Leicester City must aim for better return on travels – Jack Hobbs

[Edmund]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/spor...il/article.html

Jack Hobbs says it is time for Leicester City to ensure their pressure produces more rewards on the road in the Championship.

City have taken two points from a possible nine on their travels so far this season, and the 21-year-old central defender believes that is not a true reflection of the performances put in by the team away from the Walkers Stadium.

City had enough chances to take maximum hauls from drawn contests at Ipswich on August 15 and at Sheffield United three days later and were also well in the game at Newcastle on August 31 before succumbing to a single-goal defeat.

Hobbs said: "We've been playing well on the road, but not taken as many points as we would have liked."

The battle for a first away win now switches to Vicarage Road on Saturday as City travel to Watford, who are just ahead of Nigel Pearson's side on goal difference.

Hobbs said: "We're capable of winning these games but we have to start to do it."

City are also unbeaten at home for 12 months but had to settle for a point in the clash with local rivals Peterborough on Tuesday.

Hobbs revealed he had more than one reason for wanting to win against their local rivals.

A victory would have given him bragging rights over former Lincoln team-mate Lee Frecklington, now at Posh, as well as a few of his own mates from his home village near Spalding who are Peterborough fans.

"They were sending me texts before the game – most of them were OK – but I was hoping we could win and we should have done really," he said.

Posh, promoted as League One runners-up behind City, profited from a disappointing first half showing from the home side which Hobbs admitted was "not one of our best".

They took the lead through a George Boyd penalty when Wayne Brown was adjudged to have pulled back Posh striker Aaron Mclean.

Hobbs said: "I thought it was really harsh, Wayne was just standing his ground and their guy was backing in.

"I don't think the first half was our best although we created a lot of chances.

"If you look back at their opportunities, they were mostly from long-range, but they did have a few more attempts on goal than we would have liked."

Hobbs said manager Nigel Pearson called in his half-time team-talk for City to up the tempo and made a tactical switch with Andy King replacing Dany N'Guessan and skipper Matt Oakley pushing into a more advanced role.

"We corrected things by changing the shape to give the front-runners more options and they found a lot more space.

"I thought we were outstanding after the break, especially in the first 20 minutes and got the penalty through Matty Fryatt.

"I thought there only looked like being one winner but, in the end, we had to settle for a point.

"It's all about not dwelling on bad spells which is very important and I think we did that against Peterborough."

[dogadug]

I reckon we've got a chance of our first away win this Saturday. Watford don't have many 'classy' players, apart from Graham, and that man Cleverly. The only reason they're 6th at the moment, is because they've played the so called 'easier' teams in the league, so I reckon we've got a chance of winning.

[carterfox90]

i think it will be a tough game ending in a boring draw where both teams cancel each other out sorry to be negative

[Guest Bilo]

To be fair, Ipswich, Sheffield United and Newcastle will be up there with the toughest away trips of the season so I'm not worried about our away form just yet. A decent performance at Vicarage Road should settle any nerves the squad might have about going away.

[Thracian]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/spor...il/article.html

AT least Hobbs seems to agree with me!

Ironically though I wish he'd start to make his presence felt in the opposition box from set pieces. you've only got to watch Cian Bolger in the Academy to see what the effect can be.

Hobbs is no less a towering header of the ball but we never seem to use the fact to our advantage in attack.

[davieG]

To be fair, Ipswich, Sheffield United and Newcastle will be up there with the toughest away trips of the season so I'm not worried about our away form just yet. A decent performance at Vicarage Road should settle any nerves the squad might have about going away.

As Ipswich have not won at home having drawn 3 / lost 1' I wouldn't say they were proving to be very tough, in hindsight that's probably the easiest 2 points we've dropped.

[martyn]

That's probably owing in part to Oakley's generally average delivery rather than any lack of ability by Hobbs.

[Thracian]

To be fair, Ipswich, Sheffield United and Newcastle will be up there with the toughest away trips of the season so I'm not worried about our away form just yet. A decent performance at Vicarage Road should settle any nerves the squad might have about going away.

And that was exactly what our team and management seemed to think at Ipswich but for no reason that I ever saw from the stand.

[Sir Fynwy]

AT least Hobbs seems to agree with me!

Ironically though I wish he'd start to make his presence felt in the opposition box from set pieces. you've only got to watch Cian Bolger in the Academy to see what the effect can be.

Hobbs is no less a towering header of the ball but we never seem to use the fact to our advantage in attack.

If Hobbs played in the academy side I'm sure he'd score loads of goals from set pieces, might have something to do with the quality of defenders he'd be up against

[Thracian]

If Hobbs played in the academy side I'm sure he'd score loads of goals from set pieces, might have something to do with the quality of defenders he'd be up against

a) I've not seen any other Academy defender scoring goals for fun at the far post - at least over the last five years.

b) Have you even seen the lad play?

c) Do you seriously believe a guy like Hobbs, who seems capable of winning virtually every aerial battle he's come up against so far, cannot have more effect with high crosses in attack than the seemingly weighed down Howard. Have the pair of them plus N'Guessan and King attacking the box and we'll soon get some goals from set pieces. But there's got to be some practised movement in the box as well.

[Sir Fynwy]

a) I've not seen any other Academy defender scoring goals for fun at the far post - at least over the last five years.

b) Have you even seen the lad play?

c) Do you seriously believe a guy like Hobbs, who seems capable of winning virtually every aerial battle he's come up against so far, cannot have more effect with high crosses in attack than the seemingly weighed down Howard. Have the pair of them plus N'Guessan and King attacking the box and we'll soon get some goals from set pieces. But there's got to be some practised movement in the box as well.

a) righty ho

b) yes

c) if the crosses are delivered right, which they aren't, we don't have a player able to deliver good crosses regularly who could be considered a regular starter.

[dogadug]

a) righty ho

b) yes

c) if the crosses are delivered right, which they aren't, we don't have a player able to deliver good crosses regularly who could be considered a regular starter.

We need a Steve Guppy

[Guest Bilo]

As Ipswich have not won at home having drawn 3 / lost 1' I wouldn't say they were proving to be very tough, in hindsight that's probably the easiest 2 points we've dropped.

They've a decent squad though and I'm sure they'll look a lot better once they click, whether under Roy Keane or a more competent manager. Come May, I imagine few teams will look on a draw at Portman Road as two points dropped.

[Thracian]

They've a decent squad though and I'm sure they'll look a lot better once they click, whether under Roy Keane or a more competent manager. Come May, I imagine few teams will look on a draw at Portman Road as two points dropped.

You may be right about the end of the season but the point is that we played them before they were anything like organised and it was obvious on the day that they were there to be taken.

[dogadug]

They'll come good like Keane did with Sunderland