LEICESTER CITY 1 (Fryatt 54)
BARNSLEY 0

BARNSLEY worked hard and had as much of the play as Leicester City but the Reds again found their touch in front of goal missing after an ultimately disappointing afternoon at the Walkers Stadium.

Reds manager Simon Davey responded to two defeats by ringing the changes at Leicester City. There were debuts for Emil Hallfredsson and Andy Gray while Martin Devaney and Mounir El Haimour also came into the side. Out went Luke Potter, Adam Hammill, Jacob Butterfield and Kayode Odejayi. Striker Iain Hume received a rapturous reception from the Leicester City faithful on his return to the Walkers Stadium.

The Reds had the better of the opening six minutes as the home side struggled to get a foothold in Barnsley's 4-5-1 formation. Despite putting Leicester on the back foot it was the Foxes who went closest to a goal on seven minutes when full back Robbie Neilson got his head onto Lloyd Dyer's cross but Luke Steele was in the right place to make a simple save.

Good link up play between El Haimour and Gray almost created an opening for Jamal Campbell-Ryce on eleven minutes but Leicester were quick to snuff out the danger in their own area. Campbell-Ryce and Anderson then both tested their shooting boots on 12 minutes but neither got close to Chris Weale's goal.

City had the chance to test Steele again on 14 minutes after Neilson had thrown himself over El Haimour's lunging tackle. The free kick came to nothing although Dany N'Guessan lashed one high over the bar from distance as City came again.

Barnsley stoked up the pressure and Brown had to do well on 17 minutes to head Hume's free kick away from Stephen Foster at the back stick. Hume provided another great delivery from the corner and this time the Reds skipper had his head in his hands as his effort flew over the bar from ten yards out.

Leicester almost snatched the lead on 20 minutes after a string of suspect defensive decisions eventually allowed Dyer to cut in from the left wing and shoot. His low drive flew just wide of the far post.

The Reds were forced into an unwanted change on 23 minutes when Bobby Hassell limped out of the action with a hamstring problem. Rob Kozluk came into the action at right back.

Weale had to make his first stop of the afternoon just seconds later when Anderson cut in and let fly but his effort was straight at the ex-Bristol City keeper. Weale had to work again on 27 minutes when El Haimour let fly with a speculative effort from 35 yards but again it was straight at the Leicester number one.

Devaney almost snatched the lead on 33 minutes as he ran at the Leicester City defence before drilling in a fine drive that Weale did very well to parry away.

At the other end Barnsley were caught horribly square two minutes later as Richie Wellens' pass sent Matty Fryatt clean through on goal but the striker fluffed his chance and could only volley weakly at Steele.

Leicester went close on 44 minutes as Fryatt pounced onto Neilson's cross in the area but could not beat Steele from a tight angle.

Leicester were on the front foot from the start of the second half. Dyer flashed a cross in front of Steele on 46 minuets before Fryatt raced into the area and almost through on goal seconds later but Foster was in the right place to make a strong challenge.

Fryatt was almost in on goal again on 48 minutes as he barged past Moore to race clear only to be denied by a harsh free kick.

Barnsley responded with Hallfredsson putting his boot through the ball on 50 minutes but his 40-yarder was always rising and flew a foot or so over the bar.

Steele had to be at his very, very best on 53 minutes to claw away Neilson's goabound header. Barnsley were caught out on when the ball dropped to Fryatt but Anderson put his body on the line with an outstanding block.

The Leicester tidal wave got its rewards just a minute later when Wellens' cross found its way to Fryatt in the area and the striker was free to smash it past Steele from six yards.

Leicester almost grabbed a second on 58 minutes when N'Guessan's header looped into the area although Gallagher did a fine wrestling job on Steele to allow Fryatt the chance to volley wide.

Gallagher turned provider on the hour mark as his deep corner gave Jack Hobbs the chance to get his head to the ball but his effort hit the sidenetting.

Barnsley finally found their feet moments later as Anderson's pass put Devaney in the clear but the winger found his shot well blocked. Anderson and Devaney both had opportunities to shoot in the scramble that followed.

Barnsley were half a foot away from being level on 63 minutes as Campbell-Ryce twisted and turned the City defence before dragging his cross agonisingly in front of Gray.

The Reds went even closer just moments later as Hallfredsson's run smashed the heart of the Leicester midfield. The Icelander's pass put Campbell-Ryce through and this time the winger found Gray, who could only shoot at Weale from 12 yards. Hume lashed the rebound over the bar but an offside flag would have denied the Reds anyway.

Kozluk then tried his best to drag his side level on 67 minutes as he cut in from the right and past a couple of challenges before hitting a shot high over the bar.

Gallagher could have made the game safe for Leicester on 69 minutes as he turned well in the area and powered a shot goalward but Steele was well placed to palm the ball over the top. Steele then had a very worrying moment when he let N'Guessan's powerful cross slip through his grasp but Moore was able to clear. Steele redeemed himself seconds later to save from Nicky Adams.

Barnsley had a massive shout for a penalty waved away on 77 minutes as Campbell-Ryce's shot smacked into N'Guessan's arms in the area. The referee gave nothing. The Reds just don't get decisions like that.

The Reds went close again on 79 minutes as Kozluk cut in past his marker but tried to chip Weale from the edge of the box and his left-footer dropped over the bar.

LEICESTER CITY: Weale, Neilson, Brown, Oakley, Dyer (Adams 65), Fryatt (Dickov 87), Berner, N'Guessan, Wellens, Gallagher (King 81), Hobbs.
Subs: Morrison, Tunchev, Gradel, Logan.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell (Kozluk 22), Foster, Moore, El Haimour, Devaney (Hammill 73), Hallfredsson, Anderson, Campbell-Ryce, Hume (Macken 73), Gray.
Subs: Preece, Odejayi, Butterfield, Potter.

REFEREE: Andy Penn (West Midlands)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Wayne Barratt (Worcestershire) Ian Dudley (Nottinghamshire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Martin Dexter (Leicestershire)

Attendance - 21,799
Away Attendance - 835

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