2009–10 Leicester City F.C. season
Introduction The '''2009–10 season''' was '''Leicester City F.C. 's''' 105th season in the English football league system and their 58th in the second tier of English football. It was their first season back in the Championship after promotion from League One as champions in 2008–09.It was also the club's 125th anniversary season.Having just been promoted, Nigel Pearson's side surprised many by spending most of the season in the play-offs. They eventually finished fifth, reaching the play-offs. This was considered an impressive finish and a stride forward by many, considering Leicester were relegated from the same division two seasons previously. They eventually lost out in the play-off semi-finals to Cardiff City on a penalty shoot-out.
Pre-season After winning League One by seven points, manager Nigel Pearson sought to strengthen the squad ahead of the Championship campaign. 2008–09 loanees Jack Hobbs and Wayne Brown were quickly signed on permanent deals from Liverpool and Hull City respectively. Veterans Barry Hayles, Bruno Ngotty, Paul Henderson, Patrick Kisnorbo and Marc Edworthy were released at the end of their contracts. The Foxes further added to their squad with the captures of goalkeeper Chris Weale, defender Robbie Neilson and midfielders Richie Wellens and Dany N'Guessan. However, the forward line remained unreinforced until 19-year-old Martyn Waghorn arrived on loan from Sunderland just before the opening game against Swansea City.Joe Mattock, part of the England squad for the European U-19 Championships, handed in a transfer request just 48 hours before the first match of the season. He eventually moved to fellow Championship club West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee.===Kit and sponsorship===Leicester City's badge for the 2009–10 season.Leicester City's home kit for the 2009–10 season was unveiled before the final home game of 2008–09 against Scunthorpe United. To mark the 125th anniversary of the club's founding in 1884, the design of the front of the shirt had earlier been put to an online vote, with the fans deciding to keep the home shirt blank and sponsorless. A special badge was created for this kit, to be used for one season only.The blue and black design of the away kit mirrors the shirts worn in the club's first game in 1884.It is branded with the logo of LOROS, a charity providing hospice care in Leicestershire. The charity will receive a percentage of the sale price of each shirt sold from their shops.Both strips are manufactured by Joma, following the expiration of the club's previous deal with Jako.===Friendlies===After reporting back for pre-season training on 1 July, the club remained unbeaten through six pre-season games:
Record 2009–10 was Leicester City's 58th season at the second tier of English football. Their record of winning the division on six occasions (although not since 1980) is second only to Manchester City. Prior to the 2009–10 season, their record at this level was: Champions 6 1924–25, 1936–37, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1970–71, 1979–80 Automatic promotion 3 1907–08, 1982–83, 2002–03 Promotion play-off winners 2 1994, 1996 Promotion play-off runners-up 2 1992, 1993 Top half 19  Bottom half 24  Relegated 1
Players ===2009–10 squad===:''Only includes players given a squad number. The squad listed is the squad which Leicester finished the season with.''
Transfers ===In=== Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee29 June 2009MF Dany N'GuessanLincoln CityUndisclosed1 July 2009DF Jack HobbsLiverpoolUndisclosed1 July 2009DF Wayne BrownHull CityFree1 July 2009GK Chris WealeBristol CityFree1 July 2009MF Astrit AjdarevicLiverpoolFree1 July 2009DF Robbie NeilsonHeart of MidlothianFree7 July 2009MF Richie WellensDoncaster Rovers£1.2 million21 August 2009FW Paul GallagherBlackburn Rovers£900k24 August 2009FW Yann KermorgantStade de ReimsFree===Out=== Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee1 July 2009MF Joe CobbWycombe WanderersFree1 July 2009DF Marc EdworthyBurton AlbionFree1 July 2009MF Lee CoxInverness Caledonian ThistleFree1 July 2009MF Jonny HayesInverness Caledonian ThistleFree1 July 2009MF Ryan BeswickKettering TownFree13 July 2009FW Barry HaylesCheltenham TownFree22 July 2009FW Billy McKayNorthampton TownFree10 August 2009DF Joe MattockWest Bromwich Albion£1.2 million25 January 2010MF Max GradelLeeds UnitedUndisclosed29 January 2010FW Ricky SappletonMacclesfield TownFree1 February 2010FWPaul DickovReleasedFree===Loans in=== Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From7 August 2009End of seasonFW Martyn WaghornSunderland F.C.30 August 2009End of seasonDF Ryan McGivernManchester City1 February 2009End of seasonDF Alex BruceIpswich Town10 March 2009End of seasonFW James VaughanEverton23 March 2009End of seasonMF Jay SpearingLiverpool===Loans out=== Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From1 August 200931 December 2009MF Aman VermaCrewe Alexandra4 August 2009End of SeasonMF James WesolowskiHamilton Academical14 August 2009End of SeasonMF Harry WorleyCrewe Alexandra21 August 2009FW Ashley ChambersWycombe Wanderers28 August 20091 January 2010FW Paul DickovDerby County11 September 2009MF Levi PorterMansfield Town17 September 2009FW Craig KingHereford United11 September 20092 January 2010MF Max GradelLeeds United26 November 200931 January 2010FW DJ CampbellDerby County15 January 201014 February 2010MF Nicky AdamsLeyton Orient19 January 201018 February 2010DF Luke O'NeillTranmere Rovers21 January 2010End of seasonFW Ashley ChambersWycombe Wanderers1 February 2010End of seasonDF Lathaniel Rowe-TurnerTorquay United1 February 2010End of seasonFW DJ CampbellBlackpool25 March 2010End of seasonMF Astrit AjdarevicHereford United1 February 2010End of seasonMF Aman VermaHiston
Results ===Football League Championship===*Leicester City scores given first Game Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Points Position Report Notes 1 8 August 2009 Home Swansea City 2–1 Waghorn 69', N'Guessan 72'26,17133rd  LCFC.com2 15 August 2009 Away Ipswich Town 0–022,454 46th LCFC.com3 18 August 2009 Away Sheffield United 1–1 Fryatt 52'26,06958th LCFC.com4 22 August 2009 Home Barnsley 1–0 Fryatt 54'21,79985th LCFC.com 5 31 August 2009 Away Newcastle United 0–1 38,81389th LCFC.comLive on Sky Sports 6 12 September 2009 Home Blackpool 2–1 Fryatt 26', 58'22,827 116th LCFC.com 7 15 September 2009 Home Peterborough United 1–1 Fryatt 47 '(pen.) 21,485  127th LCFC.com 8 19 September 2009 Away Watford 3–3  Fryatt 20' (pen. ), 40', N'Guessan 90+1'14,647 139th LCFC.com 9 26 September 2009 Home Preston North End 1–2 Berner 90' 20,623 13 10th  LCFC.com 10 29 September 2009 Away Middlesbrough 1–0 Dyer 83' 18,577  16 8th  LCFC.com 11 4 October 2009 Away Coventry City 1–1 Waghorn 71' 22,209  17 5th  LCFC.com M69 Derby 12 17 October 2009 Home Derby County 0–0 28,875188th  LCFC.com 13 20 October 2009 Home Crystal Palace 2–0 Gallagher 59', 81' 22,220 21 8th LCFC.com 14 26 October 2009 Away Reading 1–0 Waghorn 45' 16,192  24 5th LCFC.comLive on Sky Sports 15 30 October 2009 Away Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Fryatt 37', 64' 17,082  27 2nd  LCFC.comLive on Sky Sports 16 7 November 2009 Home West Bromwich Albion 1–2 Berner 90+4' 28,748  27 6th  LCFC.com 17 21 November 2009 Home Plymouth Argyle 1–0 King 90+4' 27,174  30 3rd  LCFC.com 18 28 November 2009 Away Scunthorpe United 1–1 Waghorn 3' 6,884 31 3rd  LCFC.com 19 5 December 2009 Away Nottingham Forest 1–5 Waghorn 64' (pen.) 28,626 31 4th  LCFC.com 20 8 December 2009 Home Bristol City 1–3 Fryatt 90+3' 19,394 31 7th  LCFC.com 21 12 December 2009 Home Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Howard 8', King 25', 73' 22,236  34 4th  LCFC.com – 19 December 2009 Away Cardiff City P–P  – – – Match postponed due to frozen pitch 22 26 December 2009 Home Sheffield United 2–1 Morrison 23', Fryatt 37' 23,999  37 4th  LCFC.com Live on Sky Sports – 28 December 2009 Away Doncaster Rovers P–P  – – – Match postponed due to frozen pitch 23 10 January 2010 Home Ipswich Town 1–1Howard 38' 20,758  38 5th  LCFC.com Live on Sky Sports 24 16 January 2010 Away Swansea City 0–1 15,037  38 7th  LCFC.com  25 26 January 2010 Away Barnsley 0–1 12,065   38 8th  LCFC.com  26 30 January 2010 Home Newcastle United 0–0 29,067  39 8th  LCFC.com Live on Sky Sports 27 6 February 2010 Away Blackpool 2–1 N'Guessan 15', Dyer 78' 8,484 42 6th  LCFC.com 28 9 February 2010 Home Doncaster Rovers 0–0 18,928 43 6th  LCFC.com  29 13 February 2010 Home Scunthorpe United 5–1 Morrison 6', Gallagher 16', 25', 73', Waghorn 34' 21,626  46 6th  LCFC.com  30 16 February 2010 Away Bristol City 1–1 Dyer 90+2' 13,746  47 6th  LCFC.com  31 20 February 2010 Away Plymouth Argyle 1–1 o.g. 32' 11,581   48 6th  LCFC.com  32 23 February 2010 Away Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Waghorn 12' 11,027  51 5th  LCFC.com  33 27 February 2010 Home Nottingham Forest 3–0 Berner 68', Gallagher 79', King 81' 31,759  54 5th  LCFC.com  34 6 March 2010 Away Sheffield Wednesday 0–2  21,647  54 5th  LCFC.com  35 13 March 2010 Home Cardiff City 1–0 Waghorn 29' 22,767  57 5th  LCFC.com  36 16 March 2010 Away Crystal Palace 1–0 Berner 53' 12,721  60 4th  LCFC.com  37 21 March 2010 Home Coventry City 2–2 King 4', 19' 23,093 61 4th  LCFC.com M69 Derby, Live on BBC 38 24 March 2010 Home Reading 1–2 Waghorn 40' 20,108 61 4th  LCFC.com  39 27 March 2010 Away Derby County 0–1  30,259 61 6th  LCFC.com  40 30 March 2010 Away Cardiff City 1–2 Howard 52' 20,438  61 6th  LCFC.com  41 2 April 2010 Away West Bromwich Albion 0–3  23,334 61 6th  LCFC.com Live on Sky Sports  42 5 April 2010 Home Queens Park Rangers 4–0 King 5', Waghorn 45', 50', Howard 78' 22,079 64 6th  LCFC.com  43 10 April 2010 Away Peterborough United 2–1 Howard 40', King 66' 9,651 67 5th  LCFC.com 44 17 April 2010 Home Watford 4–1 Waghorn 36' (pen. ), Gallagher 41', Spearing 51', Vaughan 67' 24,765  70 5th  LCFC.com 45 24 April 2010 Away Preston North End 1–0 King 63' 14,926  73 5th  LCFC.com 46 2 May 2010 Home Middlesbrough 2–0 Kermorgant 41', Wellens 86' (pen.) 30,223  76 5th  LCFC.com===Football League Championship play-offs===*Leicester City scores given first*Away goals do not count. Round Date Venue Opponents ScoreAgg. Scorers Attendance Report Notes SF1 9 May 2010 Home Cardiff City0–10–1 29,165   LCFC.com Live on Sky Sports SF2 12 May 2010 Away Cardiff City3–2 3–3 Fryatt 25', o.g. 36', King 49' 26,033   LCFC.comLeicester lost 3–4 on penalties. Live on Sky Sports===FA Cup===*Leicester City scores given first Round Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Report Notes 3 2 January 2010 Home Swansea City2–1King 39', N'Guessan 89' 12,307 LCFC.com  4 23 January 2010 Away Cardiff City2–4 Morrison 34', N'Guessan 39' 10,961 LCFC.com ===League Cup===*Leicester City scores given first Round Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Report Notes 1 12 August 2009 Away Macclesfield Town 2–0 N'Guessan 58', Fryatt 71'2,197  LCFC.com  2 25 August 2009 Away Preston North End1–2 Adams 6'6,977 LCFC.com
Awards ===Club awards===At the end of the season, Leicester's annual award ceremony including categories voted for by the players and backroom staff, the supporters and the supporters club, saw the following players recognised for their achievements for the club throughout the 2009–10 season.Player of the Season  Jack HobbsYoung Player of the Season  Martyn WaghornPlayer' Player of the Season  Jack Hobbs and  Andy King ''(joint winners)''Supporters' Club Player of the Season  Jack HobbsAcademy Player of the Season  Elliott ChamberlainGoal of the Season  Paul Gallagher (vs. Nottingham Forest, 27 February 2010)===Divisional awards===DateAwardWinnerFebruary 2010Championship Manager of the Month Nigel PearsonFebruary 2010Championship Player of the Month Paul Gallagher
Championship statistics ===Championship table======Club standings===
Club statistics ===Appearances===No.Nat.NameFLCPOFACLCTotal 1 Chris Weale 45 2 2 2 51 2 Robbie Neilson 19 0 2 0 21 3 Ryan McGivern 9 (3) 0 0 2 11 (3) 4 Michael Morrison 30 (1) 0 2 2 34 (1) 5 Aleksander Tunchev 1 (1) 0 1 0 2 (1) 6 Wayne Brown 38 (1) 0 0 1 39 (1) 7 Max Gradel* 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 7 Nolberto Solano 6 (5) 2 0 0 8 (5) 8 Matt Oakley 37 (1) 0 2 2 41 (1) 9 Steve Howard 17 (18) 1 1 1 20 (18) 10 Andy King 37 (6) 2 1 1 41 (6) 11 Lloyd Dyer 25 (8) 2 0 (1) 1 28 (9) 12 Matty Fryatt 26 (3) 1 (1) 2 1 (1) 30 (5) 13 Conrad Logan 1 (1) 0 0 0 1 (1) 15 Bruno Berner 34 (1) 2 0 0 36 (1) 16 Nicky Adams 1 (17) 0 2 0 3 (17) 17 Dany N'Guessan 16 (11) 0 (1) 2 1 (1) 19 (13) 18 Martyn Waghorn 27 (15) 1 (1) 1 0 (1) 29 (17) 19 Richie Wellens 41 2 2 1 46 20 Luke O'Neill 0 (1) 0 1 0 1 (1) 22 Yann Kermorgant 9 (11) 0 (2) 1 (1) 0 (1) 10 (15) 23 DJ Campbell 0 (3) 0 0 0 0 (3) 24 Paul Gallagher 31 (10) 2 0 (1) 2 35 (11) 25 Jack Hobbs 44 2 1 2 49 27 Paul Dickov* 0 (1) 0  0 (1) 0 0 (2) 27 James Vaughan 2 (6) 0 0 0 2 (6) 29 Chris Powell 2 0 0 0 2 33 Alex Bruce 2 (1) 2 0 0 4 (1) 34 Jay Spearing 6 (1) 1 (1) 0 0 7 (2)Note:*Substitute appearances given in brackets. *Asterisk indicates player left the club mid-season.===Top scorers===Pos.Nat.PlayerFLCPOFACLCTotal1 Matty Fryatt11101132 Martyn Waghorn12000123 Andy King9110114 Paul Gallagher700075 Dany N'Guessan302166 Steve Howard500057 Bruno Berner400048 Michael Morrison20103= Lloyd Dyer3000310 Nicky Adams00011= Jay Spearing10001= James Vaughan10001= Richie Wellens10001= Yann Kermorgant10001===Most assists===Pos.Nat.PlayerFLCPOFACLCTotal1 Matty Fryatt50106= Paul Gallagher411063 Martyn Waghorn40105= Richie Wellens500055 Matt Oakley400046 Dany N'Guessan20013= Steve Howard300038 Bruno Berner20002=Michael Morrison2000210 Yann Kermorgant00101= Andy King10001= Lloyd Dyer10001= James Vaughan10001= Jay Spearing10001===Disciplinary record===Nat.Player     Richie Wellens81 Martyn Waghorn61 Steve Howard61 Matt Oakley70 Bruno Berner70 Matt Oakley70 Wayne Brown50 Ryan McGivern40 Paul Gallagher40 Michael Morrison30 Robbie Neilson30 Lloyd Dyer30 Dany N'Guessan20 Jack Hobbs20 Andy King20 Nolberto Solano20 Matty Fryatt10 James Vaughan10 Alex Bruce10All Stats obtained from  LCFC.com
References