Troy Deeney fires home Watford’s late winner to break Leicester hearts.

ADAM REDFERN

Play-off semi-final

1^st leg: Leicester City 1-0 Watford

2^nd leg: Watford 3-1 Leicester City

(Aggregate: Leicester City 2-3 Watford)

Leicester City’s promotion dream was cruelly snatched away on Sunday afternoon, when Troy Deeney’s 96^th minute strike, no less than 20 seconds after Anthony Knockaert had his last gasp penalty saved, sent Gianfranco Zola’s Watford to Wembley with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

With 6 minutes of added time shown at the end of the regulatory 90 of Sunday’s second leg, Leicester were awarded a chance to win the tie from the penalty spot after Marco Cassetti brought down Knockaert just inside the box. The debatable decision saw the Frenchman step up with a chance to be the hero once again. Just a week before the winger scored the winning goal to claim his side the final play-off spot, slotting the ball home in injury time against East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.

Dramatic scenes followed which are likely to haunt Knockaert, manager Nigel Pearson, the players and fans of Leicester City, until promotion does finally come their way. Manuel Almunia saved the spot-kick with the penalty-takers tame rebound seeing the Spanish shot stopper clear the danger. With less than a minute remaining, Watford broke and when Jonathan Hogg’s knockdown found Deeney arriving on the edge of the box, the striker fired the ball home, igniting jubilant scenes and in an emphatic finale.

Missing out in the first-leg through suspension following a sending off on the final day against Leeds United, the striker undoubtedly redeemed himself setting up a final clash at the home of English football and a day out for the supporters.

Thursday night had seen the Foxes take a slender lead into the second leg after David Nugent’s late header secured a 1-0 victory for his side at the King Power Stadium- the striker’s first goal in 17 games for the Foxes. The home side dominated from the beginning, with their best chance falling to Manchester United loanee, Michael Keane whose well-timed volley narrowly evaded the left upright. Nugent also had a back-heel saved by Almunia whilst Ritchie De Laet’s header was straight at the Spaniard.

Leicester were almost ruing their missed chances just before half-time when Jeffrey Schlupp almost let in Ikechi Anya, but his effort was well saved by the legs of keeper’ Kasper Schmeichel. With the scores level at the interval, the Foxes would have been disappointed not to have taken a half-time lead.

The second-half saw more of the same, with the tie hanging in the balance, neither side wanting to be the side that would break the deadlock. However, Nugent finally came up with the goods with a drilled header past Almunia following a pin-point free-kick from Knockaert out wide on 82 minutes sending the Foxes faithful into raptures.

The 2^nd leg was all set to be a thrilling occasion and it did not disappoint. However Leicester had their heart in their mouth on 15 minutes when hotshot Matej Vydra’s stunning volley found the bottom corner to open the scoring. Watching the ball drop over his shoulder the Czech striker fired the ball home to give the Hornet’s the lead- cancelling out the Foxes one goal lead from the first-leg.

With Leicester continuing in the same vein as they had from the off they got their reward just four minutes later, regaining the lead after disappointingly falling behind despite early dominance. Nugent rising highest to a Knockaert corner to beat Almunia to his left, the striker’s second in two games following his barren spell.

The Hornets dominated the early stages of the second period and had numerous chances to level the tie once again. Cristian Battocchio brushed the outside of the post with a drilled effort on 60 minutes before Vydra finally levelled the scoring on 65 minutes. Neat play around the box and a one-two with Deeney opened up a chance which he coolly converted just out of Schmeichel’s grasp. From then on there only looked one winner.

A Watford bombardment followed which credit to the Foxes they valiantly withstood. With the visitors on the rocks and with the Hornet’s struggling to break them down it looked as though the game would peter out with extra-time to follow. However what happened instead will indefinitely go down as one of the greatest ever play-off finales.

Following a lengthy break in play with a head injury to Watford defender Joel Ekstrand, the fourth official indicated 6 minutes of added time at Vicarage Road. When the play got back underway- Harry Kane almost found the winner when Knockaert fizzed in a low cross, but the Tottenham Hotspur loanee couldn’t quite get his foot around it and divert the ball towards goal.

With just one minute remaining, Knockaert drove past two Watford defenders and just as he was about to drill the ball across goal, Cassetti brought down the Frenchman, despite replay’s showing that Watford had been hard done by.

The resultant spot-kick was saved and Watford’s counter-attack ended with one of their player’s of the season; Deeney sealing the deal and sending Zola’s Watford outfit to Wembley with one last shot at the big time.

Leicester were lucky to be even in the play-offs after a spell of 10 games without a win, but finding form at just the right time ensured a last gasp play-off spot. They should therefore not feel to disappointed by the defeat, but the manner in which it happened is gut retching for everyone involved.

The Foxes will now have to prepare for another season in the npower Championship as they continue in their search for a return to the promised land of the Premier League.

For all Foxes transfer news over the summer follow us on Twitter @DemonSport

The Leicester City fans created a carnival atmosphere at the King Power Stadium

SHAUN WHEATCROFT AT THE KING POWER STADIUM

Leicester City put one foot in the Championship play-off final on Thursday evening with a 1-0 victory over Watford courtesy of David Nugent’s first goal in 16 games to give the Foxes a first-leg advantage going into Sunday’s tie at Vicarage Road.

Although there were no goals in an action packed first half, it was by no means 45 minutes devoid of any chances as both sides went hammer and tong, piling on the pressure and missing chances to gain an upper hand before the interval.

The hosts had the better of the opportunities in what proved to be an end-to-end game and in the second period City grabbed a late goal to seal a crucial advantage as Nugent glanced home from Anthony Knockaert’s searching free kick eight minutes from time.

It was an electric atmosphere at a packed to the rafters King Power Stadium and the home side came close early on when midfield man Lloyd Dyer picked out Nugent in the box who produced a cheeky back-heel that was saved well by Watford keeper Manuel Almunia.

The fans were treated to some end-to-end action in a dramatic first five minutes of the match and Leicester’s Matty James struck his free kick from wide on the left straight through to Almunia as the Foxes looked the side in the ascendency.

Soon after Jeff Schlupp and Dyer combined well down the left with a neat one-two but Dyer’s ball fizzed right across the 12-yard box with no Blue shirts able to get on the end of it.

Knockaert was also looking full of confidence down the right wing and his cross looked dangerous after the Frenchman had made space, but it was well cleared by the Watford defence and put out of play to safety.

The midfielder continued to show his influence and his corner on 16 minutes nearly led to a goal when his ball was met by Blues’ defender Ritchie De Laet who headed right into the arms of Almunia.

However, Watford were not prepared to sit back and let the Foxes attack – and on 20 minutes Ikechi Anya found himself through on goal after a mistake from Schlupp and Leicester shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel came to the rescue, getting down low to his right to make a comfortable stop.

The men from Vicarage Road continued their attempts at gaining a foothold in the game and a long-range effort went not far wide of the mark when Marco Cassetti saw an opening from about 35-yards out.

And at the other end Leicester should have been a goal to the good when Dyer showed his pace again to beat his man down the left before squaring the ball to tee up Nugent who fired wide with both time and space.

The visitors did work their way back into the game and on the half-hour mark Almen Abdi’s free kick down the right led to a chance as the ball broke for Anya to strike powerfully at goal. However, a fine block from Andy King spared Nigel Pearson’s men their blushes as the game remained level.

Dyer and Schlupp again exchanged passes down the left on 35 minutes and Dyer made a neat run to pick out Knockaert who poked his shot wide under pressure. Yet, the in-form midfielder manufactured a chance of his own moments later running into the box before seeing his effort deflected.

Michael Keane should have broken the deadlock and put Leicester ahead three minutes before the interval when the ball fell perfectly for the defender to volley towards goal – but fortunately for the visitors it was half a yard wide of Almunia’s right-hand post.

After the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second period the game continued in much the same vein, with the 29,560 fans packed into the ground watching both teams look to get forward and threaten.

The first chance of any real note came on 51 minutes when Schlupp found himself on the edge of the box down the left and struck an effort towards goal that never looked like troubling Almunia.

Gianfranco Zola’s men were looking to press the City defence but struggled to get past the sturdy backline of Wes Morgan and Michael Keane, both of whom did well to handle the trickery of the likes of Matej Vydra and Scottish-born winger Anya.

They came close when Abdi’s free kick flew just wide of the right-hand post from around 30-yards just before the hour-mark before Czech striker Vydra found himself one-on-one with Schmeichel but could only hit a tame shot at the keeper.

And Vydra began to find his way into the match again soon after when he called Schmeichel into action again with a rasping shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that was well punched away by the in-form shot-stopper.

Watford could have taken the lead again when Anya’s neat ball from the right picked out Alexandre Geijo but the Swiss frontman could only head well over the crossbar, unmarked in front of goal.

But with eight minutes remaining Leicester finally took the lead when Knockaert’s swinging free kick from wide on the left picked out Nugent to glance home the opening goal and send the King Power Stadium wild, with his fifteenth league goal of the season.

And Knockaert nearly turned from provider to goalscorer immediately after as he looked to quickly double the lead when substitute Harry Kane found the winger with a ball from the right. However, his header at Almunia’s near post provided a simple catch for the former Arsenal keeper.

In four minutes of stoppage-time at the end of the game Watford looked to grab a crucial goal to take back to Vicarage Road for the second-leg of the tie but the Hornets were unable to trouble a buoyant home side who were full of confidence after  the goal and the game ended 1-0.

Leicester now travel to Hertfordshire on Sunday as they take on the Hornets in the second-leg to determine who will meet either Crystal Palace or Brighton in the play-off final at Wembley on Monday, May 27^th. Sunday’s game gets underway at 12:30pm.

The players make their way onto the pitch at the City Ground.

SHAUN WHEATCROFT REPORTING FROM THE CITY GROUND – 4 May 2013

Anthony Knockaert’s 92nd minute goal sealed a play-off spot for Leicester City in dramatic style on Saturday as they overcame their East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest with a 3-2 win in a pulsating game at the City Ground.

In an exhilarating first period the Reds took the lead after just three minutes when Simon Cox struck for the first time in 27 games. However, Leicester rallied back and Matty James equalised before Andy King’s header gave Nigel Pearson’s men the advantage at the break.

After the interval Elliott Ward glanced home for the hosts to level things up once again but with Bolton being held at home to Blackpool, it was Forest that were made to pay late on as Leicester booked their place in the play-offs thanks to a last-gasp goal from Frenchman Knockaert.

It was a rapid start from the home side who looked full of confidence and went on the break early on before drawing first blood immediately – Andy Reid’s cross found its way into the box and fell to Cox who fired home from close range to give the Reds a quick lead.

Leicester struggled to get a foothold in the game in the opening moments but soon found their way –midfielder Knockaert firing wide from range before also clipping the crossbar with a long range strike as the end-to-end action ensued.

Forest keeper Karl Darlow was then called into action to keep frontman David Nugent’s powerful driven effort out with a diving save as Forest sat back after their goal and began to let Leicester into the game.

And it would soon prove even more costly as Leicester grabbed the equaliser just before the half-hour mark. The Reds fell asleep momentarily as Pearson’s men moved with pace before midfielder James struck a long range curling effort that beat Darlow at his near post thanks to a wicked deflection.

The momentum stayed with Leicester after they got back on level terms and Nugent twice could have given them the lead soon after – breaking away into the box well before lofting his effort just inches wide of the top right post and minutes later heading wide with a free header in front of goal.

The game continued with an electric pace before the interval with both sides looking to take the advantage – good work from Adlene Guedioura in the Reds’ midfielder led to Henri Lansbury forcing Foxes’ keeper Kasper Schmeichel into a smart reaction save.

Yet it was Leicester who made their spell of dominance count when they took the lead two minutes before the break. Knockaert turned well on the byline before finding a searching cross into the box that fell at the far post for King to head home, making it 2-1 at half-time.

After the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second period Billy Davies’ men quashed another Leicester move forward before beginning the second half as they had started the first – with a goal.

Reid’s free kick down the left was lofted into the box and Ward was on hand to power home his directed header, rising first at the far post to put his side back on terms once again.

The visitors had numerous chances to take the lead again as the match continued to produce some fantastic football – frontman Chris Wood had time and space in front of goal from 10-yards but could only put his effort wide of the target.

Forest were pressing at the other end of the field on the hour and Lansbury forced another save from Schmeichel as he latched onto a clever ball from Radi Majewski – it looked as though Cox would score from the rebound, but the offside flag was raised.

Nugent was then involved in what looked to be a dangerous attack for the Foxes – his cross looked bound for Wood to tap in at the far post but Ward somehow managed to get back to clear the ball into the stands right in front of the open goal.

With 20 minutes remaining of the game Forest should have scored and taken the advantage when Reid crossed brilliantly from the left, Polish midfielder Majewski glanced his header just inches wide of Schmeichel’s goal.

Both sides continued to hunt for a dramatic winner as news came in that Bolton were level with Blackpool, meaning the winner would be in with a chance of claiming the final play-off spot.

Yet it was Leicester who scored in theatrical style in added time – Majewski’s stray pass in midfielder allowed the visitors to break with four on one, and it was Knockaert who tapped home in front of goal after exchanging passes with Wood, sending the away support into ecstasy.

Forest had one last throw of the dice and Schmeichel was forced into making a further save to deny Majewski an equaliser late on as they looked to deny the Foxes the win they needed. But it wasn’t enough as Pearson’s men held on to clinch the sixth and final play-off spot.

Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Halford (Majewski, 33), Ward, Collins, Harding, Guedioura (Sharp, 79), Cohen, Reid (McGugan, 73), Lansbury, Cox, Henderson.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore, 56), Morgan, King, Dyer (Kane, 70), Keane, (Marshall, 85), James, Schlupp, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood.

Man of the match: Anthony Knockaert

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 28,646 (away: 2,025)

Leicester Riders celebrate their historic treble-winning season.

Amit Nathwani reporting from Wembley Arena

Leicester Riders have won the BBL play-offs for only the second time in their history after beating Newcastle Eagles 68-57.

It is Riders’ most successful season ever after they picked up the BBL Championship and Cup earlier in the season.

Leicester’s defensive play this season has been their forte and it proved so again in this enthralling tie, restricting Newcastle to only making 35% of their shots. The Eagles posted the lowest score ever in a BBL Play-off final, breaking Riders’ record of 62 points in their loss to Newcastle in last years final.

In a Play-off final, only five teams have ever scored less than 70 points, and they were all beaten.

The Eagles were struggling straight from the tip-off, GB Olympic captain Drew Sullivan and Zaire Taylor stealing almost straight away as they found their stride. It took Newcastle three and a half minutes to score through Kareem Maddox. It gave his team the lead for the first and only time of the game, only 47 seconds.

Up to that point, Riders had found it tough to score but when veteran Yorick Williams entered the fray, it changed the game around. During a 13-0 run, Williams assisted and scored five, which put his side an 11-point lead at 18-7. They managed to maintain that until the end of the quarter, where they led 22-11.

Newcastle were forced to try for three pointers, which did not go in thanks to the Riders defence going from strength to strength. MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the season Sullivan hit six early on in the quarter as Leicester were up 30-15.

The lead was cut down to single figures thanks to Eagles’ Maddox as helped his team score six unanswered points. However, baskets from Williams and Jorge Calvo ensured Riders maintained a score line in their favour, 38-26 at half time.

Newcastle head coach and player Fabulous Flournoy must have said something to his players as they looked like a different team and demonstrated why they have been the team to beat over the past few years, as they closed the gap to just seven points. This did not last long though.

Riders showed their quality as Sullivan and Jamell Anderson led a 13-6 run to extend the lead to 55-41 heading into the last quarter of the season.

Jay Cousinard hit a triple early on as Riders were up 60-43. The Eagles tried to pull themselves back into the contest, like they had done in the Cup final in Birmingham, but to no avail as the result did not look in any doubt at any stage.

When the buzzer sounded, most of the 8,500 celebrated. Riders players and coaching staff bounced over the advertising hoardings to sprint onto court and join the revelries. The dethroned champions were feeling contrasting emotions as they walked backed to their bench with their heads down.

The final is the fifth time Leicester have beaten Newcastle this season and their third piece of silverware this term having not won on since 2001.

At the heart of it and leading from the front was Great Britain’s Olympic captain Drew Sullivan. He proved why he was voted the BBL Player of the season and undisputed MVP with 24 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals and will have to extend his trophy cabinet after a season in which he has won almost every personal accolade going, not to mention three more winners’ medals.

Nottingham born Jamell Anderson made 6/7 shots as he hit 13 points and six rebounds. Jay Cousinard, who was named the coach’s player of the year at the clubs award ceremony, scored eight points and seven rebounds while Zaire Taylor also scored eight and recorded two steals.

Leicester coach Rob Paternostro, who has been central to the success of this season, paid tribute to his team and said they will always remember them:

“I am so proud of these guys,” he said. “This season where, even though we had 43 wins, I pushed these guys. I felt it was my responsibility to keep pushing them because we deserve this.

“Not only are they a team that I will remember forever for basketball, but the relationships we have as a group, I will never forget those. These guys are like family to me.”

Sullivan said he was proud of his teammates and ranked this season amongst the best in his 10-year career “what makes this season more special than any of the others is that we made some history for the club. Winning its first Championship is pretty special!

The other players in the squad all look up to Sullivan for his constant advice and his will to win: “The MVP award is a nice bonus. The winning drives me more than the individual accolades. I have responsibility to my teammates and coaches and if I have a chance to help a player become better, that’s my also my responsibility and whether we’re up or down 20 points, I’m still going to make pointers because I want us to be the best we can possibly be”

Leicester Riders are the best team in the league and are a force to be reckoned with after this historic season.

Riders’ forward Drew Sullivan picks up his player of the season award.

Demon Sport’s Amit Nathwani caught up with Leicester Riders guard Jay Couisnard today ahead of their play-off final against the Newcastle Eagles at Wembley Arena on Sunday. You can hear the full interview right now by clicking the link below.

https://soundcloud.com/amit-nathwani/jay-cousinard-full-interview

Daniel Ansell from the Catalyst show recently caught up with Ronnie Winter from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and asked him about their UK tour, their 10 year anniversary and also their new EP – Et Tu Brute.

Also check out the next issue of the Demon newspaper for a review of the gig.
DemonFM Live session coming soon too!

Catalyst is on Demon FM’s new music show and can be heard every weekday 6 till 8pm.

Chris Blackmore had a chat with up and coming musician Chris Priest on his show.

Have a listen to hear about him, his music, his influences and how he wrote his song ‘Great Escape’ in the shower.

You can find out more about Chris from:
www.facebook.com/ChrisJPriest
www.twitter.com/ChrisJPriestUK
www.youtube.com/ChrisJPriest
www.soundcloud.com/ChrisJPriest 

Tune into DemonFM every Sunday from 2PM for all the best hit music for your Sunday afternoon with Chris Blackmore!

This week on the Intermission Show; Chris & Justin present.

Boredom was a key issue, so we decided to test Justin & Bina’s TV themes knowledge!

Bina provides us some information about DMU’s GIVE A SPIT Campaign, and also some of the work done by Anthony Nolan Trust

This is our last show before Easter, so we wish all of our listeners a Happy Easter! We will back in April.

It’s a very special week on poetry mission, as we look back at two of, perhaps, the greatest commercial poets this country has ever known: S-Club Juniors and Boyzone.
We also tell the harrowing story of infamous Jewish poet ‘Immanuel Bloombergstein’ and delve in to your poems with our regular item ‘Hi me? Hi you? HIKU!’.

The amazing Naomi Perera came into the studio to do an exclusive live session for DemonFM, here is her track, “Quitting The Race” performed in the Live & Loud Studio!

You can check out Naomi here:
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