leicester City 2

By Glenn Moore

21 February 2005

The booing with which The Valley greeted the final whistle was understandable. It was not just that Charlton had been poor, deservedly beaten by Leicester City, it was that the home support knew a huge opportunity had been missed.

Alan Curbishley knew it, too. Charlton have only reached the FA Cup quarter-finals twice since they won the competition in 1947. For much of that time they have been outside the top flight, but they are now a top-eight Premiership team. A fifth round home draw against mid-table Championship opposition represented a wonderful chance to progress.

"For clubs like us the Cup is really important, but whatever we do it doesn't seem to work," said Curbishley. "I'm deeply upset. We had a good situation. Leicester reminded me of us six or seven years ago. They looked more determined which I'm not happy about. I don't want to see us outfought."

While Curbishley's disappointment was writ large, Craig Levein kept his elation under wraps, almost. Which was more than Jim McCahill managed. The beaming Leicester chairman even came into the press conference to hear his manager's thoughts such was his delight at a win which, given a home draw today, could be worth nearly £1m in gate receipts, television fees and prize-money.

While Levein appreciated the financial aspect of victory, which will aid his rebuilding, he was more interested in the psychological bonus. "Today is all about the fact we managed to beat a Premiership side away from home," he said. "The confidence we can gain from that will be really important in what we are trying to do at the club."

That, added Levein, was to create a younger, more energetic side. Which made it ironic that most of the key performers were veterans. Shortly before Nikos Dabizas headed Leicester into the lead from Joey Gudjonsson's free-kick Ian Walker had made a superb save to deny Bryan Hughes on one the few occasions Charlton, in the form of Talal El Karkouri's pass, showed Premiership quality.

Then, after the hard-working Shaun Bartlett had turned in Paul Konchesky's cross for an unwarranted equaliser, Danny Tiatto and Keith Gillespie kept Charlton on the back foot. Finally, Dion Dublin followed an afternoon's defending by guiding Gareth Williams' corner in off his forehead and Bartlett's shoulder.

"We need experienced players. They are vital," said Levein. "But when I arrived nine or 10 players were over 33. It is hard to have energy in a team of so many older players. It's about getting the balance right and the likes of Dublin, Gillespie and Tiatto are a great example."

Those younger players included Gudjonsson, outstanding in a holding role, and two Scots, Williams and Stephen Hughes. This trio dominated midfield, usually one of Charlton's strongest areas, and provided the platform for victory.

"We have managed to beat a Premiership side away from home and get into the quarter-finals of the cup, and the confidence we can gain from that will be really important for what we are trying to build at the club," Levein said.

So can Leicester follow Millwall in reaching the final? They are better than their position suggests - every player had either Premiership, European or international experience. Much depends on the draw, but Leicester will not be taking anything for granted.

They have only reached the sixth round themselves once in two decades, in 2001, when a home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers triggered a slide which led to relegation and administration. That old Cup romance can be a killer when it goes sour, just ask Curbishley.

Goals: Dabizas (35) 0-1; Bartlett (45) 1-1; Dublin (90) 1-2.

Charlton (4-5-1): Kiely; Young, El Karkouri, Fortune (Johansson, 70), Hreidarsson; Rommendahl (Thomas, h-t), B Hughes (Euell, 79), Holland, Murphy, Konchesky; Bartlett. Substitutes not used: Andersen (gk), Perry.

Leicester City (4-1-4-1): Walker; Maybury, Dublin, Dabizas, Stewart; Gudjonsson; Gillespie, S Hughes (Nalis, 82), Williams, Tiatto; De Vries (Connolly, 85). Substitutes not used: Hirschfeld (gk), Canero, Heath.

Referee: P Walton (Northamtonshire).

Booked: Charlton: Thomas. Leicester City: De Vries, Gillespie.

Man of the match: Gudjonsson.

Attendance: 23,719.

The Times

Football

February 21, 2005

Levein's younger guns remind Curbishley of old Charlton

By Keith Pike

Charlton Athletic 1 Leicester City 2

BESPECTACLED, STUDIOUS, INTENSE, ambitious, with a Celtic brogue and in charge of Leicester City. Remind you of anyone? The r-word was banned at the Walkers Stadium while Leicester hurtled towards relegation last season and the a-word frowned upon while the club endured the trauma of administration. But the m-word? The longer their Cup run continues, the harder Leicester will find it to persuade their delirious supporters that, in Craig Levein, they have not appointed the manager to replicate the glory days under Martin O’Neill.

Younger, fitter, hungrier: all the hallmarks of O’Neill’s Leicester in the late 1990s were apparent on Saturday as Levein’s highly impressive team made a mockery of the supposed gulf that exists between the Premiership and the rest, even if it was two comparative veterans who secured their passage into the sixth round. Nikos Dabizas, 31, and Dion Dublin, 35 going on 20, got the goals, but this was a triumph for teamwork, tactics and togetherness, not experience. “Any 50-50s went their way, even the 60-40s in our favour,” Alan Curbishley said. “They reminded me of us six or seven years ago.” The Charlton Athletic manager could hardly have paid a greater compliment to his conquerors.

Four months into his reign, Levein, 40, has barely begun the task of reviving Leicester’s fortunes and with his side languishing in the bottom half of the Coca-Cola Championship it would take an extraordinary run of form to get them into the play-offs. But with no fewer than 16 of last season’s high-earning, underachieving squad having been ditched and half a million pounds in the bank courtesy of this victory, the Scot is rapidly building a solid platform. The accent, he says, will be very much on youth.

“Financially we’ve got to be very careful — we’ve had our fingers burnt — and I’m not saying we’re not going to have any experienced players,” Levein said, singing the praises of Dublin (“a model pro”), Keith Gillespie, 30 (“sensational — a manager’s delight”), Danny Tiatto, 31 (“a great example to younger players”) and the like. “But when I arrived we had nine or ten players over the age of 33 and it’s hard to have energy in a team like that.

“It’s about getting the balance right. We’re trying to build something. In the last couple of years there have been an awful lot of players in and out at Leicester and they’ve not had an opportunity to develop any real team spirit. The success Martin O’Neill brought during his time here . . . the players had played together for a while and we need to try to get back to that.”

Two of the twentysomethings who followed Levein from Scotland to the East Midlands were instrumental in Saturday’s victory, Alan Maybury, the full back, helping to deny Charlton width and Stephen Hughes prominent in central midfield as the Premiership side were rudely, though never crudely, hustled out of their stride. Dabizas stole in on the blind side to head Leicester in front, and though Shaun Bartlett finished one of Charlton’s few coherent moves with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, Leicester maintained their tempo throughout the second half and Dublin, up from centre half for Gareth Williams’s corner, nodded a deserved, albeit late, winner.

Having failed to make the 14-man Manchester United squad for the 1994 final victory over Chelsea and a loser with Aston Villa against the same opponents in 2000, the last Wembley final, Dublin was overdue some Cup luck. “The scoring instinct is still there,” he said. “I prefer to play up front and Craig knows that, but the forwards are doing well and Craig sees a position for me at centre half, so I’ll crack on at doing that and keep my head down. My body feels all right and I’ll keep going as long as it allows me to go. I’ll play as long as I can, the career is too nice — to be a footballer is a privilege.”

[Alexikokopops]

I was just looking for this post to stick those two reports up!!

the Times one is my favourite