English Premiership/ Leicester 1 Bolton 1: Ian Walker experienced another game to forget as Leicester failed to ease their relegation worries. The Leicester and England goalkeeper conceded five goals in his side's last game here, a match that saw him culpable for at least two and having to repel a pitch invader.
Fortunately there were no such incursions last night, but Walker's gaff, which cost his side a much needed and long overdue victory, will take its place in the Hall of Incompetence.
Leicester manager Micky Adams is not averse to employing a variety of ploys to instill some confidence in his team, who have now gone 11 games without a win. A damning newspaper report was one, although that proved counter-productive as it was followed by a 5-0 home defeat.
For last night's encounter Adams turned to a stranger who claimed to be a sports psychologist. And such has been the multiplicity of central defensive partnerships Adams has sent out, it would be no surprise had he enlisted the services of a dating agency to find a suitable pairing.
Last night featured another couple: Gerry Taggart, who has been summoned back from a loan spell with Stoke City, and the recent signing Nikos Dabizas.
The pair had barely got past the introductions when their unfamiliarity almost proved costly as Youri Djorkaeff took advantage of their indecision only to fire straight at Walker.
As if having to cope with uncertainty among his defenders was not enough of worry, Walker's next involvement was to acrobatically save a deflection off the head of his own striker Paul Dickov.
Steffen Freund, making his home debut for Leicester, responded with a fierce effort from distance that shaved Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar.
That effort turned out to be a statement of intent from the Foxes, who, gaining in confidence after an uneasy opening period, scored after constructing their first cohesive move.
Marcus Bent back-heeled the ball into the path of Riccardo Scimeca, whose cross from the right was headed goalwards by Les Ferdinand. The ball appeared to be over the goal-line when it hit Jaaskelainen, but Ferdinand ensured there was no debate by thumping home the rebound.
Though Bolton were building up an ominous head of steam, Walker could not blame an excess of pressure for his fault.
Davies barely got a touch to Djorkaeff's lofted pass, the ball brushing the outside of his right foot. But Walker fumbled the ball and then helped it into the net as he tried to gather it. Though Leicester then took control, they lacked the invention to make a decisive breakthrough play.
Guardian Service
LEICESTER: Walker, Scimeca, Dabizas, Taggart, Thatcher, Bent (Scowcroft 36), Freund, Nalis (Davidson 76), Guppy (Stewart 83), Ferdinand, Dickov. Subs Not Used: Coyne, Sinclair. Booked: Thatcher. Goals: Ferdinand 16.
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Barness, N'Gotty, Thome, Charlton, Nolan, Frandsen, Campo, Pedersen, Davies, Djorkaeff (Javi Moreno 81). Subs Not Used: Poole, Ba, Otsemobor, Vaz Te. Booked: Nolan, Davies. Goals: Walker 33 og.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
