Leicester City 1 Liverpool 0
by Ian Rodgers for the "Press Association" Tony Cottee returned to haunt his old enemies Liverpool with a 77th-minute winner against Liverpool at Filbert Street. The former Everton striker struck 13 minutes from time following great work by Emile Heskey and Neil Lennon to send both Martin O'Neill and the Filbert street fans wild with delight. The sides had looked equally matched until veteran Steve Walsh replaced Theo Zagorakis in the 56th minute after which Leicester seized the upperhand. Cottee struck his seventh of the season when Heskey floated a ball from the by-line following a great pass by Lennon. To add to Liverpool's woes, Jason McAteer was dismissed five minutes from time for a bad challenge on Muzzy Izzet. Liverpool had shown the early promise in the game and after just three minutes Michael Owen tried his luck from 20 yards but his save was comfortably held by Kasey Keller. Just a minute later Karlheinz Riedle displayed a flash of brilliance when he turned both Frank Sinclair and Matt Elliott on the edge of the Foxes area but his pass was behind his teenage striker partner. But the home defence remained solid as the Reds tried to force an early opener. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher earned a ninth-minute caution for tugging Heskey's shirt as he closed in on goal. In the 16th minute Riedle produced a lovely piece of skill to turn the Leicester defence but his shot flew wide. Vegard Heggem conceded a free-kick when he used the same tactics as Carragher on Cottee but the ball was charged down by the Liverpool wall. Three minutes later Heskey produced Leicester's first strike on target from a Steve Guppy cross but David James held comfortably. In the 23rd minute substitute Robbie Fowler was involved in an exchange of words with a fan as he warmed up until a steward intervened. But it was the home side who were beginning to shade the contest and Heskey flashed wide a header in the 31st minute. Three minutes later Steve McManaman found his way into the book after afoul on Theo Zagorakis. It was Leicester who started the second half more aggressively and Guppy again punctured the Liverpool defence with two telling crosses in the opening minutes. But the Leicester strike force of Heskey and Cottee were unable to convert. Five minutes after the break, James was forced to come off his line to clear off the foot of Heskey after a wonderful 40-yard pass from Neil Lennon. In the 53rd minute, Paul Ince was guilty of a clumsy challenge on Zagorakis but Guppy's carefully floated free-kick was cleared by the impressive Carragher. As a result, the Greek midfielder was forced off the field and replaced by Walsh, who returned for the first time in two months after a rib injury. Heskey almost struck for City in the 61st minute when he turned Steve Staunton and Carragher on the edge of the area but his powerful shot was palmed away by James. Elliott became the first Leicester player in the book in the 64th minute when he brought down Owen 25 yards from goal. But Leicester stuck to their task and the pressure eventually paid off as Cottee fired them ahead. Teams Leicester: Keller, Savage (Wilson 77), Guppy, Sinclair, Elliott, Ullathorne, Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis (Walsh 56), Cottee, Heskey. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Parker, Fenton. Booked: Elliott. Goals: Cottee 79. Liverpool: James, McAteer, Staunton, McManaman, Owen, Riedle, Heggem, Berger (Fowler 80), Ince, Bjornebye, Carragher. Subs Not Used: Kvarme, Harkness, Friedel, Thompson. Sent Off: McAteer (86). Booked: Carragher, McManaman, McAteer, Fowler. Att: 21,837 Ref: M Reed (Birmingham).
