Leicester gave their promotion hopes another boost with a four-goal demolition
of Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.
Walsall battled bravely for 40 minutes but two goals in four minutes before
half-time knocked the stuffing out of the home side and the last 20 minutes saw
them concede another brace.
eicester were soon on the attack and an inswinging Muzzy Izzet corner looked
dangerous but the chance was wasted when Matt Elliott was penalised for a foul
on Walsall's Tony Barras.
Walsall were not overawed and Darren Bazeley was just wide with a 25-yard
shot. Leicester keeper Ian Walker then had to be alert to save from Junior from
a similar distance.
At the other end, Dickov sent in a stinging shot which James Walker, in the
Walsall goal, could only parry.
The Saddlers keeper did even better minutes later when he somehow kept out a
powerful close-range header from Trevor Benjamin.
But the longer the half went on the stronger Leicester looked. Dickov was just
wide with a well-struck free-kick and then Frank Sinclair just failed to find
the Walsall net with a 25-yard shot.
Dickov finally got the goal Leicester had threatened four minutes before
half-time after Benjamin was fouled by Barras, who was booked for his pains.
Izzet hit a perfectly-flighted free-kick and the diminutive Scot rose to head
home from close range.
Right on half-time Leicester scored a crucial second goal when Scowcroft hit a
tremendous volley from 20 yards into the bottom corner of the Walsall net.
The second half was just a couple of minutes old when Walsall wasted a good
chance to pull back a goal when Junior met Zigor Aranalde's cross but headed
wide.
The home side came close again when a powerful header by Barras, from a
Fitzroy Simpson corner, was well saved by Ian Walker.
Then Martin O'Connor had a fierce 25-yard shot deflected for a corner.
But Walsall's spirited fightback ended in the 72nd minute when another
well-directed free-kick by Izzet was met by Leicester skipper Elliott who swept
the ball home from close range.
Leicester put the game beyond Walsall in the 83rd minute with Scowcroft's
second goal.
Once again Izzet was the provider with another beautifully-weighted free-kick
after Scowcroft had been fouled by O'Connor.
O'Connor grabbed a late consolation goal for the home side three minutes from
time but it was too little too late as Leicester went marching on towards
promotion.
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