Wise angered by collision as tempers fray on bench
Dennis Wise's Leicester City playing career ended in controversial circumstances in 2002 and he departed the Walkers Stadium amid acrimony once more last night.
Few supporters are likely to gain more pleasure from the possible relegation of Leeds than those at Leicester. Wise is well remembered for being dismissed by the Foxes after a pre-season incident in 2002 left Callum Davidson with a fractured cheekbone, and the Leeds manager was constantly jeered last night.
His team earned a useful point in their battle against relegation, but concern will focus on the health of their striker Jemal Johnson, who was taken to hospital after colliding in the first half with Leicester's goalkeeper, Paul Henderson.
"There was blood coming out of his ear," said Wise. "He [Henderson] caught him with his knee. He's jumped and gone through him."
Stewards separated the respective benches but Wise later described the incident, which involved his assistant Gus Poyet, as "handbags".
The Leicester manager, Rob Kelly, insisted there had been no malice in Henderson's challenge. "It was an accident. Paul has jumped to head the ball legally and it is not a foul," he said. As well as Johnson, Wise later lost the substitute Alan Thompson with a pulled hamstring.
The game only came to life shortly before half-time after the collision between Johnson and Henderson.
Although Johnson was carried off after the challenge, Leicester were unhappy at the decision to award Leeds a free-kick and their displeasure was compounded when Robbie Blake lashed a left-foot shot past the goalkeeper after his first effort was blocked.
Wise celebrated excitedly but the lead lasted only seconds. Almost immediately from the restart, Levi Porter broke down the left and his cross was met by Iain Hume. Casper Ankergren slipped and Hume's header nestled into the goal. "It was naive," said Wise.
Leicester enjoyed most of the possession after the interval but, although Porter looked most likely to create chances, he hesitated just long enough when he did find space in the penalty area on 68 minutes. Stephen Hughes also had a good opportunity, but Ankergren was quickly off his line to smother the midfielder's shot. "In the second half there was only one team who were going out to win," said Kelly.
Leeds face Southend United on Saturday in a match that will go a long way to deciding the fate of both clubs. "It is a massive game, but it won't be the end of it," said Wise.
Leicester: Paul Henderson, Nils-Eric Johansson, Patrick Kisnorbo, Alan Maybury, Gareth McAuley, Stephen Hughes, Jason Jarrett, Shaun Newton, Levi Porter, Geoff Horsfield (Elvis Hammond), Iain Hume
Leeds: Casper Ankergren, Miguel Armando Sa, Matt Heath, Lubomir Michalik, Sebastien Carole (Alan Thompson (Ian Moore)), Jonathon Douglas, Radostin Kishishev, Frazer Richardson, Robbie Blake, Richard Cresswell, Jemal Johnson (David Healy)
Referee: Laws, G
Venue: The Walkers Stadium
Attendance: 25,165
Corners: Leicester 8, Leeds 3
Goal Attempts: Leicester 8, Leeds 9
On Target: Leicester 3, Leeds 5
Kilde:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2033358,00.html
