With thanks to Times & Bloomberg_

Leicester v Man United 27/11/96 19.45


UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS LOSE TO LEICESTER

Leicester             (1) 2 Man United              (0) 0 FT

Times report

Leicester hold plenty in reserve


BY KEITH PIKE
THE unwanted distractions of a cluttered season were reduced by one last night as Manchester United bade farewell to the Coca-Cola Cup, deservedly beaten by Leicester City in a fourth-round tie at FilbertStreet. It is unlikely that Alex Ferguson shed too many tears on the way home. Fielding a team that might have turned out for a Pontins League fixture, United were initially undone by Steve Claridge's first-half goal, further deflated when Paul Scholes missed a penalty, and finally dispatched by Emile Heskey, who grabbed Leicester's second goal 13 minutes from time. United's eyes, though, had long been turned towards the FA Carling Premiership fixture between these clubs at Old Trafford on Saturday, and the decisive European Cup Champions' League match in Vienna four days later. A devalued triumph for Leicester? The Midlands team, in the quarter-finals for the first time in more than 20 years, and with Ipswich Town to come, did not mind one jot.
With his team six points off the pace in the league and dependent on other teams for progress in Europe, Ferguson, the United manager, might have been expected belatedly to invest some urgency into this competition, which, after all, offers a passport to Europe for the final season. Wrong. From a side already deprived of eight players through injury ­ Irwin, Pallister, Cole, Giggs, Johnsen, the Neville brothers and Solskjaer ­ Ferguson decided to omit four others by choice. Not that Cantona has the force with him at present, but it was still a calculated gamble to have him confined to the stand along with Schmeichel, Beckham and Butt. Ferguson, though, was unrepentant. "Next Wednesday is a big game for us. It is very difficult to focus on games like this with such important matches coming up. It was the right thing to do, no doubt about that. You can't go for everything." It was the standard of his team's passing that appeared to upset Ferguson more than the result, which leaves United with only one win in their past seven games. Yet with five players aged 22 or under in his starting line-up ­ three more joined them from the bench ­ it was little wonder that United never settled.
Leicester seized the initiative with an excellent opening goal in the 38th minute. Initially, Parker's ball forward from the inside right position appeared to be one of several wasted opportunities. But Heskey's clever backheel threw United and Claridge, running into the area unopposed in support, thumped a left-foot volley past the flat-footed goalkeeper. Thornley's gallant tackle to deny Heskey in the act of shooting prolonged United's hopes, but Leicester's ascendancy was only disturbed in the 54th minute. Two minutes after replacing Taylor, Lawrence crazily conceded a penalty with a needless tug at Keane's shirt. Scholes's right-foot spot kick was so high over the bar that it rebounded back into play off the executive boxes behind Keller's goal. Immediately, Scholes had the chance to atone as Clegg put Cooke away down the right. The ball was pulled back perfectly for Scholes, who volleyed over from eight yards. When Heskey turned in a congested area to make it 2-0 from a corner, United's self-inflicted misery was complete.

LEICESTER CITY (4-5-1): K Keller ­ S Grayson, S Prior, S Walsh,
M Whitlow (sub: J Watts, 27min) ­ M Izzet, S Taylor (sub: J Lawrence,52),
G Parker, N Lennon, E Heskey ­ S Claridge.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): R Van der Gouw ­ M Clegg, D May,
C Casper, J O'Kane (sub: M Appleton, 69) ­ K Poborsky (sub: T Cooke 55),
R Keane, B McClair, B Thornley (sub: S Davies, 62)
­ P Scholes, J Cruyff.
Referee: K Burge.


Bloomberg Match Report
BBN 11/27 British Football: Coca-Cola Cup - Leicester 2-0 Manchester Utd

Leicester, Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Manchester United's unhappy run of results continued when a side containing only two first-team regulars were dumped out of the Coca-Cola Cup by Emile Heskey-inspired Leicester City at Filbert Street, reports the Press Association.

Heskey, who was not even born when Leicester last reached the fifth round of the competition more than 20 years ago, set up the first goal for Steve Claridge and then clinched victory by scoring the second himself.
Heskey, who signed a new three-year contract on Monday, posed all sorts of problems with his pace and power for the United rear guard and the England under-21 player gave another fine example of his potential.

It was United's fifth defeat in seven matches but their manager Alex Ferguson clearly has his priorities elsewhere this season.
Although missing seven members of his first team squad through injury, the United chief still opted to leave out the fit quintet of Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Ronnie Johnsen.

Not surprisingly his patched-up side found it a struggle against a Leicester outfit who grew in confidence and gave another fully committed display in a season turning out to be more productive than manager Martin O'Neill could have imagined.
Even when United were thrown a lifeline via a second-half penalty they squandered the opening with Paul Scholes failing to hit the target.

United manager Alex Ferguson fielded only two first team regulars -- central defender David May and midfielder Roy Keane.
Leicester enjoyed the lion's share of the play in the first half and United's number two goalkeeper Raimond Van der Gouw was forced to turn away a low drive from Scott Taylor after he had dispossessed Jordi Cruyff.

But there was little in the way of excitement during the remainder of the first half before Leicester broke the deadlock in the 38th minute in spectacular style.
Garry Parker's chip from the right was back-heeled in mid- air by Heskey to Claridge who volleyed past the exposed Van De Gouw from 15 yards out for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Leicester, who had been forced to re-organize after losing full back Mike Whitlow through injury in the first half, suffered another blow when Taylor limped out of the action after 52 minutes and it looked like being a costly set-back.
His replacement Jamie Lawrence had not touched the ball when two minutes later he held back Keane just inside the penalty area.

But to Lawrence's and Leicester's relief United striker Paul Scholes fired his spot kick at least five yards over the bar.
Scholes had a chance to make amends five minutes later when United substitute Terry Cooke's right wing cross found him unmarked 10 yards out but he side-footed his effort over the top.

Leicester midfielder Mustafa Izzet came close to increasing his side's lead after dangerman Heskey had been bundled over by Keane and his resulting free kick from 20 yards clipped the top of the cross bar.
With 13 minutes remaining Leicester clinched their place in the quarterfinals.

A corner from Izzet was headed on by Spencer Prior and that man Heskey turned sharply and volleyed in from 10 yards out.

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