Match Report: Leicester City 2-1 Hull City

Leicester City claimed a hat-trick of consecutive wins at the King Power Stadium as they ran out 2-1 winners over the afternoon’s visitors Hull City.

Leicester gaffer Nigel Pearson was forced into making one change from the Starting XI that drew 3-3 with Blackpool midweek, after Richie Wellens suffered a calf injury during the build-up to the fixture. His place in midfield was taken by the recently impressive Danny Drinkwater, whose slick performances out on the right wing and as a substitute in previous matches have seen the former Manchester United player fit comfortably into Pearson’s starting squad. Drinkwater’s move to central midfield allowed Ben Marshall to gain his first start in a Leicester City jersey, in the right midfield position.

Hull faced another match without the talents of their captian Robert Koren, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Corey Evans was passed fit prior to the match, having overcome his own hamstring injury.

The match kicked off with Hull going on the offensive straight from the get-go; Josh King with an effort on Kasper Schmeichel’s goal which ended up buried in the Spion Kop Stand behind the goal. Hull’s 4-3-3 formation proved difficult for the home side to grasp a hold of, and subsequently resulted in Nigel Pearson adopting the same formation. Lloyd Dyer and David Nugent were moved to the right and left of Jermaine Beckford up front with Marshall, Danns and Drinkwater in midfield.

As of late, Leicester have been victims of their own demise, with a number of defensive errors leading to eight goals conceded in just two games. Such frailties appeared to persist on 7 minutes, after former Leicester striker Matty Fryatt tucked the ball away from the edge of the six-yard box, after latching onto a ball supplied by Tom Cairney that slipped past an out of position Neil Danns’ in the middle of the park, to score his 10th goal of the season.

Leicester have seemingly become experts at bouncing back in the face of adversity, which has been handy in terms of covering up the defensive errors. Today’s match against Hull proved no different, with Leicester equalising ten minutes later courtesy of a blistering Lloyd Dyer strike; the tall and pacey winger outpaced the Hull City defence to cut in and strike from the edge of the penalty box and sent the ball hard and low into the bottom left corner.

Leicester further extended their goal tally a minute later, with Marshall’s 30-yard deflected effort finding it’s way past Hull’s goalkeeper Vito Mannone to crash into the top right corner of the net.

Both City goals were subject to well worked runs from Nugent in his new found position on the left wing, which allowed him to run at the Hull defence and create two well taken chances; surely something for Pearson to consider for the rest of the season.

Leicester continued to push, trying to further extend their lead over Pearson’s former team, whose fans were more than keen to express their dismay at Pearson’s departure from Hull in October last year. Despite vocal opposition, Leicester were the team in charge; Beckford and Marshall both firing over the cross bar from the edge of the penalty box, prior to half-time.

Early in the second half it seemed the home side would benefit most from the break, with a rejuvenated defensive back-four seeming much more organised and able to deal with Hull’s efforts, lead by the impressive Manchester United loanee Josh King. Hull’s attack opened the door for a Foxes’ counter attack on 54 minutes, as Lloyd Dyer once again made a blistering run down the right only to scuff an effort wide.

On 56 minutes Neil Danns and Paul McKenna chased a dead ball which resulted in a crunching tackle, dealing McKenna a blow to the lower shin. Having mulled over the decision for a matter of seconds, Nigel Miller showed a straight red card to Danns who left he pitch during his first game as captain for Leicester City. Danns’ dismissal forced Pearson into adapting to a 4-4-1 formation with Nugent replaced by Sol Bamba, who fitted into centre midfield with Danny Drinkwater, playing with a defensive mind-set often occupied by Wellens.

Despite the numerical advantage in favour of Hull, the game remained open. Drinkwater had perhaps the most potent opportunity to extend Leicester’s lead in the 76th minute when his brilliant solo effort didn’t get the finish it deserved. Hull also squandered a golden opportunity, as ex-Leicester and Liverpool defender Jack Hobbs rattled the crossbar with a powerful header after latching onto an inswinging Andy Dawson corner.

Despite both teams efforts the game remained goalless through the second half, with Leicester seeing the game out in an orderly and well executed manner.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, St.Ledger, Morgan, Konchesky, Marshall (Kennedy 85′), Drinkwater, Danns (sent off 56′), Dyer, Beckford, Nugent (Bamba 66′)

Hull City: Mannone, Rosenior, Dawson, Chester, Hobbs, McKenna, Stewart, Evans (McLean), Cairney (Brady 58′), Fryatt, King (Cullen 78′)

Massa "finally comfortable" with car. Or is he?

Any Ideas?:  Massa and co. struggle to
understand the F2012

One the back of Saturdays Qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix, Felipe Massa announced himself as "finally comfortable" with Ferrari's 2012 challenger. This admission by Massa came despite his lowly grid spot of 12th; surely a position on the F1 grid  which should completely alien to a team such as Ferrari. So why has Massa declared himself happy?
On the back of an extremely disappointing 2011 campaign, Massa has become public enemy number one in the eyes of the Italy's volatile press and Ferrari fan-base (which incidentally happens to be the entire nation). Last weekends season opener did little to improve his reputation in Italy, having qualified distant from the top ten on Saturday and then eventually retiring his car with suspension damage after a clash with Brazilian compatriot, Bruno Senna.

Piggy in the Middle: Massa found
himself struggling in a torrid car in Oz

In-between last weekend in Australia and this weekends visit to Malaysia, Ferrari have gifted Massa with a new chassis, in an attempt to understand and subsequently get to the bottom of Massa's horrific ordeal down under. Now firstly, it is incredibly rare for a team to switch chassis' without immediate need, due to the differences in-between chassis'. Such differences may be extremely minute, but F1 is a game of absolute precision after all.  Secondly, such an alteration in set-up is littered with signs of desperation; last gasp, last chance saloon, and last roll of the dice all spring to mind unfortunately for the 2008 World Championship runner-up.
So is it any surprise that Massa has declared himself "comfortable"? Further blame on the car by Ferrari's firm number two driver would only result in an angered boss in the form of Luca De Montezemolo; of whom famously sacked the last driver to be too outspoken about his team's machine during the 1991 season. This driver was no less than the three time World Champion, Alain Prost. If De Montezemolo felt the need to sack a triple World Champion, he surely would have no queries about sacking an under-performing, out-spoken Brazilian.

In the Background: Massa has had to bask in the shadow of
Alonso since the latter's arrival at Maranello.

 What makes Massa's situation ever more difficult, is the man who he lines-up against in the Ferrari garage; Fernando Alonso is widely recognised (including me), as one of the finest racers in the paddock. Last year, Alonso out qualified Massa on no less than 13 occasions, and staggeringly beat the Brazilian 15 times out of 17 in terms of finishing position in the race. Luckily for Massa however, such was Ferrari's overall performance advantage over the rest of chasing pack (barring Red Bull and McLaren), Felipe was still often able to finish the the place behind Alonso yet ahead of the Mercedes and Force India's of this world. Such luxury looks to be lost for Massa this season however; with the top 8 qualifiers in today's (Saturday) qualifying session separated by a mere 0.8 seconds, the field  is much, much closer. As a result of this tasty situation, Massa finds himself behind not only Alonso, but other drivers and teams who have stolen a march on Ferrari in terms of early season pace and development.

Having looked into the situation for Felipe Massa, the word "comfortable" would seem a far-cry away from the currently shenanigans in around the Brazilians race seat at Ferrari. One can only assume that Massa is currently in a state of  self-defence in-front of the microphone as oppose to a state of jubilation, as the the former pace-setter battles to save his flagging career at the business end of Formula One.

Match Report: Blackpool 3-3 Leicester City

A last gasp effort from Kevin Phillips dealt the visiting Leicester City side a cruel blow, as the match at Bloomfield Road finished in an emphatic 3-3 scoreline.

Nigel Pearson made two changes from the team that lost against Chelsea on Sunday, with Shaun St.Ledger moved across the defence to centre-back in place of Sol Bamba, and Lee Peltier moving back into left-back. Paul Gallagher was the only injury absentee, having suffered a knee injury against the Premier League side on Sunday; Danny Drinkwater was selected over Ben Marshall for the empty right midfield slot.

Despite both teams having scored in every game so far in 2012, the match took a surprisingly long time to swing into life. David Nugent’s well struck effort from the edge of the penalty area shortly after 20 minutes caused concern for Blackpool’s goalkeeper, Matthew Gilks. Nugent’s strike seemingly kickstarted the encounter.

Kevin Phillips unsuccessfully testing Kasper Schmeichel in Leicester’s goalmouth, before a corner and a direct free-kick failed to provide the spark that the Seasiders’ chances promised. The game stepped up yet another notch moments later, after a big penalty shout from Leicester was waved away by referee Michael Naylor. The lively Nugent was seemingly chopped down in the area by Blackpool defender Neal Eardley. To further add salt to the wounds of Pearson’s men, Nugent’s dismay at the lack of penalty awarded resulted in the former England international receiving a yellow card.

Leicester’s turmoil was increased just seven minutes later after a barrage of Blackpool attacks finally yielded a goal. Kevin Phillips once again reminded people of his formidable goal-seeking presence with a well taken shot from close range that landed in the top left corner of the goal behind stricken Schmeichel.

Leicester bounced back with a now trademark immediate response coming courtesy of an in-form Jermaine Beckford. The former Everton and Leeds striker’s latched onto a Danny Drinkwater pass after a surge from midfield to score. Beckford’s goal meant that he has scored four in three games for the Foxes’, and in doing so banishing his early season goal drought.

The energetic proceedings continued after Leicester’s equaliser, with a number of chances for both teams being scuppered, with Nugent and Matt Phillips missed the two most potent efforts.

Blackpool came out fighting in the second half, seemingly inspired by Ian Holloway’s half-time words. Stephen Crainey’s powerful effort just after 50 minutes proved the most challenging for Foxes’ shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel, who pushed the fierce strike over the bar. The Danish keeper’s save proved ever more fruitful moments later, as David Nugent scored a well deserved goal to put Leicester 2-1 up. The striker rose above Blackpool’s defence to head home from Drinkwater’s corner.

Leicester continued to push, keen to extend the one goal cushion that has so often crumbled this season. Lloyd Dyer’s effort on the counter attack was just inches away from crashing into the back of the net after Beckford’s slide pass to the wingman.

Leicester’s continued dominance throughout the second half prompted a double substitution from the home side, with Roman Bednar and Ludovic Sylvestre replacing Neal Eardley and Keith Southern respectively. Holloway’s brave substitute decision soon paid off, with Bednar quickly finding his feet in the game to make an impact. His low effort found it’s way past Schmeichel to tie the scoreline up at 2-2.

Not content with another winless match away from home (three out of three prior to the match), Pearson ordered his men to continue to push, with the freshness of Ben Marshall adding to their goal threat in place of Ritchie Wellens. A goal was the intention, and the intention was met just seconds later as Jermaine Beckford once again got onto the score sheet. He grabbed a headed goal from within the six-yard box after a beautifully lofted ball swung in from Marshall with his first touch.

The final 20 minutes saw Leicester go more defensive, with the introduction of Bamba in place of Drinkwater. Despite an onslaught of attack from Blackpool, Leicester held their nerve despite a number of characteristically shakey moments within the defensive ranks.

The Foxes remained ahead as the 90 minutes were up. But once again, in now typical fashion for City, they conceded extremely late on. Kevin Phillips was able to stab home from the edge of the six-yard box to ensure that Blackpool secured a point in a game they probably should have lost, leaving Leicester to make do with the solitary point in a match that they should have received all three.

Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Eardley (Bednar 65/Lua-Lua 75), Evatt, Baptiste, Southern (Sylvestre 65), Ferguson, M.Phillips, K.Phillips, Taylor-Fletcher, Ince.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, St.Ledger, Morgan, Konchesky, Drinkwater (Bamba 87), Wellens (Marshall 72), Danns, Dyer, Nugent (Schlupp 88), Beckford.

Match Report: Chelsea 5-2 Leicester City

Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of the F.A Cup after an entertaining 5-2 victory over a battling Leicester City.

Chelsea named a weakened, yet characteristically strong side with Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, and Daniel Sturridge all featuring in Roberto Di Matteo’s starting 11. The temporary manager made seven changes from the team that successfully overcame Napoli in last week’s Champions League encounter, with David Luiz, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Michael Essien all becoming benchwarmers.

Leicester City unsurprisingly fielded their strongest line-up, with manager Nigel Pearson choosing to only make one change from last Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Birmingham City. Tom Kennedy was replaced at left-back by Paul Konchesky returning from a three game suspension.

The match started with Chelsea advancing towards the Leicester City goal on numerous occasions, only to be let down by an array of lacklustre efforts on goal by the offensive pairing of Torres and Sturridge. Chelsea finally kick-started their goal tally, with a well taken header from centre-back Gary Cahill finding it’s way between Leicester’s Richie Wellens at the back post and a static Kasper Schmeichel in the centre of the goalmouth. Furthermore for Chelsea, and football as a whole, Cahill’s goal provided opportunity to show support for critically ill Bolton Wanderers midfield Fabrice Muamba, with the England international revealing the words ‘Pray For Muamba’ printed on his under-armour.

Not to be disheartened by a woeful defensive effort that yielded Chelsea’s opening goal, Leicester began to push, with Paul Konchesky and Lloyd Dyer pressurising a strong Chelsea defence in pursuit of an equaliser. Pearson’s men were ultimately victims of their own demise though, as a scintillating run from Torres on the counter attack allowed the goal deprived striker to breeze past Wellens and cross to an awaiting Salomon Kalou in the penalty area, who calmly tucked the ball away to give the home side a two goal advantage.

With nothing to lose, Pearson ordered his men to continue to pressurise Chelsea, with Neil Danns pulling the strings in midfield to enable wide men Dyer and Gallagher to supply crosses. This subsequently caused a handful of corners, but the visitors regrettably wasted their set-piece opportunities. It was Danns himself who went closest for Leicester, with a drilled effort from 15 yards deflected away from an alert Cech between the goalposts.

On the cusp of half-time Torres nearly put the game to bed with a well taken header crashing into the gloves of Schmeichel, restoring some dignity to his uncharacteristically poor first half performance.

After a comfortable opening half Di Matteo made one change at the break, replacing Mata with Florent Malouda to rest the Spaniard ahead of the league clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.

The second half began very much in contrast to the first, a slow-paced encounter full of midfield possession and very little in the way of attacking threat. It took a heated encounter between Wellens and Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic to reignite the crowd, with Wellens dispossessing an oblivious Ivanovic with a well timed slide tackle, to the annoyance of Ivanovic. The Serbian’s subsequent elbow to Wellens’ back prompted a free-kick in favour of Leicester, and sent the 6,000 visiting fans once again into a flurry of excitement and chanting.

With the ‘nothing to lose’ mentality instilled in their mentality, Pearson’s men continued to push forward with the manager swapping wingers Dyer and Peltier, who replaced an injured Gallagher before half-time, in an attempt to add variety to the attack. Sean St.Ledger and Konchesky also helped fuel the revolt against the Premier League side, with a number of pinpoint crosses and runs threatening Cech’s clean sheet.

Jeffrey Schlupp’s introduction on 63 minutes further enhanced City’s attack, but it was Chelsea who yet again extended their lead with a rare and ridiculously overdue goal from Torres. The Spanish striker’s effort from a square ball by Raul Meireles crept past an outstretched Schmeichel and trickled into the corner of the goal. As has often been the case this season with Torres, his build-up play and movement throughout the game warranted an eventual goal which, for the first time in six months, was granted.

City finally got on the scoresheet ten minutes later. After Danns’ well struck shot rebounded off the left post FA Cup specialist Jermaine Beckford headed home from the edge of the six-yard box. It was the striker’s 15th goal in his last 15 FA Cup appearances, and sent the travelling Foxes fans into a chorus of pandemonium.

Any hopes of a second half revival for Leicester however were well and truly buried on 85 minutes, after Torres once again swept aside adversity to score his second goal of the match. A precise header from the front post floated past Schmeichel once again, after Torres’ fantastic movement allowed him to meet Meireles’ corner.

Despite an emphatic scoreline, Leicester refused to lie down. Substitute Ben Marshall symbolised this with an unbelievable effort from 25 yards that crashed into the top left corner of the net off the woodwork.

The game’s final stages were exciting, with Leicester still banging on the door for a third goal. Beckford’s misjudged overhead effort and Danns’ blocked strike left fans on the edge of their seats, before the fruitful paring of Torres and Meireles hammered the final nail in the coffin. Torres passed by the opportunity of a hat-rick and selflessly provided Meireles with an unmissable chance to make the score 5-2.

Chelsea ran out well deserved winners and progressed to the last four of the F.A Cup. This result put to bed the woes they have encountered of late and extended interim manager Roberto Di Matteo’s win streak to four straight games, leaving Stamford Bridge full of promise and Chelsea’s chance of silverware very much alive and kicking.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic (David Luiz 76), Cahill, Bosingwa, Bertrand, Mikel (Essien 63), Meireles, Mata (Malouda 46), Kalou, Sturridge, Torres.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, St.Ledger (Schlupp 63), Bamba, Morgan, Konchesky, Dyer, Danns, Wellens (Marshall 83), Gallagher (Peltier 43), Beckford, Nugent.

Match Report: Leicester City 3-1 Birmingham City

Leicester City bounced back  in a hard fought encounter from a goal down to win 3-1 against a visiting Birmingham City team, who continued their fall from grace and fell further away from the Championship Play-Off positions.

The game started off slowly, with a pick & mix of half-hearted chances for both sides; Neil Danns had the best of these efforts from just inside the penalty box, but failing to bother Boaz Myhill’s goalmouth for the home side within the opening ten minutes.

After a raft of questionable decisions made by the referee Mick Russell concerning goal-kicks/throw-ins awarded to  the visiting team, the home crowd were left further frustrated after Tom Kennedy and Sol Bamba were deemed to have simultaneously brought down towering striker Nikola Zigic in the area; the consequences were a well-taken penalty by Wade Elliot, whose calmly taken strike put Chris Hughton’s men 1-0 up away from home.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued from the restart, with a David Nugent effort replicating the earlier chance by Danns by sending the ball just wide of Myhill’s right goalpost. Zigic then went and nearly contributed to a second goal for the Brum but  the Serbian’s headed effort from the edge of the six-yard box reverberated off the woodwork behind a beaten Kasper Schmeichel.

However, it was the home-side who were the next to score; Beckford’s well deserved equaliser came in the form of a simple tap-in from close range after a short cross from an impressive Tom Kennedy sent Leicester level heading and the home fan’s satisfied as the game reached half time.

An uneventful ten minutes of football plagued the game as the second half commenced, with both sides struggling to take the reins of the game. Two free-kicks from the returning Paul Gallagher from injury threatened to threaten Myhill’s net, but the host floundered both opportunities as Birmingham dismissed them; a stereotypically organised and ordered Chris Hughton side proved heavily resistant.

It was in fact Hughton’s men who next went closest to scoring, with Chris Burke exposing Leicester’s frailties in the form of Shaun St.Ledger, deputising at right-back, by bursting through the defensive ranks and provoking a fine save from Schmeichel after a left-footed effort on 63 minutes.

The end-to-end kept up it’s reputation shortly afterwards, with a spectacular effort from an impressive Ritchie Wellens forced Myhill into a parried save, as Leicester continued to pressurise. With the introduction of Marlon King for Birmingham causing reason for noise from both sets of fans, Birmingham nearly snatched the lead on 79 minutes, only for a promising looking counter-attack to peter out.

Moments later, Leicester showed the visitors how it’s done; Kennedy again turning provider in an impressive performance for the fringe player, after lofting a ball forward in typical ’route-one’ style for Jeffrey Schlupp to latch onto and calmly tuck away in the back of the net. 2-1.

Birmingham then had no choice but to push men forward up the pitch, often provoking concern in their initial build-up play but very rarely threatening the Leicester City defensive line. Jermaine Beckford doubled his tally moments from the end of the game, after another lofted ball, this time from substitute Ben Marshall, found the controlling left boot of Beckford’s and subsequently found it’s way into the back of the net as part of the final kick of the game.

How fortunes can change; Chris Hughton’s inability to prevent loss leaves Birmingham without a win in three games, on the back of a fifteen game unbeaten run dating back to the early stages of December last year. With little in the way of striking threat other than a predictable determination to get the ball out wide and supply from the wings for towering striker Zigic, Hughton will be keen to alter his teams work ethic in the final third in upcoming training sessions.

Defeat at Leicester leaves the Brum still just a point off of the play-off’s,  with a home tie against high-flying Middlesbrough awaiting them this coming weekend.

As for Leicester, three points against Birmingham City will come as a pleasant result to those connected to the club, but with the play-off places still six points away and the season quickly approaching it’s conclusion, Nigel Pearson will be hoping the result can spur his men on a much needed win-streak.

Perhaps more vital than the three points itself is the manner in which the team conducted itself; a steely determination to overcome a one goal deficit was paramount and successful, and showed management and fans alike that the Foxes can overcome adversity when faced with it.

Frailties such as the Gallagher/St.Ledger partnership on the right-hand side of the pitch and the vulnerable positioning of central midfielders Danns and Wellens will leave Pearson with work to do, but individual stand-out performances by the two goal-scorers Beckford and Schlupp aswell as an impressive display by left-back Tom Kennedy will undoubtedly satisfy Pearson.

Leicester face Chelsea next at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, as the Foxes’ look to extend their F.A Cup run to the semi-finals at Wembley.

Team Line-ups:

Leicester City: Schmeichel, St.Ledger, Morgan, Bamba, Kennedy, Dyer, Wellens, Danns, Gallagher (Marshall 61′), Beckford, Nugent (Schlupp 70′)

Birmingham City: Myhill, Spector (Pablo 10′), Davies, Caldwell, Ramage (Husklepp 81′), Burke, Fahey, N’Daw, Townsend, Elliot, Zigic (King 65′)

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Kimi Raikkonen: The Complete Racer?

At first glance, Kimi Raikkonen is far from what many people would title 'the complete driver'. That role is reserved in many people’s minds for the Sebastian Vettel's and Ayton Senna's of past and present. Squint a little harder at Raikkonen's career however, and all of a sudden such conclusions drew on the Finnish star begin to appear more inconclusive and false than initially expected...

Red-Hot in Blue: Raikkonen set the world of F1 ablaze in his
debut season for the Sauber team

 Raikkonen arrived under the spotlight in 2001, landing a seat within the Sauber set-up infamous for giving young hotshot's a bullet to penetrate the armor of Motor-Sport's elite. With only vague and short-lived open-wheel experience on the back of a successful kart-hood, Raikkonen was by far the biggest gamble that team boss Peter Sauber had dared tie-up with; such risks were put into context when the F.I.A's decision to present Raikkonen with the essential Super-Licence to driver in F1, only came about after a 'performance delivery promise' from team boss Sauber. In other words, Peter Sauber's highly regarded word of mouth pushed Kimi through the doors into F1. In his first season, he lived up to his Boss's expectations; finishing in the top ten in 12 out of 17 races, and subsequently helping the Hinwil based team to a career best finish of 4th in the constructors championship; a height they have yet to proceed. 

The Big Time: It took Raikkonen just
one season to land a drive with a top
team in the form of McLaren-Mercedes

 Despite Raikkonen's hugely impressive debut year in Formula One, it was two seasons later in 2003 that really kick started his rise to stardom. After signing-up to replace fellow countryman and two-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen at McLaren-Mercedes the year previous, Raikkonen built on a steady start to his McLaren career by taking the field by storm. After qualifying 15th in the teams spare car in the season opening Australian Grand Prix, Raikkonen destroyed the field to move up to P1, only to be caught speeding in the pit-lane as a result of a software-glitch on his car. He eventually ended up bringing up the rear end of the podium in 3rd. Raikkonen went on to break his duck in the proceeding race by winning in Malaysia, before a string of impressive podium-inhabiting results for Ron Dennis' team allowed him to roll up 2nd in the Championship behind some smalltime racer called Michael Schumacher, come the end of the final race in Suzuka.

At Last: Kimi gained his first World title
in 2007 in his debut season with Ferrari

 By the time Raikkonen left in McLaren-Mercedes at the end of 2007 for pastures new at Ferrari, the 'Flying Finn' had built himself a tremendous image, both in and out of the cockpit. On track, (here comes the torrent of clichés) Raikkonen was a real racer- unparalleled bravery in his commitment to corners and overtaking, and a man you could always relate to as 'the last of the late brakers'. When faced with a microphone however, his 'commitment' rather went away, with his hysterically trademark one word and satirical answers sending journalists and T.V presenters red in the face. No better example of this Scandinavian PR-meltdown came in the form Martin Brundle's grid-walk on live T.V prior to the season closing Brazilian Grand Prix in 2007, in which Brundle asked Raikkonen whether he had seen world famous footballer Pele presenting a lifetime achievement award to Michael Schumacher in his then final F1 outing. Kimi simply replied with: "No, I was having a s**t.". One can honestly say that a funny moment in sport has yet to be witnessed.

 Raikkonen's transfer to Ferrari for the 2008 season was in hindsight the beginning of the end for the Finn’s F1 journey: Kimi narrowly won his first, and so far last F1 World Championship by a single point over McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in arguably one of Formula One’s greatest seasons. The following two seasons promised so much for Raikkonen, but delivered so little, with his 2007 title winning form deserting him and leaving him for dead in terms of pace. Raikkonen’s motivation was seriously questioned, with media reports of drunken shenanigans and the angering Kimi’s employer. It wasn't just away from the race track where issues arose; having been punted out of the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, Raikkonen was filmed lounging in his team’s hospitality unit in a pair of shorts enjoing an ice cream whilst the race continued. Professional. By the end of the 2009 season, Raikkonen and Ferrari’s strained relationship was terminated, with the Finn reportedly paid £10 million to leave F1 all together; an offer he chose to accept despite a separate £5 million offered to him if he were to remain in F1 with a rival team. I really don’t like Ferrari.

Well Oiled: Raikkonen has sampled a diverse
range of Machinery in his time away from F1

 In Raikkonen’s two years away from Formula One, he has arguably become one of Motor-Sports most diversely experienced marksmen, having accumulated a C.V with World Rally Championship, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Truck Series experience draped over his already lucrative racing portfolio. With specific regards to the two largely unsuccessful full seasons with Citroen in the WRC, Raikkonen cited in typical Raikkonen fashion that his decision to turn his back on F1 was drove by a desire escape the media circus and politics that shadows F1, in what he described in an interview with Autosport as ‘the bulls**t’.

 So, why has he returned? The ‘bulls**t’ certainly still lingers as potently as ever, so one can’t presume it’s because the sports politics have changed. But what about the on-track changes? Well Raikkonen was one of the few racing drivers who never really needed any assistance when it came to overtaking during his first spell in Formula One, so the addition of KERS and DRS are features at the Finn’s disposal in 2012 that should make the Lotus/Raikkonen package absolute dynamite.

'Chilling' to the Extreme: Raikkonen
indulges mid-race without a care for
his teams on-track fortunes 

 During his surprise unveiling as a Lotus-Renault GP driver late last year, Raikkonen acknowledged that he felt ready to put aside the opinion and murmurings of the media, and longed desperately once again for the racing aspect to the sport: “when I did some NASCAR races last year I noticed that I was increasingly missing the racing side, to race against each other, because in rallying you really race against the clock”. This admission by the returnee former champion certainly points towards the fact that his race craft was becoming ever more rusty and abandoned, which considering that ultimately it his best trait as a racing driver, was a tragic shame.

 With his tail between his legs, Raikkonen returns to Formula One in 2012 as a recharged and refreshed racer aiming to re-clinch his formally owned World Championship title. With a new mindset, greater diversity in Motor-Sport experience, and a battered reputation caused by his ugly split from the sport three years ago, the ‘Flying Finn’ really is a man with a point to prove to a raft of haters and fans alike. I as a fan of Kimi Raikkonen, cannot wait.

Match Report: Bristol City 3-2 Leicester City

Close Encounter: Bristol edged  ahead
of Leicester over the course of a
tightly contested 90 minutes

Leicester City were dealt a potentially fatal blow to their play-off aspirations at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, as the home team recorded a hard fought 3-2 win over the visiting Foxes.

Hopes were high for the travellers going into the fixture, after back to back wins for the first time in over a year against Derby and  Coventry had seen us rise to tenth in the league, just four places shy of the coveted play-off places, with a run of form widely expected to be catalysed against a lowly Bristol team; winless in seven games and hovering perilously two points above the relegation zone.

The game started slowly, with the an array of half-hearted efforts on the opposing goalkeepers baring no fruit for either Derek McInnes’ or Nigel Pearson’s squad. The only excitement in the opening fifteen minutes of the half came from a seemingly card-happy referee Mark Haywood, who brandished yellow cards for both Leicester’s Ritchie Wellens after a dangerous tackle on a lively looking Kalifa Cisse, and Bristol City’s Jon Stead for a display of unsporting behaviour on the back of being penalised for a foul on Lloyd Dyer. It wouldn’t be long until both Dyer and Stead established themselves as the stand-out players of the half, with a goal-shy Stead worrying a shakey Leicester back four (absent of Paul Konchesky through suspension) with a number of efforts, including a rasping shot on target in the twenty-first minute, defused eventually by a focused Kasper Schmeichel in-between the sticks. Dyer ran the show for City in many ways during the half; attacking Jamie McAllister and Liam Fontaine in the Bristol defensive ranks often with success, resulting in a number of promising crosses which failed to meet the awaiting David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford. However, it wasn’t long until Dyer’s efforts were fulfilled; a close range effort from the winger rifling into the net of David James’ goalmouth from close range, to send the visitors 1-0 up late into the first half. An air of complacency swept across the Foxes’ ranks as the game imminently approached half time, with lacklustre defensive work from Wes Morgan being the epicentre of Bristol’s equaliser; Kalifia Cisse slotting past Schmeichel from within the six-yard box after an assist by Jon Stead to send the home side level going into the break.

After an exciting climax to the games opening half, the proceeding forty five minutes promised to be something of a goal-fest, with both teams desperate to claim glory and momentum for their contrasting motives in the N-Power Championship. Such a half was in doubt  initially on the back of half-time however, with a slow and pace-less showing from both sides reminiscent of that in the first half, showing all the hallmarks of two teams ridden with nerves. The match soon regained it’s end-to-end identity though, with Ben Marshall stepping up for Leicester with a number of prosperous runs on the right wing threatening to interrupt James’ otherwise tranquil goalmouth. However, it was Bristol who took the lead on fifty three minutes with another close range goal courtesy of former Bournemouth hit-man Bret Pitman, after good work by Stephen Pearson to cater for Pitman’s right foot shot.

Bristol’s second of the match sent Leicester into a flurry of attack,  as efforts by an in-form Neil Danns, Nugent and Dyer for the visitors were swept aside by former England international James. Leicester eventually drew level in the seventy sixth minute of the hotly contested affair, as an in-swinging cross by Tom Kennedy, was misjudged by David James’ flailing arms, and met with the expectant right boot of Neil Danns to draw the foxes level from within six yards of the goal-line. With the game in the balance, it became second knowledge that Leicester would be the team to push on for the three points, only for predictions and expectations to be once again wiped out by another successful Bristol counter attack; this time Jon Stead turning goal scorer and Pitman provider, after the latter’s effort hit the woodwork on the back of a woeful Leicester defensive effort, and Stead there to pick up the pieces to send his team into a 3-2 lead with merely ten minutes remaining of the match. Despite the best efforts of David Nugent’s frantically taken shot and Danny Drinkwater’s free kick, Bristol City managed to hold back the Leicester tirade and sent the Ashton Gate hopeful in raptures as referee Mark Haywood blew his overused for full time.

With Nottingham Forest losing at home at Doncaster, and Coventry stumbling to a draw at home against Crystal Palace, Bristol’s first win in seven games really can be dubbed a ‘six pointer’ as they drew themselves further adrift of the relegation zone and closer towards Championship survival.

The word ‘adrift’ can also be likened to Leicester City’s affairs, as our promotion challenge suffered what is becoming a regular malfunction with a loss against a lowly side in the league, on a night where results went our way in the form of Leeds United (10th), and Crystal Palace (12th) succumbing to a 0-0 draw, leaving Nigel Pearson’s men ruing a missed opportunity, seven points away from the expectancy of the play-off’s, and a mountainous challenge towards the peak of the Premier League no amount of Thai investment can seemingly aid.

Bristol City: James, McAllister, Fontaine, Carey, McManus, Cisse, Foster, Bryan (Adomah-69′), Pearson, Stead (Wood-81′), Pitman (Kilkenny-84′)

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St.Ledger, Kennedy, Dyer, Wellens, Danns (Gallagher-87′), Marshall (Drinkwater-60′), Beckford (Schlupp-60′), Nugent

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