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Monday, 29 October, 2001, 21:52 GMT
Foxes frustrate Blackburn
David Dunn (centre) had a forgettable game
Blackburn 0-0 Leicester

Struggling Leicester turned in a committed and disciplined performance to hold Blackburn to a goalless draw at Ewood Park.

The Foxes could even have taken all three points, had it not been for another display of erratic finishing from striker Ade Akinbiyi.

The under-fire forward, who had a bright game outside the penalty area, wasted one particularly glorious chance minutes before half-time.

Leicester's Dennis Wise holds off Gary Flitcroft
Leicester's Dennis Wise holds off Gary Flitcroft
Leicester were otherwise impressive and their midfield of Muzzy Izzett, Dennis Wise and Robbie Savage often had the better of their Blackburn opponents.

The home side were hugely disappointing.

They had played so well in their last Premiership fixture, the 3-3 draw against Arsenal at Highbury, but this time they gave the ball away frequently and failed to carve out many chances.

Leicester penalty appeal

David Dunn and Matt Jansen, who harbour hopes of being named in Sven Goran Eirksson's side for the upcoming friendly against Sweden, had forgettable games.

Blackburn's only notable chance of the first half was a curling 20-yard free-kick from Italian striker Corrado Grabbi that went desperately close to the top corner.


From our point of view it was as good as a victory
Dave Bassett
Leicester manager
Leicester had a glorious opportunity moments before the interval.

Stig Inge Bjornebye scuffed a clearance into the path of Ade Akinbiyi and the £5m striker found himself one-one-one with Brad Friedel.

He hit a weak shot straight at the keeper, and even though the ball rebounded and hit the hapless striker on the chest, it went wide of the post.

The incident was indicative of Akinbiyi's form and luck of late.

Leicester were appealing for a penalty within moments of the restart. Akinbiyi laid the ball off to Izzett inside the area and Gary Flitcroft flew in to dispossess the midfielder.


Without a shadow of a doubt that was our worst performance in the Premier League
Graeme Souness
Blackburn manager
Leicester's players argued that Blackburn's captain had taken the man and not the ball, but the referee waved play on.

The Foxes continued to control much of the play and create the better chances. But that man Akinbiyi was again guilty of wasting some of them.

With 10 minutes to go, the former Wolves striker was played in by a perceptive pass from Izzett.

He drove forward into space, but passed straight to Blackburn defender Lucas Neill when Andy Impey was free in the box.


Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Berg, Johansson, Bjornebye, Johnson, Tugay, Dunn, Flitcroft, Jansen, Grabbi. Subs: Short, Bent, Hignett, Gillespie, Kelly.

Leicester: Walker, Marshall, Elliott, Sinclair, Davidson, Savage, Wise, Izzet, Impey, Akinbiyi, Benjamin. Subs: Scowcroft, Royce, Heath, Piper, Oakes.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
BBC Sport's Ian Brown
"A small step forward for Leicester"
Leicester boss Dave Bassett
"I'm delighted with a point"
Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage
"I'm proud of the boys"
Links to more Eng Prem stories are at the foot of the page.

 

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