LEICESTER vs. Southampton 8/16 [R]

[JoBeck]

HERE WE GO!

Season kicks off tomorrow at the Walkers Stadium when Southampton and newly-signed Kevin Phillips come to town.

For Leicester, it appears that Frank Sinclair, Callum Davidson and Steve Howey are all out with injuries but Micky is still waiting to see if Sinclair and Howey are fit enough to get some time tomorrow.

Plenty of Leicester's new signings will be in the starting 11 tomorrow. We should see John Curtis and Ben Thatcher in the attack while Les Ferdinand will be Paul Dickov's strike partner.

Ian Walker in goal, of course. But with the way Danny Coyne played in Wednesday's reserve game at Tottenham, it looks like we've got a capable #2 in case Walker should ever be injured.

Sky Sports says the midfield will look like this:

-----------Izzet--------------
Rogers-----------------Gillespie
---------Scimeca-------------

...and while Rogers has had a good preseason and Jordan Stewart was holding out for a while, I still think it would make more sense to have Stewart on the left. Also, I find it interesting that there doesn't seem to be any room for Lilian Nalis in the midfield.

A big crowd is expected for tomorrow's season opener, and both Ian Walker and Riccardo Scimeca called upon Leicester's fans to make a lot of noise for the boys at home.

COME ON, LEICESTER!

[JoBeck]

Starting lineups:

LEICESTER

----------Dickov--Ferdinand---------
Scowcroft-------Izzet-------Gillespie
--------------Scimeca--------------
Rogers-----Thatcher----Elliott---Curtis
------------Walker (GK)-------------
(Subs: Coyne, Stewart, Hignett, Nalis, Deane)

Southampton
Jones (GK); Dodd, Le Saux, Lundekvan, Oakley; McCann, Delap, A Svensson, Telfer; Beattie, M Svensson

Kickoff just minutes away--COME ON, LEICESTER!!

[DennisM]

2nd minute penalty. Ferdinand falls down in the box. Dickov scores the penalty. 1-0 Leicester.

[miko]

2-0(!) after 9 minutes...

[JoBeck]

2-0! City come out with guns blazing!!!

A bit of confusion after Ferdinand's great header goal. Lundekvam injured on the play, Higginbotham in as the Saints fall in an early hole and are forced to make a sub.

COME ON LEICESTER

[JoBeck]

17th minute, Walker's first save is a great one on a wide-open back post header by Beattie

[JoBeck]

Halftime, and the score remains 2-0 for Leicester City. The Foxes exit to a standing ovation from the home crowd, and I couldn't be more pleased with this halftime scoreline.

I'm sure we'll see Kevin Phillips come out soon.

Keep it going, City!

[JoBeck]

Yellow card for Scimeca on a late challenge on Beattie right after halftime.

Dangerous spot for a free kick... but Kevin Phillips (on for A. Svensson) sends it over the bar.

Brian Deane came on for Sir Les at halftime. Ferdinand took a bit of a knock on his goal.

[JoBeck]

It's taken Paul Dickov almost 55 minutes to get his first yellow card.

[JoBeck]

Dickov out, Lilian Nalis in, 70 min.

Big rounds of applause for both players.

Leicester go into a 4-4-1-1 with Izzet behind Deane.

[JoBeck]

Kevin Philips scores on a 30+ yard blast from a free kick.

2-1 now...

...and Paul Jones makes a good save to deny Izzet as Leicester come right back.

COME ON, LEICESTER!

[JoBeck]

Hanball in the box by Southampton? Not given by referee Mike Riley! Everybody in Leicestershire seemed to think it was a handball and the Leicester commentators can't believe it...

Corner for the Saints.

[miko]

2-2, Beattie scores.

[JoBeck]

Just a few minutes later, Phillips hits the post and Beattie cleans it up.

2-2, Walkers Stadium is in stunned silence.

Let's see what the Foxes are made of...

[JoBeck]

81st minute, Stewart on for Gillespie.

I'll guess that Scowcroft will move to the right.

I'd have preferred Rogers to come off.

Another corner for Southampton as the pressure is on.