It was a major disappointment as we looked to get ourselves moving up the league, but in truth there could be few complaints after a game in which Leicester dominated for all but a twenty minute spell in the first half.
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| Ross Wallace - scored in last three league games |
Neither could it have come as a surprise that Leicester scored three goals when you saw the names David Nugent and Paul Gallagher in their line ups. This was the fourth time Nugent has lined up against us at Turf Moor; he's scored in all four games, and when Gallagher netted Leicester's third from the penalty spot it was his fourth against Burnley, and the third in 2011.
There was a lot of fuss made by some media sources about Burnley's record of not having lost a midweek home game since December 2007 but maybe a bit of research would have shown that this was Leicester's fifth Turf Moor Tuesday night visit in nine years and we've failed to win any of them.
There were no surprises on the pitch when Eddie Howe named his team. Ben Mee, as expected, came in for the injured Brian Easton, and the only surprise was on the bench where Michael Duff returned ahead of schedule to fill the vacancy.
Leicester's bench made interesting reading. Rate them or not, players such as Sean St. Ledger and Jermaine Beckford have cost them a lot of money whilst they were also able to name Manchester City's Michael Johnson in their five subs.
Everyone sat and watched as Sven Goran Eriksson made signing after signing in the summer, spending what seemed ridiculous amounts of money, but there is no doubt that a decent squad has been assembled and, without Eriksson, they might just do what was expected of them when the season got underway.
They definitely looked a good side at times in this game. They started well and could have been in front very early in the game. A mistake by David Edgar let in David Nugent and only an outstanding save from Lee Grant kept us level.
Apart from one mistake by Kasper Schmeichel that almost let in Jay Rodriguez, it was almost one way traffic and we were struggling to cope with Leicester's movement. Nugent again had a shot and maybe he'd have done better had he not opted for power which saw the effort fly into the Jimmy Mac lower tier.
A goal very much looked on the cards and it finally came with 20 minutes gone from the unlikely source of left back Paul Konchesky. He doesn't score many goals and this was his first for Leicester.
It all came from a long punt upfield that was headed into the box by Steve Howard. Edgar got there first to clear and when Junior Stanislas failed to compete with Konchesky it left the full back just outside the box. He hit a powerful shot that Grant got a hand to but couldn't keep out.
There was a lot of debate as to whether Grant could have done better. I'm not so sure and will give him the benefit of the doubt, something I wouldn't be able to give Schmeichel three minutes later when we equalised.
It was almost Stoke like. Kieran Trippier took a long throw from the right hand side that was headed up by Souleymane Bamba. Schmeichel punched (or attempted to punch) the ball clear but it was awful and it allowed Ross Wallace, of all players, to head it back over him and into the empty net.
That's goals in each of the last three league games for Wallace, who has now bettered his 2010/11 total, and in doing so becomes the first Burnley player to achieve that since Martin Paterson during November and December 2008.
Incredibly we were level and for the remainder of the first half the game was completely different as the Clarets took control. Almost immediately we had another chance when Marvin Bartley went storming through. He'd been fouled but managed to keep going but the shot didn't have anything in it and was easily saved.
More than once we took the wrong option but right on half time we came so close to going in front only to see Charlie Austin's effort hit the post.
It had been an incredible half. For the first half of it we looked so much second best it was worrying and from the equaliser onwards we were by far the better side. Probably we were the side who could have done without that half time break such was how we were playing as the half drew to a close.
We started brightly and Andre Amougou powered a header towards goal from an early second half corner only to see it cleared off the line. With the home crowd urging us forward we looked full of confidence, but sadly it didn't last and Leicester went on to take over for virtually the whole of the second half.
They went back in front nine minutes in and from that point on the result never looked in danger. That second goal came, predictably, from Nugent. Bartley lost possession in his own half and they got the ball down the right wing to Gallagher who crossed for Nugent. He met the ball at the far post unmarked and headed back across Grant for his customary Turf Moor goal.
Eight minutes later it was 3-1 when Gallagher himself scored from the penalty spot. Was it a penalty? Eddie Howe felt it was harsh but given the performance of the most bizarre of referees Geoff Eltringham it probably wouldn't have mattered had it been a foul or not. Most decisions were random and I felt at times as if it would be easier selecting six winning lottery numbers than working out his decisions.
When Leicester went 2-1 up, Eltringham had warned them about their goal celebration. This time he just ignored it and stood, along with our players, for what seemed an age waiting to restart the game.
In truth, that really was that, and at no time did we ever seriously threaten to get back into the game.
It was a big disappointment after Saturday, but Leicester are, without any doubt, a far better side than Blackpool. Surely without the Eriksson shackles they'll be up there come the end of the season.
Just a week ago I was far from happy at the latest shoddy performance at Cardiff, and said so. This time I'm just holding my hands up and saying we were beaten by a better side. Yes, we could have played better. Yes, we could have offered more, but Leicester, alongside Southampton, are probably as good a side as we've played this season.
On Saturday we face one of the worst in Bristol City. The league table says they are. Then we have to step things up and go and get a result from Ashton Gate.
We won't be the last team to lose at home to Leicester this season, there'll be a few more who'll do just the same.
The teams were;
Burnley: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou, David Edgar, Ben Mee, Ross Wallace (Zavon Hines 78), Marvin Bartley (Michael Duff 90), Chris McCann, Junior Stanislas (Keith Treacy 68), Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Jon Stewart, Dean Marney.
Leicester: Kasper Schmeichel, Lee Peltier, Matt Mills, Souleymane Bamba (Sean St. Ledger 83), Paul Konchesky, Paul Gallagher (Jeffrey Schlupp 88), Andy King, Richie Wellens, Neil Danns (Michael Johnson 81), David Nugent, Steve Howard. Subs not used: Chris Weale, Jermaine Beckford.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland).
Attendance: 13,286 (including 744 Leicester fans).