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Leicester 0 Cardiff 1 – match report

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Leicester 0 Cardiff 1: Bellamy goal sends Bluebirds clear at the top after win at Foxes

PUBLISHED:

17:28 GMT, 22 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:33 GMT, 22 December 2012

Cardiff bounced back from their surprise home defeat to Peterborough with a smash-and-grab victory at Leicester to move three points clear at the top of the npower Championship.

Leicester laid siege to the Bluebirds' goal in the first half with chance after chance going begging.

David Marshall made a handful of saves to keep the Foxes at bay and, when he was beaten by Andy King's long-range effort, a post came to his rescue.

Flying high: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring the only goal of the game

Flying high: Craig Bellamy celebrates scoring the only goal of the game

Match facts

Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky, Morgan, Whitbread, De Laet, Dyer (Lingard 68), King, Drinkwater, Knockaert (Marshall 68), Nugent,Vardy (Waghorn 51).

Subs not used: Logan, James, Moore, Futacs.

Cardiff: Marshall, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Connolly, Kim (Cowie 55), Whittingham, Mutch (Gunnarsson 76), Conway, Bellamy, Helguson (Gestede 51).

Subs not used: Lewis, McNaughton, Noone, Mason.

Booked: Turner, Connolly, Whittingham.

Goal: Bellamy 25.

Attendance: 25,055

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

Craig Bellamy looked a threat on the counter-attack throughout and it was he who grabbed the only goal of the game against the run of play after 25 minutes.

The Wales international showed great technique after collecting Craig Conway's pass to find the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 12 yards out.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leicester, who created very little afterward.
The Foxes were unchanged from the side that started last weekend's defeat at Millwall, although striker Martyn Waghorn was fit enough for a place on the bench following surgery to remove his appendix.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay made three changes after seeing his side's 100 per cent home record ended by struggling Peterborough.

Mark Hudson returned to skipper the side after suspension, which saw Matt Connolly revert to right-back and Kevin McNaughton drop to the bench.

Kim Bo-kyung was also restored to the starting line up in place of Craig Noone, while Jordon Mutch took the place of Don Cowie.

Leicester started brightly with Danny Drinkwater firing over early on.

David Nugent became the first home player of the afternoon to be frustrated by Marshall when the Scot parried his effort from the edge of the area.

Smash and grab: Craig Bellamy scores the only goal of the game

Smash and grab: Craig Bellamy scores the only goal of the game

King struck a post after 13 minutes when the ball broke to him outside the area after Marshall had kept out Wes Morgan's header.

Marshall then twice denied Anthony Knockaert when the Frenchman let fly from long range before Bellamy delivered the killer blow for the Foxes.

Jamie Vardy might have done better than head over the crossbar before half-time in what turned out to be Leicester's final real chance.

Pearson's side tried to push for an equalising goal in the second half, but were always wary of the threat caused by Bellamy's pace, perhaps preventing them from committing as many players forward as they would have liked.

Nugent and substitute Ben Marshall fired in shots from outside the box but never worried the Cardiff keeper.

Back-to-back defeats are a blow to Leicester's automatic promotion aspirations, which will come under intense scrutiny again on Boxing Day when they travel to Pearson's former club Hull.

The victory gives Cardiff a slight cushion ahead of their home game against title rivals Crystal Palace in four day's time.

Millwall 1 Leicester 0: match report

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Millwall 1 Leicester 0: Taylor nails Foxes and puts Jackett's men back on track

PUBLISHED:

17:22 GMT, 15 December 2012

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UPDATED:

17:22 GMT, 15 December 2012

Substitute Chris Taylor fired Millwall back into the npower Championship play-off places with the goal which sank fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester.

The winger struck midway through the second half of a scrappy match to condemn the Foxes to their sixth defeat on the road this season.

It meant a return to winning ways for Millwall's manager of the month Kenny Jackett, whose side's 13-match unbeaten run came to a surprise end at Ipswich last week.

Open sesame: Chris Taylor celebrates opening the scoring for the Lions

Open sesame: Chris Taylor celebrates opening the scoring for the Lions

Match facts

Millwall: Forde, Adam Smith, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Henry, Trotter, Abdou, Malone (Chris Taylor 46), N'Guessan (Keogh 66), Wood (Batt 79).

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Wright, Feeney, Jack Smith.

Booked: Abdou, Shittu.

Goals: Chris Taylor 67.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert (Marshall 64), King (James 70), Drinkwater, Dyer (Futacs 70), Vardy, Nugent.

Subs Not Used: Logan, Schlupp, Moore, Lingard.

Booked: Nugent, Knockaert, Futacs.

Att: 10,189

Ref: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

The latest Championship table, fixtures and results

Leicester actually made the livelier
start and David Nugent's shot was deflected wide before Jamie Vardy teed
up Andy King, whose effort was blocked.

But no-nonsense Millwall soon began to out-muscle City's flair players and there were few clear-cut chances in the first half.

Leicester have been linked with a
January move for Millwall's on-loan striker Chris Wood, who the Lions
themselves want to snap up on a permanent deal.

And the young New Zealander had Millwall's first chance after 20 minutes but planted his header wide.

Lions winger James Henry then fizzed a
long-range drive wide before finding Dany N'Guessan with a free-kick,
but the former Leicester forward's header was too high.

Liam Trotter also forced a smart save from Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel after finding space in the area.

However, Leicester passed up a decent
chance to take the lead in the 37th minute when Nugent met a free-kick
from Anthony Knockaert six yards out, but the one-time England striker's
shot was too close to home keeper David Forde.

Schmeichel was called into action again in first-half stoppage time with a diving save from N'Guessan's long-range drive.

Jackett's half-time team talk seemed to work wonders as his side dominated the early stages of the second half.

N'Guessan and Shane Lowry had shots blocked for Millwall before Taylor, on at the break, fired over the crossbar.

Wood got another sight of goal on the
hour mark but lifted his shot too high, while Danny Drinkwater fired
over the top for City.

But the deadlock was broken in the
67th minute when Trotter played a neat one-two with Andy Keogh down the
left and crossed for Taylor, who had a simple sidefooted finish from six
yards out past the helpless Schmeichel.

Leicester attempted to hit back and
Nugent fired wide before Forde saved Wes Morgan's stoppage-time shot,
but they could not find a way past a stubborn Millwall rearguard.

Watford 2 Leicester 1 – match report

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Watford 2 Leicester 1: Whitbread sent off as Zola's men drag Foxes out of top two spots

PUBLISHED:

17:53 GMT, 3 November 2012

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UPDATED:

17:53 GMT, 3 November 2012

Leicester were handed a second consecutive defeat as Watford recorded a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.

The Foxes slipped out of the promotion spots after their fourth defeat of the campaign, as Gianfranco Zola's side completed a deserved win.

On-loan midfielder Almen Abdi gave the home side a 14th minute lead as he clinically netted his fourth goal of the season.

Wheeling away: Fernando Forestieri (left) celebrates doubling Watford's lead

Wheeling away: Fernando Forestieri (left) celebrates doubling Watford's lead

Match facts

Watford: Almunia, Hall (Anya 90), Doyley, Pudil, Cassetti, Hoban, Chalobah, Hogg, Abdi (Smith 86), Deeney, Forestieri (Vydra 79).

Subs not used: Bond, Yeates, Battocchio, Geijo

Goals: Abdi 14, Forestieri 68

Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky, Morgan, Whitbread, Moore, Drinkwater (Dyer 46), Marshall (Waghorn 62), King, James, Knockaert (Futacs 62) Nugent

Subs not used: Logan, Danns, Gallagher, Schlupp

Booked: Drinkwater, Whitbread

Sent off: Whitbread

Attn: 12,954

Ref: D'Urso

Latest Championship table, fixtures and results

Fernando Forestieri made it two after reacting the quickest following Kasper Schmeichel's terrific save to deny Daniel Pudil.

Leicester pulled one back three minutes later as top scorer David Nugent scored his sixth of the season.

But Zak Whitbread was dismissed for two bookable offences in the 83rd minute to kill off hopes of a comeback.

Watford welcomed back suspended duo Pudil and Nathaniel Chalobah to the side, while Abdi returned from injury.

Leicester were without the suspended
Ritchie De Laet and the injured Jamie Vardy, while Lloyd Dyer dropped to
the bench as Matty James started in a three-man midfield.

Watford started the brighter side and
had the first sight of goal after 11 minutes but Troy Deeney blazed his
effort from the edge of the area high over the bar.

But the Hornets opened the scoring
three minutes later. A clever pass from Forestieri released Abdi on the
right and the midfielder advanced towards Schmeichel before slotting a
low effort into the bottom corner.

Schmeichel was called into action
again in the 20th minute as Wes Morgan's clearance fell to Forestieri
whose low effort was well held by the Leicester goalkeeper.

It took the Foxes until the 30th
minute to create an opening, with Ben Marshall forcing a save out of
Manuel Almunia, before a powerful Morgan header was cleared off the line
by a well placed Jonathan Hogg.

Nigel Pearson replaced Danny
Drinkwater with Dyer at half-time, as he looked for more width from his
side, but the change did not have an immediate impact as the second half
got off to a quiet start.

And it was Watford who eventually had
the first opening as Deeney forced a stop out of Schmeichel with a
header just before the hour mark.

Pearson responded by bringing on Martyn Waghorn and Marko Futacs, but his side were soon two goals down.

Schmeichel pulled off a terrific save
to prevent Pudil's effort, but Forestieri pounced on the rebound and
tucked away the loose ball.

The visitors responded three minutes
later as Nugent controlled Paul Konchesky's cross and fired a low effort
into the corner of the net.

But any hopes of a comeback were
scuppered as Whitbread brought down substitute Matej Vydra and was shown
his second yellow card of the game.

Leicester 1 Brighton 0 match report: Kasper Schmeichel saves Foxes perfect home record

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Leicester 1 Brighton 0: King takes lead but Schmeichel saves perfect home record

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UPDATED:

21:39 GMT, 23 October 2012

It took a stunning penalty save from Kasper Schmeichel to protect Nigel Pearson’s unblemished home league record at the King Power Stadium.

The keeper, who has struggled manfully to step out of the shadow of his illustrious father, pulled off a superb stop to deny Ashley Barnes on an evening when the Championship leaders almost proved their own worst enemies.

Leading thanks to Andy King’s tenth-minute goal, Leicester became complacent and allowed Gus Poyet’s Seagulls a route back into a game that should have been put beyond them.

Regal: Andy King (right) nets against Brighton

Regal: Andy King (right) nets against Brighton

Match facts

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 56), Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert, King, Drinkwater, Dyer, Waghorn (Marshall 71), Nugent (Vardy 68). Subs not used: Logan, James, Schlupp, Futacs.

Booked: De Laet.

Goals: King 10.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Bridcutt, Dicker (Dobbie 59), Crofts (Hammond 77), Buckley, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs not used: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, David Lopez, LuaLua.

Booked: Bridcutt.

Att: 25,726.

Ref: Neil Swarbrick.

Latest Championship results, fixtures and table

And it seemed that Poyet’s team were
about to stop a run of four matches without victory by becoming the
first team this season to earn a point from a trip to the east Midlands.

But Schmeichel had other ideas,
blocking Barnes’s effort as Leicester looked to build on a top spot
gained after last weekend’s draw against Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

But while the Dane did his job at one
end of the field, it was left to King to separate the sides with a
strike that will have left Poyet fuming.

The midfielder’s effort owed a debt to
forward David Nugent. The former Portsmouth forward has looked a
different player since his goal-drought came to an end last month.

The striker, famously capped once for England by Steve McClaren, turned Liam Bridcutt on the left touchline.

Brighton’s defence stood statically on
the edge of the area. With King at his shoulder, Nugent powered
forward, leaving Bridcutt in his wake.

Eventually, one of Poyet’s defenders sensed there might be some danger and Nugent off-loaded the ball to his team-mate.

The first shot by the Wales
international was blocked. The ball bounced untidily back into the
midfielder’s path and he claimed his third goal of the season, rapping
home from close-range.

Top man: Andy King is grabbed by Lloyd dyer and Danny Drinkwater

Top man: Andy King is grabbed by Lloyd dyer and Danny Drinkwater

Martyn Waghorn blazed over at the near
post and then Anthony Knockaert forced Tomasz Kuszczak into a fine stop
after a well-struck drive from distance.

It was too easy for the Foxes and they
lost urgency, allowing Brighton back into the game. They should have
heeded the undoubted warning from boss Nigel Pearson at the interval.

But Zak Whitbread was guilty of a rash
decision in the 52nd minute when he ploughed into Will Buckley as the
Brighton man attempted to reach the byeline.

Ashley Barnes shouldered the responsibility but Schmeichel was equal to the task, saving to his left.

Right-back Ritchie de Laet bravely
threw himself at the rebound, injuring himself in the process, and was
substituted for his trouble.

Leicester almost grabbed a second goal
after a cross from Lloyd Dyer found substitute Jamie Vardy, but his
headed effort was wide.

The Seagulls kept the pressure up, attackingly strongly in the closing ten minutes.
Striker Craig Mackail-Smith came close in the 87th, but his effort was comfortably saved by Schmeichel.

Barnes then fired off a hopeful shot outside the area, but it was to no avail.

Birmingham 1 Leicester 1 – match report

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Birmingham 1 Leicester 1: Marshall's late strike saves point for Foxes as winning streak ends

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UPDATED:

16:37 GMT, 20 October 2012

Leicester's five-match winning sequence in the npower Championship was brought to a halt but substitute Ben Marshall's late strike salvaged a deserved point from an entertaining encounter at Birmingham.

The Foxes, who have now moved to the top of the table on goal difference, were aiming to record a sixth successive league win for the first time since a club-record equalling seven in 1993.

And the visitors' first-half display certainly deserved just that but they found England prodigy Jack Butland in superb form while Martyn Waghorn also blazed over a golden opportunity from close range, much to the dismay of 4,000 travelling supporters.

Pulsating: Birmingham and Leicester battle it our for a 1-1 draw

Pulsating: Birmingham and Leicester battle it our for a 1-1 draw

MATCH FACTS

Birmingham: Butland, Hurst (Fahey 76), Caldwell, Davies, Murphy, Burke (Elliott 56), Spector, Morrison, Redmond, King,
Lovenkrands (Lita 63).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Mullins, Packwood, Robinson.

Sent Off: Spector (90).

Booked: Spector, Hurst, Morrison.

Goals: Lovenkrands 45

Leicester: Schmeichel,De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky,
Knockaert (Futacs 82), King, Drinkwater, Dyer (Marshall 72),
Waghorn (Vardy 72), Nugent.

Subs Not Used: Logan, James, Moore, Schlupp.

Booked: Whitbread, Waghorn.

Goals: Marshall 86.

Attendance: 18,271

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Click here for the npower Championship league table and results

Birmingham, second best, duly
capitalised against the run of the play in first-half injury time as
Lovenkrands converted a great cross from Marlon King for his third goal
of the season.

Lowly Blues subsequently found a
new-found confidence amid a quieter second half, but Leicester – who
looked set to draw a blank for the first time this season – drew level
in the 86th minute when Marshall's 30-yard effort crossed the line off
the inside of a post.

To make matters worse for Birmingham, Jonathan Spector was given his marching orders in injury time.

Ravel Morrison, whose attitude had
again been brought into question since his season-long loan arrival from
West Ham, was handed his first Birmingham start since August amid four
changes and duly impressed, the Foxes also included three new faces from
last time out before the international break.

Birmingham boss Lee Clark spoke
pre-match about the need for his side to start positively but he would
have been furious at the way in which they gave possession away straight
from kick-off, conceding a free-kick on the edge of their area which
was comfortably saved by Butland.

Blues, having got a better foothold
on proceedings, saw on-loan full-back James Hurst escape punishment
following a challenge on Lloyd Dyer in the penalty area before Waghorn
forced a solid save from Butland.

Dyer did find the net only to be
flagged offside as the Foxes posed a more dangerous threat in the final
third, Butland producing a routine stop to deny Anthony Knockaert from
distance before Andy King lashed narrowly wide.

Off: Jonathan Spector (left) was red-carded late in the game, but Birmingham still managed to clinch a point

Off: Jonathan Spector (left) was red-carded late in the game, but Birmingham still managed to clinch a point

Leicester's best opening of the first
half arrived in the 33rd minute yet Waghorn somehow fired over Andy
King's cross from six yards.

Birmingham were providing very little
threat in attack, with Kasper Schmeichel finally forced into action to
save from Nathan Redmond in the 38th minute.

Butland then twice kept out talented Frenchman Knockaert, the second a superb stop just before half-time.

But there was still time for the home
side to take the lead. Marlon King latched on to Hurst's pass and fired
a great cross into the area which was expertly converted by
Lovenkrands.

Schmeichel denied King when clean through early in the second half before Redmond blazed a free-kick off target for Blues.

Butland continued his heroics with
another super stop to keep out Waghorn, but chances were coming at a
premium compared to the opening 45 minutes.

Substitute Wade Elliott tested
Schmeichel as the game entered the closing stages before Marshall drew
Leicester level out of nowhere, his shot from distance going in off the
inside of a post.

Spector then saw red for what
appeared to be a second yellow card offence, and there was still time
for Butland to produce another great stop to keep out Marshall's
goalbound free-kick.

Tussle: James Hurst (left) and David Nugent battle for the ball in a hotly contested affair in Birmingham

Tussle: James Hurst (left) and David Nugent battle for the ball in a hotly contested affair in Birmingham

Leicester 2 Bristol City 0: Foxes maintain top start to season thanks to Nugent strike and Foster own goal

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Leicester 2 Bristol City 0: Foxes maintain top start to season thanks to Nugent strike and Foster own goal

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UPDATED:

16:50 GMT, 6 October 2012

It was very much high fives all-round for Nigel Pearson's in-form Foxes as they maintained their winning form in the npower Championship.

David Nugent's fifth league strike of the season and Richard Foster's own goal secured Leicester's fifth straight victory – following excellent away wins at Middlesbrough and Huddersfield – and also brought their fifth win in a row at their King Power Stadium home.

The result took the midlanders top of the table prior to Cardiff's televised late afternoon clash at Ipswich, but the success did not come without a cost, with the Foxes losing three players through injury.

David Nugent

Party time: David Nugent (third from left) notched up his fifth goal of the season

Match facts

Leicester: Schmeichel, Konchesky (De Laet 46), St. Ledger (Whitbread 63), Morgan, Moore, King, Dyer, Drinkwater, Knockaert, Vardy (Marshall 51), Nugent

Subs Not Used: Logan, Waghorn, James, Futacs.

Goals: Nugent 19, Foster 74 og

Bristol City: Heaton, Foster, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Louis Carey (Mark Wilson 70), Skuse, Pearson, Morris (Anderson 82), Adomah, Taylor, Baldock (Davies 59).

Subs Not Used: Gerken, Stead, Woolford, James Wilson.

Booked: Louis Carey, Morris.

Att: 22,529

Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Click here for the latest npower Championship results, fixtures and table

Paul Konchesky was forced to withdraw
at the break, Jamie Vardy hobbled off in the 51st minute, and then
after 63 minutes Republic of Ireland international defender Sean St
Ledger also picked up a knock.

The Robins, who had chalked up a
league double over Leicester last season, had almost snatched the lead
inside the first minute, Jody Morris meeting Sam Baldock's cross but his
six-yard header was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

The Foxes responded well and after
eight minutes a left-foot shot by Lloyd Dyer was tipped over the
crossbar by City goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

The visitors, the second-highest
scorers in the Championship going into the contest, with 18 goals, had
certainly not come to sit back and defend in the early stages and
following a corner from Morris into the heart of the Leicester box, Liam
Fontaine sent a 10-yard shot wide of the right-hand upright.

Leicester's former England striker
Nugent headed over from six yards out in the 28th minute, but he made
amends just 60 seconds later. Vardy's long ball from the back caught the
Robins rearguard napping and Nugent raced through one-on-one with
Heaton and drove a low right-footer into the bottom corner.

David Nugent of Leicester

Off to a flyer: Nugent, who has discovered his old form this season, put Leicester in front after 19 minutes

Heaton kept City in the hunt with
smart saves from both Nugent and French ace Anthony Knockaert in the
space of a few seconds in the 36th minute.

The Robins had lost their record as
being the only Championship team not to have gone in trailing at
half-time – and boss Derek McInnes decided to replace Baldock with Steve
Davies in the 59th minute.

Fontaine fluffed a good chance to
bring City level in the 71st minute, the big defender heading an
inswinging corner from Morris over the top from six yards, and that miss
proved costly as the Foxes forged further ahead on 74 minutes, Andy
King's left-wing cross being headed into his own goal by the unfortunate
Richard Foster.

It brought up Leicester's 50th goal
against their west country opponents and was enough for them to chalk up
their fifth straight league win for the first time since February 2011.

As for the Robins, they have now failed to win six of their last seven league outings.

Liam Moore wanted by Manchester United

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One Moore! Fergie lines up late swoop for young Leicester defender

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UPDATED:

07:39 GMT, 27 August 2012

Starlet: Liam Moore

Starlet: Liam Moore

Manchester United are looking to bring in 19-year-old Leicester defender Liam Moore before the close of the transfer window on Friday.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sent his chief scout Jim Lawlor to watch the centre-back play in the Foxes' 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park on Saturday – and he was impressed.

The England youth international has also been watched by Tottenham, Everton and Sunderland scouts, but Fergie is ready to beat off competition with a bid this week, according to the Daily Mirror.

Moore made his Leicester debut at right-back against Crystal Palace in January after returning from a successful loan spell at Bradford.

But the youngster has been thrust into action in the centre of Nigel Pearson's defence at the start of this campaign after injuries to Sean St Ledger and Zak Whitbread, and he has excelled.

With the injury-prone Rio Ferdinand nearing the end of his career, Ferguson has been eyeing long-term defensive reinforcements for a while, but he has decided to act now with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling also out injured.

Wigan, Reading and Saints trailing Zak Whitbread

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Wigan, Reading and Saints trailing Norwich defender Whitbread

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 3 May 2012

Wigan, Reading and Southampton are monitoring Zak Whitbread's situation at Norwich City.

The former Liverpool defender, 28, has yet to agree new terms with Norwich and is expected to leave on a free transfer.

Out of contract: Whitbread is expected to leave Norwich on a free transfer

Out of contract: Whitbread is expected to leave Norwich on a free transfer

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS: Fatima Whitbread warns athletes not to switch countries

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EXCLUSIVE: Athletes must stop country hopping, warns Whitbread

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UPDATED:

21:40 GMT, 30 March 2012

Athletes should not be allowed to compete for more than one country, according to former world champion javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread.

The 1988 Olympic silver medallist said it ‘wasn’t right’ that some sportsmen and women were able to ‘jump ship and go for the easy option’ once they had worn a national vest.

‘It’s been going on for years,’ Whitbread told Sportsmail of the country-hopping tactic. ‘If you go back to apartheid time — Zola Budd came over and competed for Britain, didn’t she.

Transfer: Hurdler Tiffany Porter switched to represent Great Britain

Transfer: Hurdler Tiffany Porter switched to represent Great Britain

‘With multicultural Britain now, as it is all round the world, there’s more and more of that going on.

‘I think the Germans would once have prided themselves on being Teutonic but a lot of Turkish players compete for the Germany football team.

‘I don’t think it’s right that if they can’t get in for one country they come and jump ship and go for the easy option.

Making her point: Former Javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread

Making her point: Former Javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread

‘If they’re good enough then stick with that country. That’s where it’s best.’

The 51-year-old has a multicultural heritage herself, having been born in London to a Turkish Cypriot mother and Greek Cypriot father, before being adopted by her coach Margaret Whitbread aged 14. She always competed for Britain.

The 100m hurdler Tiffany Porter, among others, has been criticised as being a ‘Plastic Brit’ for transferring her allegiance to Britain from the US, where she has lived her entire life, after failing to make the grade.

Whitbread said that if a foreign javelin thrower had switched to Britain while she was competing it would not have upset her because ‘I wanted to be the best come what may, whether they’re in my country or not’.

But she did admit that some athletes could get ‘tetchy’ if they felt their chance of glory was being taken away by imported rivals.

Fatima Whitbread will be joining a host of sporting celebrities and live music acts for the Gold Challenge Olympic Stadium event tomorrow.
Limited tickets are still available, visit: www.goldchallenge.org/tickets

Lambert to wait until Canaries safety is secured before new deals for Ward and Whitbread

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Lambert to wait until Canaries safety is secured before new deals for Ward and Whitbread

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UPDATED:

19:57 GMT, 26 March 2012

Paul Lambert is keeping his players on their toes by waiting until the club are safe before discussing new deals with those out of contract in the summer.

Norwich have a chequered history of financial problems – partly due to yo-yoing in and out of the top flight.

Last year owners Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones were praised for turning the club’s finances around.

Out of contract: Whitbread (right)

Out of contract: Whitbread (right)

Two key players, experienced centre-backs Elliott Ward and Zak Whitbread, are out of contract in the summer.

But even with the club one point away from the 40-point mark considered safe Canaries boss Lambert is not taking any risks.

Midfielder David Fox, who is also out of contract at the end of the season, said: 'I think the club has been in a very bad situation in the past money-wise so [Lambert] is not a situation to be throwing out big contracts to players and then we get relegated.

‘You don’t want to see the club in the position they were before and the club as a whole are cutting their cloth accordingly and doing things sensibly since they came to the Premier League.

‘It is very easy to get promoted and throw loads of money at the lads and then get relegated and the club are in trouble then.

‘I am sure when we are safe people will find out.’