League One

Leicester City 2, Crewe Alexandra 1

1. ​

by Gwyn Griffiths

CALVIN Zola was ruled out of Dario Gradi's first game back in charge of Crewe with an athlete's foot irritation.

But at the Walkers Stadium it was his turn to be the fly in the ointment as he conjured up arguably his best display in an Alex shirt since his £200,000 summer transfer from Tranmere.

The giant Congolese striker last started a game at Yeovil more than a month ago. He ended that night something of a damp squib as Crewe were on the receiving end of a costly defeat at the hands of relegation rivals.

Last night he was run into the ground by his committed and athletic display – as he soldiered on alone up front as part of a Gradi game plan, which could well have nicked a shock point off League One's leaders.

After the second-half surrender to Stockport, Crewe raised the flag of defiance and were never outwitted by The Foxes.

Zola rubbed out former Crewe junior Matty Fryatt's early opener and could even have give his side an unlikely interval lead had he converted a one-v-one chance.

Leicester, dominant in the first half, looked frustrated and confused by Crewe's diligent pressurising as the second half wore on.

It took a King to end their brave resistance… Andy King that is, but not the Andy King Gradi remembers from halcyon days.

The old master admitted, save Fryatt, he hadn't been too familiar with any of Leicester's personnel, but once the first 45 had panned out he knew exactly which ones might crack under pressure.

Sadly, no-one quite caved in quite like DJ Campbell did as Crewe drew level just before the half-hour mark.

The former Birmingham striker procrastinated for far too long as he was clearing his lines back in the right-back berth.

With DJ in a spin, Billy Jones got the block in, Zola picked up the titbits and rammed a shot through the clutches of David Martin at the near post.

It completely caught out Nigel Pearson's players. They had attacked with some gusto from the off, but there was also a complacent air about some of their play. Yet this proved not to be a night to underestimate even the side stranded at the foot of the table.

Along with Zola, Gradi made sweeping changes to the line-up, including drafting in Colin Daniel for his first senior start.

Daniel, playing on loan at FC Halifax as recently as last month, was Zola's speedy foil.

A goalscorer certainly at non-league level, Junior as he prefers to be known, didn't have a clear-cut chance.

But you couldn't fault his effort and he didn't look out of place after a big leap in standard from the UnibBond First Division.

Gradi also got decent shifts out of Michael O'Connor, back from suspension, and Kenny Lunt, while Stuart Tomlinson, replacing Steve Collis in goal, excelled at times.

King may have capped Leicester's early pressure with a 10th-minute opener when he was allowed to run through on to Matt Oakley's chipped pass. But the 20-year-old midfielder blazed wastefully high and wide.

Fryatt, though, was far less generous four minutes later at the end of a well-worked home move.

Lloyd Dyer cut past John Brayford and slipped in Joe Mattock, who unselfishly set up The Foxes' leading scorer inside the box.

The former Walsall striker had time to pick his spot high in the far corner.

Tomlinson was off his line to save at DJ Campbell's feet moments later and the keeper gained further confidence when he fielded a long-range effort from Swiss midfielder Bruno Berner.

Crewe responded with Danny Woodards, again deployed in the middle, wafting wide from the edge of the box.

But Zola looked to have a real case for a penalty when Bulgaria international defender Aleksander Tunchev manhandled him as he produced a burst of speed down the right of the box.

Yet his persistence paid off when he grabbed his side an unlikely 29th minute leveller.

Tomlinson pushed King's effort around his near post as Leicester, stung by Crewe's temerity, piled on the pressure towards the end of the half.

Yet it was Zola who should have scored again in stoppage-time as he latched onto a flighted ball from Woodards ball and broke clear only to shoot at keeper Martin's legs.

Crewe negotiated the early phase of the second period without drama, although left-back Mattock sliced wide when presented with a difficult angle.

The Alex game plan had been stifling enough for Pearson to throw on tricky winger Max Gradel and big striker Steve Howard before the hour mark, while Gradi brought on Clayton Donaldson for the tiring Zola.

Former Luton and Derby man Howard quickly posed a threat, but Tomlinson did well again to turn over a header from Gradel's cross.

However, the Frenchman, who proved such a thorn in Crewe's side for Bournemouth last season, won and took the decisive corner in the 72nd-minute.

King broke free of his marker and thumped home a header from eight yards to put Leicester back in front.

It was a cruel blow and the visitors struggled to respond. James Bailey did see a deflected shot arrow wide in the closing minutes.

But it was Gradel who came close twice to sealing the win with cross-cum-shots which flew across the Alex six-yard box.

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