Beckford finally off the mark as Leicester start to show return on big investment
Leicester City 2 Watford
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Given the expectations surrounding Leicester's expensively assembled team, their start to the season has been less electrifying than some would have hoped but their fifth win of the campaign was enough to put them only one point outside the top six in the Championship.
Both goals came inside the first 36 minutes, one each for two of Sven-Goran Eriksson's summer recruits, David Nugent netting his fourth goal of the season before Jermaine Beckford claimed his first for Leicester as Watford were left sitting uncomfortably just outside the bottom three in the table.
Eriksson admitted he had been concerned enough about Beckford's failure to score since his £3m move from Everton to have "had a good, long chat with him" at the training ground on Tuesday.
It seemed to have paid off when Beckford broke his duck by heading home Yuki Abe's cross for Leicester's second goal but Eriksson admitted he had been concerned when the former Leeds striker failed even to connect with an earlier chance.
"I was a bit worried when he missed that one," Eriksson said. "It is easy for a striker to become frustrated and it was important for him to get off the mark. I'm quite sure he can be one of the best strikers in the Championship."
Indeed, Eriksson might have two of the best at his disposal should Nugent maintain his form. A £6m price tag often seemed to weigh heavily on the former Preston man during his time at Portsmouth but he took last night's goal with a confident touch, taking Paul Konchesky's hard-driven left-wing cross in his stride before slotting the ball home left-footed.
Leicester City (4-1-3-2): Schmeichel; Peltier, St Ledger, Bamba, Konchesky; Johnson; Abe (Fernandes, 60), King, Wellens; Beckford (Vassell, 75), Nugent (Dyer, 88). Substitutes not used Weale (gk), Paintsil.
Watford (4-1-3-2): Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Mirfin, Dickinson; Eustace; Deeney (Sordell, 90), Hogg, Kightly (Buaben, 20); Garner, Iwelumo (Yeates, 82). Substitutes not used Gilmartin (gk), Bennett.
Referee C Sarginson (Staffordshire)
* Derek McInnes has been appointed as the new manager of Championship bottom club Bristol City. The Scot joins from St Johnstone, who will collect compensation of £100,000 for McInnes, who beat Mark Robins to the position.
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