Leicester's hopes of closing the gap on Division One leaders Portsmouth were
in tatters as Mamady Sidibe's late strike snatched the points for Gillingham in
an enthralling game.
The Foxes were 2-0 down at the break to goals from Paul Shaw and Sidibe - but
after hauling themselves level through Frank Sinclair and youngster Tommy Wright
they were dealt a killer blow in the 86th minute.
Sidibe started up front in place of Marlon King, who was ruled out of action
for up to two months with a knee injury this week - while Roland Edge replaced
Nayron Nosworthy in defence.
Leicester made three changes from the side which drew 0-0 at home to Stoke
last time out.
Muzzy Izzet returned after a two-match ban; Callum Davidson recovered from a
hamstring strain to start, and Gerry Taggart was restored to the line-up.
The home side - unbeaten in their last seven matches - had the first chance of
the afternoon in the second minute, defender Chris Hope heading Nicky Southall's
right-wing cross straight at Ian Walker.
The Foxes lost nine-goal forward Brian Deane through injury just three minutes
later, with youngster Wright coming on in his place.
The England Under-19s international, who had played just 17 minutes of
first-team football before this enforced introduction, impressed in the reserves
in midweek.
Gills' player-manager Andy Hessenthaler failed to trouble Walker with a
drilled shot from the edge of the box after six minutes, before the visitors
began to threaten.
Izzet's corner from the right picked out defender Sinclair - but he sent his
header over the crossbar from close range.
Gillingham responded as Paul Smith tried his luck with an audacious 35-yard
shot which was easily gathered by Walker - and in the 26th minute Shaw saw a
goalbound effort blocked by Matt Elliott.
Shaw was not to be denied, however, as he opened the scoring five minutes
later.
Leicester failed to deal with a corner, allowing Mark Saunders to cushion a
header into the path of the forward who lashed the ball into the roof of the net
for his sixth of the season.
City's top scorer Paul Dickov had been well marshalled by the home defence in
the first half-hour, but he cut free after 35 minutes only to volley wide.
Hessenthaler's men made them pay as they added a second on the stroke of
half-time. Sidibe's shot beat Walker, and despite Elliott's best efforts to
clear he could only help the ball over the line.
Leicester came out fighting after the break and got themselves back into the
game in the 50th minute.
Alan Rogers' swirling free-kick was met by a thumping header from Sinclair
which gave goalkeeper Jason Brown little chance.
Rampant City equalised on the hour. Rogers was again the architect as he
drilled the ball across the face of goal, and 18-year-old Wright was on hand to
tap home his first senior goal.
Wright came close to adding his second five minutes later. But Brown pushed
his shot away for a corner - and, as the action swung from end to end, Sidibe
fired at Walker when clean through.
Rod Wallace, out of action since Boxing Day with a hamstring problem, was
thrown into the action as the home side went in search of a winner - and they
got it with four minutes left.
The experienced forward raced clear, waltzed past Walker and played the ball
across for Sidibe to slam home.
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