On this day in 2000: Matt Elliott heads Leicester to League Cup glory

Elliott’s double helped the Foxes win the last League Cup final to be played at the old Wembley.

Pa Sport Staff
Monday 27 February 2023 01:00 EST
Matt Elliott scores for Leicester against Tranmere. (Tom Hevezi/PA)
Matt Elliott scores for Leicester against Tranmere. (Tom Hevezi/PA) (PA Archive)

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Matt Elliott’s brace clinched Leicester the last League Cup at the old Wembley on this day in 2000.

The defender’s headers beat Tranmere 2-1 as Martin O’Neill’s side continued their love affair with the competition.

They had lost 1-0 to Tottenham in injury time the year before having lifted the trophy in 1997.

Elliott put the Foxes ahead after 29 minutes when his header from Steve Guppy’s corner hit the bar and spun in and they received a further boost when Clint Hill was sent off for Rovers for a second yellow card after the break.

But former Leicester striker David Kelly levelled for 10-man Tranmere with 13 minutes left.

Yet, four minutes later, Elliott met another Guppy corner to nod in the winner. It was the last success for the Foxes under O’Neill, who left to join Celtic in the summer.

A return to Europe was brief, being beaten by Red Star Belgrade in the first round and their cup defence ended at the first attempt with a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.

Two years after winning the trophy they were relegated from the Premier League.

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