Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview

ROY Hodgson will be rooting for Martin O'Neill to inspire his Leicester City side to another famous Filbert Street victory - but not just yet.

The Blackburn Rovers boss wants to put a dent in Leicester's impressive home record tonight, before joining the national bandwagon to cheer them on against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Cup next Tuesday.

In some ways, it would have seemed inconceivable when O'Neill took charge at Filbert Street that, inside less than two years, they would have a promotion, a major trophy and consolidation in the Premiership to celebrate.

Under the Irishman's astute guidance, however, it's been even better.

For Leicester face third-placed Rovers tonight knowing that victory would see them leap over the Ewood side in the race to become established in the top group.

And you can add to that thoughts of European glory as they look forward to attempting to turn over a 2-1 deficit against Juninho and Co next week.

These are heady days indeed for City and largely due to the inspirational leadership of O'Neill who has double cause to celebrate the good times. Not long after he had taken over in December 1995, he found himself about as welcome as a fox in a hen house.

Promotion prospects were threatening to disappear and the unrest was not simply confined to the stands.

Deep within Filbert Street's corridors of power, the name of Mike Walker had been a popular choice to take the hot seat vacated by Mark McGhee.

But O'Neill, who turned down a possible career in law for football, was strong enough to take the flak.

A great enthusiast, the manner in which he withstood the abuse and then steered Leicester to a trophy, along with respectability in the Premiership, has earned him widespread admiration.

Coming from abroad, Hodgson might not have been aware of O'Neill's growing fan club in this country but he will respect his team, without going overboard..

"They have done very well, they are a good side, they proved that last year," said the Ewood boss.

"But I have seen enough of Blackburn Rovers both home and away to suggest that if we play as well as we can play we can get a good result there.

"I suppose I'm an admirer of Martin O'Neill in a sense that I don't know the man but he has obviously done a very good job.

"Like anyone else, I can recognise that. "But really I think I've got too old for the admiration business. If I had to admire anyone it would be Alex Ferguson because I think it's much harder to take a team to the top of the league and keep them there."

O'Neill's team reflect their manager, they are tremendously hard-working, enthusiastic and thoroughly prepared - as their strength at set pieces illustrates.

He is also known to be something of a disciplinarian.

In fact, the impression I get is that O'Neill and Hodgson - and their teams - have much in common.

No doubt the City boss also learned much from his time with Brian Clough.

The two were reputed to have had one or two ding-dong battles but that was probably good preparation for management.

Hodgson, who takes a global rather than parochial view of the game, is anxious for England to do well in the World Cup and for our clubs to thrive in Europe, recognising the knock-on effects.

So he has every reason for hoping City succeed against Atletico.

"If they beat Atletico Madrid with all their stars it would a very good scalp for Leicester and for English football and we can all be very proud of it.

"I, like every other English football manager on that night, will be rooting very, very strongly for Leicester City.

"But I'm pretty sure that O'Neill won't be nonchalant about the task ahead.

"I think that the media have probably given them more chance than he himself does."

And, in the meantime, Hodgson hopes to disturb his Filbert Street counterpart's Euro preparations - by giving him something else to think about tonight.

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