Leicester ladies hit us for six

Blues are out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup losing to a ruthless Leicester City side who showed their WSL quality.

It was a confusing afternoon from the team sheet when Rebecca Holloway was named in the starting eleven but then she was not in it and was replaced by Lucy Quinn . We found out later she suffered a knock in the warmup .

On the pitch Blues did start well but the foxes got back into the game but the controversial moment game before half time when Shannon O Brien scored her second goal of the game the players looked at linesperson, but the referee Megan Wilson waved the protest away gave the goal.

FIRST HALF

The first chance of the game was the opening goal was when a Lucy Quinn free kick was played into the box . Ellie Mason headed on but came of the unfortunate Missy Goodwin to make it 0-1 for Blues .

The next chance came for the host when Yuka Momiki stunned the hands of Lucy Thomas with a volley in the 16th minute. Three minutes later the foxes equalised with a brilliant ball from Saori Takaradi who found the Belgian Janice Cayman to put it past Lucy Thomas to make 1-1.

The foxes were in control and in the 23rd minute they took the lead when Shannon O Brien cut inside and scored a brilliant goal pass Lucy Thomas.

In the 35th minute a Jamie Finn deep cross found Lucy Quinn but went wide. Then Blues found the equaliser when Christie Harrison-Murray played Libby Smith through on goal and chipped it past Janina Leitzig  a great goal in the 41st minute.

But yet again the Blues could not hold onto the lead 60 seconds later O Brien got her second of the day which looked offside.

HALF TIME LEICESTER CITY 3-2 BLUES

SECOND HALF

The first chance was for Blues Christie Harrison-Murray corner was headed over by Mason in the 51st minute. In the 58th minute a free kick from Rantala was head home from Takarada to make it 4-2 for Foxes. Blues nearly hit back a minute later but Claudia Walkers shot was tipped over from Leitzig

In the 66th minute Deanne Rose put the game to bed with a second shot past Lucy Thomas to make it 5-2.

In the 77th minute Bakers shot was saved well by thomas which was quickly followed by another that she was saved was tipped over for a corner.

Then in the 81st minute it was six, Blues couldn’t clear the ball away and fell to Aileen Whelen.

In the 84th minute substitute Charlie Devlin shot outside the box was easily saved from Janina Leitzig and In the 88th minute Devlin’s free kick went over the bar .

The last chance of the game was a free kick for Blues, but Neve Herron’s effort went over the bar.

FULL TIME LEICESTER CITY 6-2 BLUES

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME 

A very disappointing performance from the girls in blue which was a shame because we started so well took an early lead and looked in control. I think we missed Martha Harris and of-course Big Lou who we wish a speedy recovery from a dislocated shoulder .  I ‘m worried about our defense especially if we are playing with a team with pace like last week against Watford .

Libby Smith scored a great goal after a great ball from Christie Harrison-Murray to play her in, the WSL side showed their quality on and off the ball and fully deserved it.

For Blues we need a reaction against Southampton in now a must win game on Sunday at St Andrews, we need to show the confidence we showed just before Christmas if we can do that then we will be alright.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH 

My player of the match goes to Shannon O Brien who played really well her first goal was top class and what she did on and off the ball was super .

UP NEXT 

Back to St Andrews in a must win game against Southampton at 14:00 Sunday 

STEPHEN GILL KRO