PEARSON: FOXES GOT OUT OF JAIL
LEICESTER manager Nigel Pearson admits his side cannot afford to dice with death on a regular basis after a thrilling comeback against Birmingham.
Formations has been the buzz word around the King Power Stadium and having already played 3-5-2 this season, the Foxes switched to 4-4-2 when trailing at half-time following a 4-3-1-2 system that did not work as Pearson had wanted.
Leicester were 1-0 down to Matt Green’s first ever Football League goal in his 50th appearance.
But just as it looked like Birmingham would hold out, Jamie Vardy struck in the 78th-minute and then Andy King scored what looked like being the winner four minutes later.
There was however more drama in injury time. Dave Nugent fired home a penalty after Kyle Bartley was controversially adjudged to have brought down Lloyd Dyer.
Birmingham were especially aggrieved when sub Chris Burke scored a fine goal with virtually the last kick but Pearson salued his side after they remained unbeaten.
“It was a good three points,” he said.“We made heavy weather of it in the first half in that we wasted opportunities to score and conceded with the first meaningful attack.
“The important thing is we were able to come from a losing position to victory.
“The players responded very well and in the second half the players that went on played a big role in changing the fortunes.
“This league is notorious for sides being unable to find consistency to win enough games. You have to find an answer, we were one end of the spectrum or the other.We did not win enough tight games. If you want to be a success you have to do that. We’ve not hit the heights yet but the results are going OK.
“You have to try and win games. It’s nice to have the ability to change things. But it does not always work.”
Green’s goal was notable as he became the first Birmingham player to score in the league this season as he scored his first Blues goal with a fine volley on 12 minutes from Shane Ferguson’s cross.
Leicester had their moments with Danny Drinkwater and Chris Wood particularly wasteful in front of goal with Darren Randolph also having a stormer for Birmingham.
Drinkwater and Wood were hurled off at half-time to make way for Anthony Knockaert and Dyer.
The pair helped turn the tide for Leicester who were clearly more comfortable with 4-4-2.
Vardy levelled from 18 yards from Dyer’s pass before King, on his 250th Leicester appearance, turned the game on its head with a goal from a similar position from Nugent’s pass.
Referee Eddie Ilderton came under fire in the last minute with Bartley appearing to win the ball from Dyer, with a spot kick awarded which Nugent converted, and Burke’s late effort from the edge of the area made the decision more meaningful for the incensed Lee Clark.
“We were leading 1-0 but sometimes it was like the Alamo,” he said. “We need to find a solution quick to win football matches
“What’s the point in me commenting on officials? There was a meeting with referees before the season and some managers sit in the car for four hours.
“The referee boss says how good the stats are and how good the refs are improving. I must be missing those games.
“Both managers agreed on everything but I’m not going to come and slate the referee as I don’t want to get fined.
“I find it strange because I don’t want to get fined for telling the truth.”