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Bristol City 0-4 Leicester

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments37

Chris Wood
Chris Wood

Chris Wood hit a first-half hat-trick as dominant Leicester sent Bristol City to the foot of the Championship.

Wood cut inside and drove home his first goal after 11 minutes, before pouncing on goalkeeper Dean Gerken's error to tap in his second.

Gerken looked culpable again as Wood's 20-yard shot squirmed under his body for the striker's hat-trick.

Matty James rifled into the corner just after the break to compound the woes of Derek McInnes' side.

Former Robins loanee Wood now has nine goals in his last five games, and six in three games since joining the Foxes in a £1m deal from West Brom.

Winger Ben Marshall provided the ammunition for the first goal, playing a precise pass that Wood controlled before firing home.

Leicester then capitalised on poor goalkeeping as Gerken failed to make sufficient contact on a punch, allowing Wood to tap in the loose ball.

Wood scored again just before the break, unleashing a shot that evaded Gerken to complete a quick-fire hat-trick.

Things got worse for the hosts when they sloppily conceded possession inside their own half, and James picked out the bottom-right corner to make it 4-0.

The hosts slowly stirred into life in the final 20 minutes, but Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel denied Paul Anderson and Liam Kelly.

The home crowd's warmest applause was reserved for the substitution of New Zealand international Wood in an acknowledgement of his superb display.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson:

"Chris Wood has taken his chances for us and scored some early goals, which makes a big difference.

"He is a very focused young player who has fitted in straight away and gives us a height and physical presence up front, which perhaps we lacked.

"It is not easy to sign quality players in January and I am delighted to have secured him early in the window.

"We created a lot of chances to today and I am also very pleased to have kept a clean sheet."

Bristol City manager Derek McInnes:

"A lot of players let the fans down in the first half today.

"The first three goals were self-inflicted. Dean Gerken would say himself that he didn't have the best of games, but there were errors in front of him as well.

"We were too pedestrian in our play and made it easy for a very good Leicester team. I am looking to sign a few players before the transfer window closes.

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37 comments

  • Comment posted by User0429938683, at 18:20 12 Jan 2013

    Nice to have comments open for a Championship side for a change!

    Leicester looking good, and Chris Wood seems the final piece in Pearson's jigsaw.

    I was sorry to lose Sven, but Pearson has proven you don't need to spend like crazy - a few shrewd signings and a strong team ethic are reaping the Foxes dividends.

    I think they'll be promoted.

  • Comment posted by User0429938683, at 22:57 12 Jan 2013

    @18

    Just responding to a bit of stubborn-ness and arrogance!

    Good luck to Cardiff too, let's hope we both get automatic promotion.

  • Comment posted by User0429938683, at 20:39 13 Jan 2013

    @Redbird.

    Suggest we all wait til the end of the season before making any comments.

    The Championship is a highly competitive league and either one of our teams could very easily head in either direction by May.

  • Comment posted by User0712523103, at 19:58 12 Jan 2013

    Leicester will probably get 2nd spot if they sign 2 or 3 loan players

  • Comment posted by Shaun, at 18:27 12 Jan 2013

    Great start from Wood with 6 in 3 for Leicester. A great example of how the January transfer window can be crucial. It's also a great testament to Leicester's transfer policies under Pearson, that they get in early and quitely and pay a fair price upfront without trying to rip the selling club off and risk getting into a bidding war.

  • Comment posted by Ahnaf, at 19:06 12 Jan 2013

    Nigel Pearson was talking about Michael Keane. I hope United won't make the same mistake of selling Keane. He's a terrific defender and miles better than J.Evans and he was fantastic in the league cup against chelsea where wootton made those mistakes. We already sold Brady who's also a great talent, hope we don't do the same with Keane.

  • Comment posted by User0113592462, at 01:44 13 Jan 2013

    Still in with a chance of finishing runners up to the city then,

  • Comment posted by DavidHankey, at 09:05 14 Jan 2013

    Wood seems quite a signing, 6 goals in 3 games speaks for itself. After watching Leicester City for over 55 years I can't think of another player who has had such an impact immediately after their arrival.

  • Comment posted by User0134239065, at 08:59 13 Jan 2013

    Cardiff are 10 points clear and are the best team in the league at present. It doesn't matter if Leics play better football, winning makes you effective not style of play, People forget the aim of a football game is outscoring your opponent for 3 points, does it really matter how you do this.

    Its January, if Leicester catch Cardiff and go top in May, then we can say we're the best, not now.

  • Comment posted by The Real Engineer, at 23:16 12 Jan 2013

    @5 Shaun
    Yep, NP has done what he does - build a team that work for each other. That always takes time - anyone can assemble a squad, but building a team requires something extra. Hull are still reaping the benefits of his time there.

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 10:51 13 Jan 2013

    I would tip Leicester as being strong favourites for a play off place. Securing automatic promotion is going to be much harder. Cardiff look very strong, so I would predict a scramble for the second spot. It is such a tight league to get out of, and even tougher staying up. Always gauranteed a good run in, with many upsets to come.

  • Comment posted by thrupp, at 15:04 13 Jan 2013

    Wood gifted hat trick yesterday by most generous defense in league+ big slices of luck. Leicester should have scored 8 against a team that had thrown the towel in before the start, but did not! Wood is a run of the mill striker, did a good job at Bristol City last year but slow. We are the worst team in the league Redbird, remind me of the score when the mighty Baaadiff visited Aston Gate?

  • Comment posted by User0426603117, at 19:50 12 Jan 2013

    @DavidNFFC "I expect them to win this league at a canter". Have you taken a look at the league recently? Leicester are 10 points behind Cardiff with less than 20 games to go. Also, we recently beat them on their own patch. They are a good side and I think they will be promoted, but I'm not sure about them winning the league. Cardiff are the most consistent team in the division, table doesn't lie.

  • Comment posted by User0426603117, at 21:21 13 Jan 2013

    @thrupp "you guys know all about relegation"??? Can you tell me the last time Cardiff were relegated then? We have been in the Championship for the last 8 years and believe it or not, to get there we had to get promoted! Of course, scoring loads of goals is great fun when your leaking loads as well isn't it? Hopefully we won't see you again when you go down, your small club is in free fall!

  • Comment posted by jack, at 12:25 13 Jan 2013

    Also worth mentioning that Cardiff now have a run of 3 away games and their away form has been shaky, not that Leicester have a leg to stand when it comes to consistency, but we have got two home games now

  • Comment posted by User0147153413, at 02:05 13 Jan 2013

    NP is still a very overrated manager. How much has he had to spend on an alraedy expensivly assembled squad?

  • Comment posted by User0560542878, at 18:25 12 Jan 2013

    More poor reporting re: Chris Wood being on loan from Millwall. BBC you are a credit to the proffession.
    Anyway, it's time for a change at City, but with the manager being given funds only yesterday, there's no chance of this happening any time soon.
    Starting to think the worst.

  • Comment posted by User0512985987, at 21:00 13 Jan 2013

    The next four games could change everything, Leeds, Blackpool and Huddersfield won't be easy so I wouldn't be looking at those fixtures and expecting many points. I think you'll lose to Leeds and Blackpool and beat Huddersfield and we've got Boro and Wolves at home and Peterborough away so by the time we play each other your lead could well be cut to a four points!

  • Comment posted by User0426603117, at 06:18 13 Jan 2013

    @16cheshamfox A sensible comment (despite the fact your another Cardiff hater). Leciester are on a great run and do look a decent out-fit and in Wood you have picked up a real gem. As for @pittswich, hard luck on the draw against Ipswich? Before the game, 7 points clear of 2nd, 9 clear of 3rd. We are now 8 points clear of 2nd, 10 clear of 3rd. Point gained I'd day? PS did I mention we are top?!

  • Comment posted by User0426603117, at 21:32 12 Jan 2013

    @Cheesey77 It's all about winning matches thought isn't it? Cardiff scored, Leicester didn't. They are not the best team in the Championship either, the table doesn't lie my friend, they are currently 3rd and 10 points behind the best and most CONSISTENT team in the league. Also, you played Bristol City today, the WORST team in the league and who by all accounts, were shocking.

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