Holloway silences the whispers

IF ever Ian Holloway required a show of support from his players this was the occasion. The Leicester City manager could not have been presented with a more emphatic demonstration that he has their complete backing at the Walkers Stadium.

The week commenced with Holloway dealing with rumours suggesting that his managerial position was less than secure and owner Milan Mandaric marking his first anniversary in charge by claiming that the worst year he has endured in football has cost him €16 million trying to clean up the mess at the Championship club.

Mandaric’s track record in lack of patience prompted all kinds of claims that Iain Dowie, Billy Davies and even Glenn Roeder were being lined up as the Championship club’s sixth manager in that 12-month period, after a run of three successive defeats had seemingly pushed Holloway closer to the revolving exit door.

However, Leicester’s biggest win for almost five years in front of their own fans should at least put an end to the rumours for a while and give him the time he requires to heal a club he discovered was “ailing, ill and sick” from the moment he walked in to replace Gary Megson 19 games ago.

The previous time Leicester scored four goals this season, against Watford, that still did not prevent Mandaric sacking former manager Martin Allen, amid suggestions of rifts within the dressing room, but DJ Campbell insists there is nothing but affection for Holloway among the players. If any doubts exist, this should dispel them once and for all.

“Ollie is a lovely guy and a great manager and all the boys love him. What has been written about him and his job situation is ridiculous. The win was for him because he has been under ridiculous pressure for a few days and it is just not on and not fair on him,” said Campbell.

“We had a chat about it earlier in the week and we thought we owed him that kind of performance and result and we are glad that we did it for him. The boys love him and he is always there to help us and support us. That is the way he works and we are delighted for him.”

Campbell struck as Leicester profited from the 59th-minute sending off of Darrel Russell for a two-footed tackle (resulting in Richard Stearman leaving the game on a stretcher) to increase the advantage given to them by Iain Hume’s eighth goal of the season and Steve Howard’s early second-half strike.

Holloway has been around the block enough to know all about Mandaric’s reputation and actually has a degree of sympathy with his owner, but was still pleased with the response of his players after a chat regarding the rumours.

Stephen Clemence rounded off a miserable day for Roeder and his side as Norwich’s fading play-off hopes suffered another blow.

“I can’t have a go at my players after the way they have performed for me since I got to the club. It was good they all had a bad day at the same time. What happens after defeats like this is you either cry like babies or react like men and I will be expecting the latter,” said Roeder.

LEICESTER 4-4-2: Alnwick 7, Stearman 6 (J Chambers 62, 5), Kisnorbo 6, McAuley 7, Mattock 6 (Laczko 24, 7), Clapham 7, Oakley 8, Clemence 8, Hume 9, Campbell 7 (Fryatt 85, 5), Howard 7.

Subs Not Used: Hayles, N’Gotty.

NORWICH: Marshall 5, Otsemobor 5, Shackell 4, Doherty 5, Camara 5 (Cureton 72, 5), Croft 5, Fotheringham 5, Russell 6, Henry 4 (Pattison 62, 5), Dublin 5, Evans 5.

Subs Not Used: Gilks, Pearce, Gibbs.

REFEREE: Clive Oliver (Northumberland) 7: Had no alternative to dismiss Darrel Russell, but it did not have a significant bearing on a game that was already beyond Norwich at that stage.

MATCH RATING: **** Finally Leicester put in the kind of performance required from a squad that should not be flirting with Championship relegation. Having set the standard, they have to maintain it for the last 13 games.