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Sunday 1 February 1998
Issue 982


Cottee shatters United fortress
By Derick Allsop


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          Man Utd (0) 0 Leicester (1) 1
          
          LEICESTER City celebrated the upset of the season and had clubs
          from Stamford Bridge to Anfield rejoicing with them. Manchester
          United's championship is there for the taking after their first
          home defeat of the campaign and their second successive setback
          in the League.
          
          The noble fortress showed rare signs of crumbling and suddenly
          the Premiership contest no longer seemed a foregone conclusion.
          
          Leicester lifted themselves out of their recent trough of
          depression to stun United with the energy and enterprise of
          their football, and deservedly plundered a first-half lead.
          
          Tony Cottee, much-travelled and often written off, scored the
          goal that confirmed the quality of Leicester's game and the
          vulnerability of a side aspiring to a third consecutive title
          and more.
          
          United, however, were below the standard of potential European
          champions. Their play was disjointed and careless, their
          trademark slick passing non-existent.
          
          Alex Ferguson's team, resuming League business after the
          busman's holiday in the FA Cup, were under instructions to find
          an extra gear and risk no further erosion of their Premiership
          advantage. Defeats at Coventry and Southampton sustained the
          belief they were fallible after all.
          
          At Old Trafford, however, they had maintained a near perfect
          record, dropping only two points - to Chelsea.
          
          Teddy Sheringham, recovered from a calf injury, was named among
          the substitutes, Ferguson retaining the Andy Cole-Ole Gunnar
          Solskjaer combination that produced four goals against Walsall
          last week.
          
          Leicester arrived here without a win in eight games, a run that
          took the wind out of their Premiership sails and cost them
          their place in the FA Cup.
          
          United's early momentum was checked, to the alarm of the
          gallery, when Cole pulled up on the edge of the Leicester
          penalty area after a challenge from Matt Elliott. The England
          contender looked distinctly unhappy, unlike Leicester's young
          striker, Emile Heskey, whose pace and power patently troubled
          the United defence. Ronny Johnsen was so distressed he had to
          be replaced by fellow Norwegian Henning Berg in the eighth
          minute.
          
          United's uncharacteristic discomfort encouraged Leicester to
          take the game to their illustrious hosts. Even Peter Schmeichel
          fumbled what for him should have been a routine catch.
          
          Had Elliott made firmer contact on the ground and then in the
          air, United might have been two goals down inside 16 minutes.
          Gary Pallister's mistimed header invited more pressure and the
          defender was relieved to see Mustafa Izzet's shot clear the
          bar. Ferguson responded by bringing Ryan Giggs into a more
          central role, but could not ward off Leicester's 27th-minute
          goal.
          
          Robert Savage and Garry Parker linked up to send Cottee
          through. Berg appeared favourite for the ball but his
          hesitation left Schmeichel at the little striker's mercy and
          old habits die hard.
          
          Giggs provided Cole with a chance to equalise, but the
          striker's effort on the turn was touched behind. Heskey bustled
          past Berg just before the break, only to blaze over.
          
          Ferguson gambled by bringing on Sheringham for Berg early in
          the second half and operating with three at the back to counter
          Leicester's system. At the front the opportunities continued to
          come Cole's way, and he continued to squander them. Paul
          Scholes fashioned an opening, then lifted his shot over.
          Solskjaer had a better chance, and he too shot high.
          __________________________________________________________
          
          Man Utd (0) 0 Leicester (1) 1
          Cottee 30.

          Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (Berg 8),
          Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs, Scholes (P. Neville 84),
          Solskjaer, Berg (Sheringham 55). Subs Not Used: McClair,
          Pilkington. Booked: Scholes, Sheringham.

          Leicester: Keller, Savage, Guppy, Kaamark, Elliott, Walsh
          (Prior 35), Izzet, Lennon, Parker (Campbell 65), Cottee (Wilson
          88), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Fenton. Booked: Savage.

          Att: 55,156
          Ref: G R Ashby (Worcester).
          __________________________________________________________

   February 1 1998 FOOTBALL
   
   Cottee stuns United
   
   Louise Taylor at Old Trafford
   Manchester Utd 0 Leicester City 1 
   
   MARTIN O'NEILL had psyched his squad up by enquiring if they intended
   to spend the remainder of the season challenging for Europe or
   flirting with relegation.
   
   On yesterday's impressive evidence the Leicester players' answer was
   unequivocal; after seven Premiership games without a win, indomitable
   individuals such as Matt Elliott, Kasey Keller, Steve Guppy and Muzzy
   Izzet reminded us of their true Uefa Cup potential.
   
   Granted, United's midfield began in dysfunctional mode with
   established internationals persistently caught in possession and Andy
   Cole having an absolute shocker, but O'Neill's men thoroughly deserved
   the points.
   
   Some extravagant celebratory cavortings at the final whistle
   emphasised the scale of Leicester's achievement; they had, after all,
   just become the first visiting team to triumph at Old Trafford this
   season.
   
   Even Alex Ferguson admitted he had "no complaints" about a result
   secured via a 30th-minute goal from Tony Cottee - remember him?
   Indeed, United's manager proceeded to lambast his team for an
   unscheduled second successive League defeat - they succumbed at
   Southampton last time out - and promised: "They'll work hard for the
   rest of the season, though. You can bet your life on that. I'm damned
   disappointed; we got what we deserved. We made a terrible start
   without any workrate."
   
   Unfortunately for United, Leicester were positively suffused with the
   work ethic. All the pre-match talk had centred on the possibility of
   Pontus Kaamark man-marking Ryan Giggs but, in reality, the Swede was
   used on the right of a central defensive trinity where he found
   himself generally succeeding in suppressing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
   
   This 3-5-2 Leicester formation dictated that Guppy necessarily played
   left wing-back, which all seemed rather a waste of one of England's
   most exciting left wingers. Even so, Guppy still contributed enough
   accurate centres to embarrass Ferguson's rearguard.
   
   There was clearly method in O'Neill's system, because Leicester's
   midfield five were forcing Nicky Butt into all sorts of early,
   uncharacteristic errors. At this juncture Neil Lennon, Garry Parker
   and Izzet passed and moved with increasing distinction, while the
   shaven-headed Elliott consistently menaced from a series of set
   pieces.
   
   And United? Well, Cole was experiencing one of those regressive days
   when his first touch looked alarmingly suspect and by the time Cottee
   put Leicester ahead Keller had still to make a significant save.
   
   Only playing because O'Neill had decided against giving Ian Marshall
   the pain-killing injection that would have enabled him to start,
   Cottee benefited from slick passing on the part of Robbie Savage -
   ironically, a United reject - and then Parker, who controlled an
   akwardly bouncing ball, before intelligently wrong-footing Henning
   Berg and springing United's rusty offside mechanism.
   
   That feat accomplished, the diminutive veteran (well, 32-year-old)
   advanced down the inside-right avenue before cutting into the penalty
   area and defying Schmeichel courtesy of a waspish, low shot,
   despatched from an unpromising angle with the sort of precision that,
   10 years ago, made him Britain's most expensive footballer. Can it
   really be a decade since Cottee left West Ham for Everton in an
   unprecedented £2m move?
   
   Cole cost United £7m but here he had seemingly mislaid his shooting
   boots because when Giggs played him into a perfect position he fired
   wide of the far upright.
   
   By the interval Leicester really should have doubled their advantage
   but Emile Heskey ballooned the ball over Schmeichel's bar after
   muscularly turning a dizzy and disoriented Berg inside out.
   
   All credit to Schmeichel for spreading himself in exemplary fashion
   but on this cameo evidence it was easy to understand why Berg was only
   on as a substitute for the injured Ronny Johnsen.
   
   By contrast, much of Leicester's defending was excellent with Savage -
   a fleet-footed right wing-back - patently relishing this opportunity
   to remind Ferguson he released a fine footballer.
   
   Although inevitably increasingly penned back in their own half as the
   second period unravelled, Leicester were not deliberately set on
   last-ditch denial and, creditably, aimed to counter-attack whenever
   possible. Significantly, United's defence continued to look vulnerable
   to being run at - particular by Izzet. Maybe attack really is the best
   form of defence at Old Trafford.
   
   Ferguson's response was to liberate Teddy Sheringham - newly recovered
   from a calf strain - from the bench in place of the hapless Berg. The
   only drawback was this necessitated David Beckham's re-location to
   right wing-back.
   
   No matter; Sheringham's ability to hold the ball up under pressure
   began conjuring a relentless stream of home chances, his heightening
   influence being mirrored by O'Neill's ever more agitated touchline
   gesticulations.
   
   In the event, Cole spurned three presentable openings and Solskjaer
   proved almost equally profligate but, happily, O'Neill's nervous
   energy was not transmitted to Keller and Elliott who remained
   magnificent in the face of growing hostile fire.
   
   Hats off to Leicester - and not least for hinting that the Premiership
   title might not be a foregone conclusion after all.
   
   Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen (Berg 8min,
   Sheringham 55min), Pallister, Irwin, Beckham, Butt, Scholes (P Neville
   84min), Giggs, Cole, Solskjaer.
   
   Leicester City: Keller, Kaamark, Elliott, Walsh (Prior 35min), Savage,
   Lennon, Parker (Campbell 65min), Izzet, Guppy, Heskey, Cottee (Wilson
   88min).
   
   Scorer: Leicester City: Cottee 30
   Booked: Savage (69min); Sheringham (79min).
   Referee: G Ashby (Worcester).
   Attendance: 55,156.
   
   Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. 
          __________________________________________________________

   February 1 1998 FOOTBALL
   
   Cottee breaches United fortress 
   
   Jim Munro, football editor
   
   IT MAY take a while to sink in, but Manchester United have lost three
   of the past four matches in their defence of the Premier League title.
   A 1-0 defeat by Leicester City at Old Trafford was their first at home
   this season, and Alex Ferguson, their manager, having ground his
   chewing gum to dust by the final whistle, was making no excuses.
   
   "We got what we deserved," he said sternly. "We made a terrible start
   without any workrate and we can have no complaints about the result."
   
   Leicester's decisive strike came from the shortest of launch pads.
   Tony Cottee, 5ft 8in, 32 years old and in the starting line-up for
   only the second time in his 18 appearances for the club, collected an
   incisive pass from Garry Parker and cut inside the penalty area to ram
   a low shot past Peter Schmeichel.
   
   Despite a frantic assault on the Leicester goal, United could not claw
   their way back into the game or escape their manager's ire. Concluding
   his post mortem, Ferguson said of his players: "They will work hard
   for the rest of the season, you can bet your life on that."
   
   Chelsea eased into second place after a 2-0 win over Barnsley, goals
   from Gianluca Vialli and Mark Hughes helping the London club leapfrog
   Liverpool and Blackburn, who drew 0-0 at Anfield. Their match was
   marred by an injury to Jason McAteer, who fractured the fibula in his
   left leg.
   
   Alan Ball's return to management with Portsmouth was overshadowed by
   an assault on a referee's assistant during a 1-1 draw with Sheffield
   United at Fratton Park.
   
   Edward Martin was knocked unconscious by a Sheffield United supporter
   after he had been consulted about an infringement which led to Simon
   Tracey, their goalkeeper, being sent off. The assailant was arrested
   and Mr Martin was said to be feeling better after treatment in
   hospital.
   
   Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. 
          __________________________________________________________

Saturday January 31 2:51 PM EDT

Cottee goal moves Leicester closer to safety
By Mike Collett

LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Manchester United and Leicester City have
vastly differing ambitions this season. 

While United manager Alex Ferguson's sights are set on winning the
European Cup, the English title and the F.A. Cup, Leicester manager Martin
O'Neill would settle for just 42 points. 

That is the number he believes Leicester need to avoid relegation -- and
thanks to their shock 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on
Saturday they look like achieving that target with relative ease. 

The victory, courtesy of a 28th minute strike from ex-West Ham, Everton
and England veteran Tony Cottee, keeps Leicester in ninth place on 33
points and means they need to win only three of their remaining 14 matches
to reach O'Neill's safety target. 

The victory also ended a run of seven league games dating back to the end
of November without a win and was their first at Old Trafford for 25
years. 

While not exactly throwing the title race wide open, it certainly raised
some question marks about United's current form. They have lost three of
their last four league games. 

United are now just four points clear of the chasing trio of Chelsea,
Blackburn and Liverpool and Ferguson was highly critical of their
performance on Saturday, especially the way they played in the first half. 

``That was certainly the worst we have played all season,'' he said. 

``We didn't defend well enough or work hard enough and just about
everything that could go wrong did go wrong. 

``We improved dramatically in the second half and had four good chances to
score but did not take any of them and if you don't do that you don't
deserve to win.''

While O'Neill believes he needs 42 points to survive, Ferguson, whose side
already have 49 points, believes teams have little chance of winning the
title if they lose as many as six of their 38 league games. 

Saturday's defeat was United's fifth of the season, and Ferguson said:
``At the outside you might lose seven but that's absolutely the limit. We
really have no more margin for error.''

By that reckoning Blackburn, with only three defeats, and Arsenal, who
have lost only four times, would look to be United's main threat for a
third successive title. 

But no one was writing off United just because they lost on Saturday. 

O'Neill said: ``While it was a terrific result for us I still think United
will win the title, and not only the English title. They are the potential
champions of Europe, too. 

``They created enough chances today but I thought Kasey Keller in our goal
and our defence were magnificent, especially for the way we handled their
pressure in the second half.''

For Cottee, the winning goal rolled back the years to the 1980s when he
won seven England caps and was a regular scorer for both West Ham and
later Everton. 

Now 32, Cottee joined Leicester at the start of the season after a brief
spell in Malaysia with Selangor. 

He has been on the fringes of the first team having made 11 substitute
appearances for Leicester, and, including Saturday's match, starting just
two games. 

The goal came when he took advantage of a slip by Henning Berg to lash a
pass from ex-United apprentice Robbie Savage over Peter Schmeichel's head
and into the roof of the net. 

``He was terrific today,'' said O'Neill. ``He may be 32 but he has
retained some of his old sharpness and scored a great goal for us today.''
          __________________________________________________________

FERGIE - WE GOT WHAT WE DESERVED

   By David Anderson, PA Sport
   
   Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson had no complaints after Leicester
   ended their unbeaten home record with a shock 1-0 victory.
   
   "I think we got what we deserved," he said. "We were just too casual
   to win a game of football.
   
   "Our first half performance did not deserve a victory and I was very
   disappointed with that.
   
   "Leicester's work ethic was superb and they deserve to win for that.
   In the second half we had enough chances to win it but we needed that
   break and we didn't get it."
   
   United's lead at the top of the Premiership has been further reduced,
   but Ferguson denied that his side were suffering from any title
   jitters.
   
   "I don't think that there is any anxiety. We're too confident for
   that," he said.
   
   Leicester goal hero Tony Cottee was delighted to finally break his Old
   Trafford duck after 15 years of trying.
   
   The former West Ham and Everton striker has never scored before at
   Manchester United until his strike after 27 minutes gave the Foxes a
   shock win.
   
   "I have been trying for 15 years to finally get one and I'm absolutely
   delighted," he said.
   
   "I have had shots cleared off the line, knocked away and everything so
   I'm absolutely thrilled to score."
   
   Cottee, 32, played only because of a groin injury to Ian Marshall and
   the strike was his second goal of the season and first in the
   Premiership in nearly two years.
   
   Leicester's delighted boss Martin O'Neill sang Cottee's praises after
   the striker made only his second league start for Leicester.
   
   "Tony Cottee's own individual performance was excellent and he was
   brilliant for us," he said.
   
   "I told him on Wednesday if Marshall did not come through, there was a
   fair chance that he would start the game and he has done better than I
   could have asked."
   
   O'Neill was thrilled to win at Old Trafford, but he still feels United
   will go on to win their fifth title in six years.
   
   "This is a great, great win for us," he said. "To come here and win
   after being under so much pressure is terrific.
   
   "I thought we were brilliant in the first half - we got the goal in
   front and we could have got another one.
   
   "United came out and roared at us in the second half and you have to
   say whatever bit of luck was going, it was going in our direction.
   
   "United still lead and four points is a lot of points. They are still
   a terrific side, but you don't need me to say that."
   
   © PA Sporting Life
          __________________________________________________________

                    Man United v Leicester 31/01/98 3.00
                                      
Man United              (0) 0 Leicester               (1) 1 FT
                              Cottee 30

   Leicester breathed fresh life into the FA Carling Premiership title
   race when they inflicted Manchester United's first home defeat of the
   season with a shock 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
   
   Forgotten man Tony Cottee scored the all-important goal after 27
   minutes on only his second league start for the Foxes.
   
   The second half resembled a remake of the Alamo as United created, and
   squandered, chance after chance as they threw everything at Leicester.
   
   Unlike the Mexican army, though, they could not breach their
   opponents' defence.
   
   But take nothing away from Leicester. They worked hard for their first
   league win since the end of November and were superbly organised and
   disciplined.
   
   United's lead at the top has been cut to four points and this result
   will remind them that a fifth title in six years is far from secured.
   
   The champions and league leaders had won their last 11 games at Old
   Trafford and had dropped just two league points at home.
   
   Some people thought United were unbeatable at the Theatre of Dreams -
   but then the Titanic was supposed to be unsinkable!
   
   Leicester, who were 8-1 shots to win, upset the odds to win their
   first league match in eight attempts to do the unthinkable.
   
   The victory was also their first at Old Trafford since September 1973,
   which was the season United were relegated.
   
   United were forced to make an early substitution when Henning Berg
   came on for Ronny Johnsen, who appeared to have a calf injury.
   
   Leicester were making life difficult for United from the first whistle
   and in a moment of confusion Gary Pallister needlessly headed Steve
   Guppy's cross out of Peter Schmeichel's hands for a corner.
   
   It was a sign of things to come for United, who are used to having
   things their own way at home.
   
   United found themselves in the unusual position of being pegged back
   at Old Trafford as the Foxes pushed and harried them.
   
   Muzzy Izzet was presented with a chance midway through the first half
   but he was off balance and fired over.
   
   Leicester deservedly took the lead after 27 minutes when Berg
   misjudged former United trainee Robbie Savage's cross and Cottee
   lashed it home past Schmeichel from close range for his second of the
   season.
   
   The Foxes made their first substitution on 34 minutes when Spencer
   Prior came on for captain Walsh.
   
   Andy Cole went close to equalising for United four minutes later when
   he collected Ryan Giggs' pass and cut back inside Prior only to shot
   narrowly past Kasey Keller's far post.
   
   Now it was United's turn to pressure Leicester, but they were being
   thwarted by an 11-man defence.
   
   Emile Heskey had a chance to make it 2-0 right on half-time when he
   got half a yard on Berg but shot over.
   
   United pushed Denis Irwin and Gary Neville forward after the interval
   but Leicester still looked dangerous and Izzet went past four
   challenges before Pallister stopped him at the expense of a corner.
   
   At the other end Cole shot straight at Keller and Butt fired over from
   outside the area.
   
   United went for broke when they replaced Berg with Sheringham nine
   minutes into the second half.
   
   Cole sneaked through the Foxes' defence four minutes later but Keller
   saved his point-blank shot.
   
   Leicester added fresh legs to their midfield when Stuart Campbell
   replaced Garry Parker.
   
   Sheringham was left holding his head in his hands midway through the
   half when he blasted over from close range.
   
   Still the chances came and went for United and Cole fired wide on 72
   minutes. Giggs then missed 10 minutes from time before Cole sent a
   header wide.
   
   United played their final card seven minutes from time when Phil
   Neville came on for Paul Scholes, while Stuart Wilson replaced
   Leicester's goal hero Cottee.
   
   Perhaps United's best chance fell to Sheringham, who shot wide from
   just yards out two minutes into stoppage time to sum up their
   miserable afternoon.
                                      
   Man United: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (Berg
   (Sheringham, 55), 8), Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs, Scholes
   (P. Neville, 84), Solskjaer.
   Subs not used: McClair, Pilkington.
   Booked: Scholes, Sheringham.
   
   Leicester: (5-3-2) Keller, Savage, Guppy, Kaamark, Elliott, Walsh
   (Prior, 35), Izzet, Lennon, Parker (Campbell, 65), Cottee (Wilson,
   88), Heskey.
   Subs not used: Arphexad, Fenton.
   Booked: Savage.
   
   Attendance: 55,156.
   Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).


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