Sport

Leicester fiesta goes on and on

Every day is a fiesta at Filbert Street right now and long before the final whistle, the stands were rippling with Mexican waves…

By MARK REDDING
Mon Sept 15 1997 - 01:00

Every day is a fiesta at Filbert Street right now and long before the final whistle, the stands were rippling with Mexican waves. Such is the sense of anticipation before tomorrow night's UEFA Cup tie away to Atletico Madrid that, as the Leicester captain Steve Walsh said, the supporters now expect City to go there and win.

Certainly, the Atletico spy will have gone home in pensive mood. Tottenham Hotspur were just the latest side to get trampled by Martin O'Neill's fearless blue bulls, and the visiting manager, Gerry Francis, emphasised: "They are a hard side to beat."

Leicester will arrive in the Spanish capital overflowing with confidence. So far the Coca-Cola Cup holders have beaten Aston Villa and Liverpool, drawn with Manchester United and Arsenal, and suffered their only loss via a contentious penalty at Sheffield Wednesday.

Spurs were obliging opponents on Saturday. The glossy Londoners fought hard enough to keep the match goalless until half-time, but caved in spinelessly once Leicester went ahead.

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Francis blamed substitute Chris Armstrong for the opening goal, in that he should have been marking Walsh when he headed in Garry Parker's 55th-minute free-kick, but its origins lay in the needless bodycheck by Sol Campbell on Muzzy Izzet that led to the setpiece.

More incompetent defending allowed Steve Guppy to drive in the second goal in the 68th minute. Then Campbell lost Elliott, who pulled the ball across for Heskey to lash into the top of the net.

Elliott, Leicester's record signing at £1.6 million, was left rubbing his hands at the prospect of facing the Atletico millionaires. "Juninho and the others will have plenty in store for us, but perhaps we have other qualities we can bring to bear."

Leicester: Keller, Kaamark (Cottee 88), Guppy (Fenton 88), Elliott, Prior, Walsh, Izzet, Lennon, Parker, Marshall (Claridge 73), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Andrews, Campbell. Goals: Guppy 68, Heskey 77, Walsh 55.

Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Scales, Campbell, Mabbutt, Nielsen, Howells, Ginola, Domingues, Ferdinand (Armstrong 45), Clemence. Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Fox, Calderwood, Arber. Booked: Campbell.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).