S****horpe next up!

[davieG]

Fez's Standpoint from the Merc

This season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in Leicester City's recent history.

During several tedious years milling around lower mid-table and flirting with relegation from the Championship, the truly nail-biting games arrived with the April showers.

This time last year, City sat in second place in League One trailing S****horpe by a single point.

The following week, City went to Glanford Park, won superbly and no other team enjoyed top spot for the rest of the season.

Now things are different. The natural order appears to be in place with Newcastle and West Brom leading the pack, but any side that puts together a run can challenge for promotion.

Even arguably the poorest side we have faced so far, Barnsley, who were dispatched by a single Matty Fryatt goal, have been rejuvenated under the new management of former City striker Mark Robins. The timing of this international break certainly heaps added pressure on City ahead of the home clash with Plymouth on Saturday following defeat by West Brom. But that is how football should be.

With Nigel Pearson's men clinging on to the final play-off place at present, any slip-up against Argyle will mean a slide towards page two of the league table on Ceefax.

Over the past 15 months, City fans have grown accustomed to the team's name residing with five other promotion hopefuls above the dashed line.

Three months in and we still have not seen a terrifying team that has comprehensively outplayed us.

Newcastle, West Brom and Preston have all deservedly beaten us but we have inflicted defeats of our own upon QPR, Swansea and Blackpool, each on merit.

The real test will come in December with games against Cardiff, Bristol City and, of course, Forest.

Refereeing decisions and the difference between the inside and outside of a goalpost are currently deciding whether a team are third or 13th.

Although City fans have every right to be positive about a push for promotion, there is still too much jostling for position to make any educated predictions just yet.

When City were last promoted to the Premier League, it was largely a two-horse race with Portsmouth and last season's League One title seemed to be a clear run for victory at times.

This season it still looks unlikely that anyone will storm clear of those in pursuit because there simply is not enough of a difference between any of the teams in the top half. From a fan's perspective, that is brilliant, from a manager's perspective, perhaps not so much.

But one thing is certain – City fans have not had a manager they can rely on for results like this more for nearly a decade. As fans, all we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

David Bevan is a City fan and contributor to the websites Foxes Talk and Vital Football.

[MPH]

yet again another good read.

and also an advert for foxes talk. Job done. :-)

[StanSP]

Superb Fez