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Leicester 1 Stockport 0

12/ 8/2008

COUNTY fell at the first hurdle of the Carling Cup and have also lost big front-man Matty McNeil for Saturday's Edgeley Park League clash with Leicester.

And with midfielder Paul Turnbull forced to limp off with what seemed to be a knee injury, it seemed to be an expensive night for Jim Gannon's men.

County boss Gannon tried to pull a fast one on opposition manager Nigel Pearson by playing McNeil at the back and by drafting in Paul Turnbull and Leon McSweeney to form an unusual 4-3-3 line-up for County.

Anthony Pilkington contrived to miss a glorious chance when he was put clean through by Carl Baker after just 45 seconds.

With keeper David Martin rooted to the spot, the 20-year-old lifted his shot high over a gaping goal.

McSweeney also whistled a shot over the bar but the complexion of the game changed totally on 19 minutes.

McNeil, being played at centre back for the night, dwelt on the ball 20 yards out and was robbed by big Leicester striker Steve Howard.

McNeil hauled him back and the dismissal means he is automatically suspended for what will be Leicester's first League visit to Edgeley for 83 years.

The red card made it largely a rearguard action for County and things got a whole lot tougher on 35 minutes when Howard scored.

Still County fought to get back into the game. Baker, making his first start for the club, curled a free kick which brought a fine save from Martin and he also lifted a shot on to the roof of the net early in the second half.

And they came within inches of forcing extra time after an injury to Leicester's Joe Mattock, with all their substitutes used, had made it 10 versus 10 for the last five minutes.

McSweeney went on a rampaging overlap but his dangerous cross evaded a host of bodies piling into the middle.

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