Source: Telegraph
Leicester City 1 Hull City 1: match report
If Sven-Goran Eriksson has enjoyed an 'extraordinary love affair with English football' - as Saturday's programme notes put it - then the Leicester fans are his latest conquests.[LNB]The old smoothie was mobbed on his way into the Walkers Stadium, taking 25 minutes to cross the car park. Then, once he had shaken off the well-wishers, he received another burst of enthusiasm from the 24,000 fans.[LNB]Arsenal v Birmingham City: match previewThe new Thai owners of Leicester City seem to favour well-turned-out managers. They forced out Nigel Pearson - a tracksuit man by preference - in favour of the elegant Paolo Sosa. And now they have called up Sven, the secretary's secret squeeze.[LNB]But how long will the affair last? Eriksson has been given a demanding assignment by his new employers: win promotion in his first season, or at least make the play-offs, despite picking up the baton with Leicester standing third from bottom in the Championship.[LNB]Saturday's 1-1 draw was frustrating in view of Leicester's perfect start. The strains of their anthem, When you're smiling, had barely stopped ringing around the stadium when the Hull defence parted obligingly for Andy King to pick up the ball on the right.[LNB]King, who played for Wales last week, shot for the near post and was assisted by a flappy effort from Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke as the ball ricocheted into the net. It was a soft goal, but then Hull were ineffectual throughout the first half, switching formations with little apparent idea of what they were trying to do.[LNB]Eriksson, by contrast, had gone for a straightforward 4-4-2 formation - the same shape that he had favoured during his time with England.[LNB]The result was efficient rather than penetrative. Despite a heap of possession, Leicester should have been disappointed with their tally of three shots on target throughout the half.[LNB]If Eriksson's international tenure is remembered for anything, it was England's inability to hold on to a lead. They tended to go 1-0 up, then retreat to the edge of their own penalty area like so many human shields - a tactic that rarely paid dividends against the talents of Brazil or Portugal.[LNB]Hull are hardly in the same class, but they did come out stronger in the second half and had soon equalised when the ball broke to the feet of Slovenian captain Robert Koren just outside the area. Koren's volley was precise, beating Chris Weale low to his right.[LNB]From there, the game bounced around without little shape. [LNB]'The second half was a little bit of a lottery,' Eriksson mused afterwards, 'and we didn't manage to keep up our energy for 90 minutes. That's something we'll have to look into.' [LNB]And what about the reception? He delivered one of his familiar toothy smiles. 'It was beautiful, very very nice. I must say 'thank you' for that.'[LNB]
