Leicester Tigers will head into Saturday's Aviva Premiership showdown with Harlequins at the Stoop without back-row forward Tom Croft.

The England and British & Irish Lions forward featured in 74 minutes of Tigers' 28-12 win against London Welsh at Welford Road at the weekend.

However, that was only his second Premiership appearance since coming back from the serious neck injury he suffered against Quins last April.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill made it clear after the victory against Welsh that medical advice was still a crucial factor when it came to the 27-year-old's selection.

"Tom won't play this weekend," said Cockerill. "That is the right thing to do.

"I would love Tom to play against Quins but he is not there medically at the moment."

However, it does not look like Croft will be absent for an extended period of time, which is good news for Leicester fans as Tigers are in the midst of a critical run of games.

"He will play against Saracens the following week, though, and we will see where he is at that point," said Cockerill.

Croft put in an outstanding shift in a physically demanding battle against the Exiles.

All areas of his game looked in good order and, in the strength-sapping conditions, he even found the pace and stamina to put in a vital covering tackle just after the hour-mark when an interception by the visitors' winger Phil Mackenzie threatened to shift the balance of a game that Tigers were largely controlling.

The cautious approach is one that is backed by Croft himself, and he said after the Welsh game: "We had a protocol when I came back against Worcester.

"It is easy to get over-excited now and ignore that, but we will be sensible."

That sensible approach involves a lot more of what he describes as "pre-hab", with more work concentrated on his neck and shoulders before and in between games.

"We are getting there and I am feeling good," said Croft.

"The neck is brilliant and the rest of the body is becoming battle-hardened.

"It is just nice to have finished the game and to have come out of it unscathed. It is nice to have played."

But just how far away is he from full fitness?

"It is tough to say," he said. "It could be another full 80, or a couple of full 80s under the belt to get where we want to be.

"The real bonus comes at the end of the season and the run-in, when I will be fresh."

With that return to full fitness getting closer, questions begin to loom about England and this summer's Lions tour.

Croft figured in all three Lions Tests against South Africa in 2009, but he is not getting ahead of himself.

"I'm just glad to be back playing for Leicester Tigers," he said. "I just want to carry on playing at the moment."

City made four changes to the side that lost at the weekend for this FA Cup fourth round replay against Huddersfield.

The back-five remained the same, but only Anthony Knockaert remained in the midfield from the 2-1 defeat at Peterborough United on Saturday.

Richie Wellens, Matty James and Paul Gallagher were all handed midfield starts, while Marko Futacs replaced Jamie Vardy in City's attack.

4 min: Captain Wes Morgan concedes a free-kick 25 yards out for a none-too-subtle push on Alan Lee.

5 min: GOAL (0-1) Adam Clayton curls the free-kick around the wall and beats Kasper Schmeichel at the far post. It is the worst possible start for City. Schmeichel should not have been beaten at that post having set up the wall to cover the opposite one. He looked to be wrong-footed by the kick.

6 min: Gallagher, making only his second start of the season for City, shoots from 20 yards out, the ball takes a wicked deflection and dips just over the bar. Almost an immediate equaliser. Goalkeeper Ian Bennett was rooted to the spot.

7 min: GOAL (1-1) Knockaert fires in the corner and it takes a deflection, falling nicely for Michael Keane, who fires home from close range. It is the young defender's first goal in senior football.

19 min: Gallagher fires a half-volley over the bar from the edge of the penalty box. It was a decent effort.

27 min: The game has become really scrappy with neither side able to retain possession. City's attacks keep breaking down in the final third.

28 min: Gallagher is looking confident and shoots again from 20 yards out. Bennett dives to his left, but the ball whistles past his near post.

33 min: Keane steps out of defence and splits the Terriers' rearguard with a superb pass, but Nugent is offside. It is the second time the Manchester United youngster has produced a quality pass.

42 min: Scott Arfield shoots from long range and is only just over the bar. It is the first time Huddersfield have threatened for some time.

45 min: Paul Dixon forces a good save from Schmeichel with a low drive from 20 yards out.

45+1 min: Neither side deserves to be in front after a first half of poor quality. City need to up their game, but too many players are having poor games.

H-T: City 1 Huddersfield 1

52 min: A moment that sums up the whole game. Wellens gifts the ball to Arfield on the edge of the City box, but the Terriers midfielder treads on the ball. The second half has started in similar fashion to the first.

53 min: Wellens chests the ball down on the edge of the Huddersfield area and fires in a volley, which is harmlessly wide.

57 min: Wellens trips Jordan Sinnott 20 yards out from City's goal, in a similar position to their goal. This time his free-kick is deflected wide.

60 min: Knockaert whips in a cross which is just inches too high for Nugent.

63 min: Bennett has to make a save to deny Knockaert from long-range, but there's no real chances being created by City.

64 min: Here's one though. Morgan helps Knockaert's cross back into the six-yard box and Futacs glances his header wide.

67 min: Paul Konchesky's cross is not dealt with by the Terriers defence and Nugent gets a header in, but it is straight at Bennett.

68 min: A good save from Schmeichel to deny Arfield after Sean Scannell teed him up inside the City box.

69 min: Knockaert heads off the line to deny Anthony Gerrard.

70 min: Knockaert tees up Futacs with the goal at his mercy but he completely mis-kicks. A woeful miss.

75 MIN: GOAL (1-2) From a City attack, Scannell breaks and beats both James and Paul Konchesky to put the visitors ahead.

81 min: BOOKING Gallagher for foul on Clayton.

89 min: BOOKING Frustration gets to Knockaert and he is booked for a moment of petulance.

90+1 MIN: Vardy has a good chance, which he plants wide.

F-T: City1 Huddersfield 2

Leicester City crashed out the FA Cup after producing one of their worst performances of the season last night.

City were a pale imitation of their usual selves in losing the fourth round replay against Huddersfield 2-1.

Far too many of manager Nigel Pearson's men were way below par – and they paid the price with a cup exit.

There was a double blow as, in a Championship match, Hull beat Derby to move into the second automatic promotion place occupied by City at the start of play.

The crowd at the King Power Stadium were treated to a whirlwind start, with Adam Clayton putting the visitors in front after just five minutes only for City to hit back through Michael Keane two minutes later.

However, City failed to build on their leveller and Huddersfield eventually punished them, with Sean Scannell taking advantage of some woeful defending to fire the Terriers into the fifth round with 15 minutes remaining.

While both camps spoke of how important the FA Cup remained for them, both City and the Terriers have bigger much fish to fry in the league.

While City are chasing automatic promotion, Huddersfield have been dragged into a relegation battle.

Therefore, it was no surprise that both sides made changes; City made four, while Terriers caretaker boss Mark Lillis made six and fielded a largely inexperienced side.

The first half was a scrappy affair, littered with poor passes and dreadful touches, though Keane stood out with some rare flashes of quality.

City's central midfield duo of Matty James and Richie Wellens were having steady games, but City's attacking play broke down time and again in the final third.

Marko Futacs hardly strengthened his case for more starts, while David Nugent was having a poor game by his standards.

Even the dependable defensive pair of Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel were making mistakes, as Morgan committed a needless foul after just four minutes and then saw Schmeichel beaten from long range by Clayton's free kick at the post he was covering.

But Keane restored parity with his first-ever senior goal, when the 20-year-old shot home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

After that, the game was devoid of any real quality from either side.

City just could not be woken from their malaise and both Nugent and Futacs missed excellent second-half chances.

Huddersfield were no better, but they snatched the victory when Scannell was allowed to waltz past both Matty James and Paul Konchesky to score through Schmeichel's legs.

It was a dreadful goal to concede, which summed up the whole evening.

The concern will be that, not for the first time this season, some of Pearson's fringe players were given a chance to stake a claim but could not take it. The question will be if City hit a patch of injuries, would the squad be strong enough to maintain a promotion push?

The University of Leicester has not ruled out the possibility that the remains of Richard III will be put on public display.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the skeleton, which was uncovered in August, is in the care of the university.

It is expected to be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral next spring.

However, before the official re-burial, the remains are being kept at the university, which said it had not made a decision on whether or not to allow the public to see them.

Richard Taylor, deputy registrar and director of corporate affairs, said: "We need to balance legitimate public interest with a requirement to protect dignity."

A spokeswoman for Leicester Cathedral said it was up to the university, but the church would not take part in any public showings.

She said: "Scientists may have a reason for seeing them, but that is different from public display in the cathedral."

Leicester City Council's Richard III museum, which will be built at the former Leicester Grammar School, near the Greyfriars site, would be an obvious place for the remains, mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said.

However, he said he understood the need for a respectful reinterment.

Following the press conference announcing the remains were of Richard III, members of the media were allowed to view the skeleton in small groups, in silence, under the gaze of a member of the clergy.

Sir Peter said: "I think the arrangements made for the press to see the remains were a model of how to do it effectively, but with dignity.

"If they are going to be displayed then the university would want to take a similar approach.

"The public interest in this project has been phenomenal, but I don't think politicians have a place in this sort of decision."

Sir Peter said the centrepiece of the museum display would be a replica skeleton, created using CT scans and three-dimensional printing techniques at Loughborough University.

Professor Russell Harris, from the university, said: "There are a lot of different and exciting opportunities we could pursue regarding the remains.

"We've recreated the skull and the next obvious thing is a replica skeleton.

"We have the tools at the university so once a final decision about the project has been made, it should be pretty straightforward."

Prof Harris said he would discuss the matter today with Dr Jo Appleby, from the University of Leicester.

The recreated skeleton would join the University of Dundee's facial reconstruction model, which is expected to be on permanent loan when the permanent museum opens next year.

Residents are angry two wind turbines have been put up near their homes without warning.

The turbines, which are about 45m (150ft) high, have gone up on farmland off Anstey Lane, Groby, after being granted planning permission by officials at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

However, their size and prominent position mean they are clearly visible from nearby Anstey – and residents there say they knew nothing about them until workmen arrived at the beginning of the month.

Some blame the fact Anstey lies within Charnwood Borough Council, while the turbines are just across the Hinckley council border.

Others said it was because the application was approved by council officers using delegated powers rather than being publicly debated by the council's planning committee.

Paul Coxon has enjoyed views of the countryside from his home in Bradgate Road, Anstey, for 15 years but said he woke one morning to see the turbines being erected.

He said: "It was such a surprise. I did not know anything about it until they were there. It has totally spoiled the view."

He said he lives about 700 or 800 yards from the turbines. When he called the council in Hinckley to ask why he had not been consulted, he said he was told it was because he lives more than 1,000 yards away.

Anstey Parish Council clerk Liz Hawkes said: "I have had a lot of people phoning up asking, 'Why didn't I know anything about this?'

"I am surprised Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council officers passed this without it being discussed by councillors because I think they could have guessed it would be controversial. They are high up on the hillside and very dominant on the landscape."

Anstey's county councillor, David Snartt, said: "I'm very concerned because they affect people in my division and I would have thought Hinckley and Bosworth would know that and make more of an effort to consult, even though it is on the other side of their boundary.

"I am worried there is now a precedent set which could see more turbines being built.

"If had been a discussion we might have at least got a condition that the things were grey, rather than white."

Shepshed farmers PS Taylor and Son got permission to proceed with the turbines, which generate power for the national grid, last October.

Councillor Peter Batty, who represents Groby on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said that he had complained to senior officers that the application had not been discussed by the planning committee.

He said: "The turbines are not the biggest but they are on an elevated position and I think if it had gone to committee we would have had a strong case to refuse them. I, as ward member, asked for it to go to committee but a planning officer put it through so we were denied that opportunity.

I have been getting grief from residents who feel I haven't done my bit on their behalf."

Nobody from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council was available for comment on the matter yesterday, but a spokesman said the concerns raised were under consideration.

This is the image of the tomb which the Richard III Society hopes will be the final resting place of the king at Leicester Cathedral.

Computer generated designs of the 7ft magnesian limestone casket have been released today by the society, following confirmation last week that the skeleton found in Greyfriars was that of the monarch.

University of Leicester archaeologists discovered the remains last August and chose Leicester Cathedral as the place of re-interment.

Now, the Richard III Society is in discussion with the cathedral over using its design to house the 528-year-old skeleton.

Richard Smith, chairman of the East Midlands branch of the society, said: "It's a fitting tribute to Richard and includes many of his emblems and symbols."

Readers can have their say on whether the tomb is fit for a king by taking part in a poll on the Mercury's website.

Engravings around the sides of the society's vision for the tomb will incorporate Richard's personal and family emblems – including the white rose of the House of York and the white boar.

The stonework would also include the Cross of St Cuthbert, to highlight Richard's devotion to the Christian faith.

Masons would craft the casket from the same stone from which York Minster was built.

A society spokesman said: "The magnesian limestone represents Richard's journey from darkness to light and also his important connections with Yorkshire and the city of York."

The re-interment of the last Plantagenet king is expected to take place in spring next year.

The society has already raised £19,500 of the £30,000 needed for the tomb, if it is given the go-ahead.

The Richard III Society has already donated a number of tributes to Leicester, including a statue of Richard III, which stands in Castle Gardens, and a memorial stone at the cathedral.

However, before the latest project is undertaken, the society must get approval from a number of organisations, including the Cathedrals Fabrics Commission for England and Fabrics Advisory Committee.

The cathedral yesterday announced it was starting preparations for the reburial.

On March 12, architects will be given their brief about how the interior of the cathedral should be re-ordered to accommodate a tomb.

A spokeswoman said: "King Richard III will be interred inside the cathedral in a place of honour. There is already a lot of interest expressed about the location and about the nature and character of the lasting memorial.

"There is an agreed process to make this decision and it will ensure all views are heard and considered.

"We will take note of any proposals made by others, including those of the Richard III Society. The decision process will come to its own conclusions and, until then, no agreement has been made about any proposed tomb."

Richard Taylor, deputy registrar at the University of Leicester, said: "As licence holder we fully support the process set out by Leicester Cathedral for determining an appropriate resting place for King Richard III.

"The designs put forward by the Richard III Society are one interesting contribution to that process."

The RSPCA is investigating after three dead rabbits were found dumped by the side of a road in New Parks, Leicester.

The rabbits were left inside a wire crate which was found by a member of the public on January 31 in New Parks Boulevard.

The rabbits had been dead for a substantial amount of time and were decomposed.

Due to the degree of decomposition a vet was unable to determine the cause of death.

The RSPCA is appealing for anyone who may have seen someone acting suspiciously in the area to get in touch.

A spokesman said: "The location where the rabbits were dumped is a busy area, so it is not thought they had been left at the location long."

Anyone with information is urged to call on the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and ask for a message to be passed to animal welfare officer Richard Durant.

A council's long-running efforts to reclaim more than £4,000 from its former leader has been described as a "running sore".

Officials at Leicestershire County Council said former Tory leader David Parsons has failed to pay money back after claiming the cost of chauffeured transport to and from airports for European travel.

Councillor Parsons disputes the total amount.

The council's corporate governance committee met on Wednesday to discuss the issue. It invoiced Coun Parsons for the sum in October.

County Hall said he claimed expenses for 39 trips to Europe while, as leader, he was sitting on the EU's Committee of the Regions.

Officers said he should have repaid the money to the council. On Wednesday, council solicitor David Morgan said authority lawyers were in negotiations with Coun Parsons's legal representatives.

Members said they thought it was important to bring the matter to a conclusion, for the good of the council's reputation.

Committee chairman David Snartt said: "It's a running sore, in my view."

Coun Parsons stepped down as county council leader in the summer after being found to have broken codes of conduct over his European travel expense.

He went on to quit the council's Conservative Group and announce he would not seek re-election in May. He was not available for comment.

A dozen members of the CKI School of Martial Arts claimed a total of 13 medals at the WKC English Karate and Kickboxing Championships in Manchester.

The squad landed eight gold medals, and nine of them qualified to represent England at the World Championships in Italy later this year.

Yusuf Saleh led the charge as he won his fighting category and then added gold medals in both the traditional and freestyle weapons categories, where he demonstrated his skill with the 'nanchaku' – the weapon closely associated with the late martial arts star Bruce Lee.

Ahmad Saleh was not about to let his father dominate the spotlight.

The nine-year-old's high kicks saw him strike gold in the under-50k section, while he was also a bronze medallist in the over-50k section.

CKI, which operates out of the City Council-backed multi-cultural centre on Evington Valley Road, has a flourishing women's section and the work put in by coaches Faatima Saleh and Khadeeja Saleh continues to pay off with some exceptional individual performances.

Angeliki Dwyer, 19, won gold in the over-70k category despite conceding weight to her rivals.

She also reached the final of the under-70k class, where her scheduled opponent was club-mate Mollie Walden.

However, having already qualified for the World Championships, Walden declined the opportunity to take on her older, more experienced club-mate and settled for silver.

T'Kai Coore struck gold at her first attempt. Again, high kicks proved too much for the opposition as the 12-year-old won the kids' under-45k title.

Hamza Dawre completed the golden haul in the junior boys' 55k section, while team-mates Imran Sidat and Subayr Shire also took podium places in their events to make it an outstanding competition for CKI, chief coach Ismail Saleh and the support team of Sabiha Sidat, Karen Walden, Deen Armstrong and Imtiaz Ali.

Anyone wishing to enquire about sponsorship opportunities with the club should contact Ismail Saleh on 07808 277893.

Leicester Karate Association is hosting the Sakagami Challenge Championships in honour of Wadokai England Karate president Sensei Sakagami.

More than 500 karatekas from across the UK are expected to take part in both fighting (kumite) and pattern (kata) disciplines.

The tournament is being held at Parklands Leisure Centre, Oadby, on Sunday, from 9.30.

The event is also a chance for the LKA to promote the bid for karate to be included in the 2020 Olympics. For more information, visit:

www.thekisontheway.com

Wigston's Joe O'Connor heads to the European Championships this weekend aiming to bow out of the junior ranks on a high.

European junior eight-ball champion in 2010 and 2012, the 17-year-old can make it an unprecedented hat-trick of titles when the tournament gets under way in Blackpool on Sunday.

No other player has won the trophy three times and, for O'Connor, this represents his last chance to claim that historic feat before his age makes him ineligible.

The Leicester Mercury Young Sportsman of the Year runner-up turns 18 in November and, as of December 31, will make the step up to under-21 level.

O'Connor is the reigning world junior champion and double world junior Masters champion, and will go into the Euros as the strong favourite for his third title.

Not even Stoke's current world No.1 Gareth Potts, who has gone on to win three world titles at senior level, could manage more than two junior crowns.

O'Connor said: "I'm confident, but I don't want to put myself under any extra pressure by thinking I'm the favourite, I just want to go there and try to win.

"It would be an honour to become the only person ever to win it three times, but I will try to not let that affect me.

"It's my last European event as a junior and one of the main things spurring me on will be to go out on a high."

O'Connor, who plays Scotland's James Murray in the first round at the Imperial Hotel, is joined in the singles draw by Leicestershire team-mate Louis Heathcote, who was a semi-finalist in the Euros last year.

The duo also go for glory in the team event with England juniors.

They won the trophy in Dublin last year and O'Connor and Heathcote will be key to England's hopes of retaining the title.

They are not the only Leicestershire players in action at the European Championships.

Gavin Lomax, John Bowkett and Kane Wilson-Skinner are in the men's singles draw, while Theresa Sheridan will be aiming to make an impact in the women's event.

Sheridan also plays in the wheelchair singles, while Lomax is also in the team event with England.

Wilson-Skinner has a busy schedule as he also takes part in the under-21 singles competition and, with England, the team event.

Rounding up the travelling contingent is Steve Robertshaw, the England under-21 team manager, who is hoping to lead his troops to a third successive title.

Leicester Tigers star Geoff Parling came within a whisker of beating Hollywood heart throb George Clooney in an international sexy beard competition.

It was close shave but the organisers of the contest – called My Hairy Valentine – decided the England player and the American actor should share the title.

The pair beat Mr Parling's Tigers teammate Italian Martin Castrogiovanni into third place.

The Leicester duo and Mr Clooney collected more votes than a host of international stars including footballer David Beckham and actors Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck and Brian Blessed.

Mr Parling, who is an ambassador for Tigers kit sponsors Canterbury, said he was delighted with his award and joked he was having dinner with Mr Clooney to celebrate.

He said: "It's good that people have realised it's not about defined cheekbones, gelled hair and dressing 'fashionably', and that unkempt beards with grey stragglers and bits of lunch in it are a good thing!

"I would have personally gone for Brian Blessed as behind his beard is such a powerful voice, but it's nice that myself and George can share the award.

"I'm having him over for dinner later to celebrate."

The international award, organised by pro-beard campaign group the Beard Liberation Front (BLF), is voted for on social media websites and announced on Valentine's Day.

It is the first time leading hirsute rugby players have featured in the awards.

BLF organiser Keith Flett said: "Voting was so close that we had no choice but to decide My Hairy Valentine was better shared this year.

"Martin was a close third, so it seems the rugged rugby players have thrown off the old cauliflower-eared Neanderthal image and are now seen as modern and sexy.

"George Clooney's beard is well known for its attractiveness but the impact of hirsute rugby players is a new development, reflecting an increasing diversity of views on what makes a sexy beard."

Mr Flett said 2,000 votes were cast in the awards this year, making it the best supported year so far since the competition was launched in 2005.

"While we don't do a detailed analysis of the voters, it is fair to say about 75 per cent of the voters were female," said Mr Flett.

"I think Mr Parling should be flattered he is bracketed with a genuine heart throb super star, while Mr Castrogiovanni was not far behind.

"They both got more votes than Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, so maybe it shows that the look of a rough, tough man in a beard is getting more popular."

Previous winners of My Hairy Valentine have included cricketer Freddie Flintoff, singer Tom Jones and TV presenter Jonathan Ross.

Mr Flett said: "We, as an organisation, say that whether a beard is sexy or not is in the eye of the beholder."

A Tigers spokesman said: "After landing rugby venue of the year and Marketing Initiative of the Year, this is one of the more unusual awards to make its way to Welford Road in recent months.

"We're sure Geoff's teammates will have fun at his expense when he returns to the club after the Six Nations – in fact, it could get quite hairy!"

A man has been jailed for "Neanderthal behaviour" after racially abusing a student on his doorstep.

The victim, a 39-year-old university student, was also sworn at and called an illegal immigrant and told he could be killed for being black.

Jacob Joseph Coughlan and another man threw insults at the shocked victim after he politely asked them to move their van, which was blocking his driveway.

Sentencing Coughlan at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "This was Neanderthal behaviour, speaking to people like that because of the colour of their skin.

"You assuming some position of authority or superiority because you're white and he's not, it defies belief.

"It won't be tolerated in a civilised society."

The victim said the verbal tirade left him feeling, "hollow, upset, afraid and intimidated".

In a statement, he said: "How can two people harbour so much hatred towards me just because of the colour of my skin?"

The incident happened in Ashthorpe Road, Braunstone, Leicester, at 8.15pm on May 30.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said the victim returned home by car to find two strangers – the defendant and an unknown accomplice – had parked a van across his driveway.

He asked them to move. Mr Murphy said: "The response from one of them was 'Go and park in your own country'.

Coughlan (21) told the man: "This is Braunstone. We own this town and street.

"Go back to Zimbabwe, Somalia, Jamaica or wherever you come from'."

Mr Murphy said the van was eventually moved. He said as the victim was going to his front door, Coughlan's associate clenched his fist in an aggressive manner and said: "Can I blow his head off?" He then said: "I kill people like you."

"The complainant replied, 'People like me?' The defendant said, 'Black people'."

Coughlan, of Canon Street, Belgrave, Leicester, admitted racially aggravated harassment and putting someone in fear of violence.

He also admitted burgling a house in Glenfield Road, Leicester, on July 20, when he was caught making off with a £300 watch.

He asked for 10 other house burglaries to be considered and admitted the offences put him in breach of a six-week suspended jail sentence.

Coughlan told police he was not a racist, despite having a 2009 previous conviction for a racially aggravated threatening behaviour and possessing a knife having threatened to "cut up" a black man in a street.

Nigel Mitchell, defending, said Coughlan went off the rails by mixing with the wrong crowd.

Coughlan was jailed for 10 months for the racially aggravated offence, with nine months consecutively for the burglary and one month because of his suspended sentence.

Leicester City must become more clinical, insists Matty James.

The midfielder said that a lack of a killer instinct and bad luck cost them their FA Cup place at the hands of Huddersfield on Tuesday. But he believes City will soon bounce back to the kind of form they displayed in January, when they won five consecutive league games.

James said he didn't feel there was too much wrong with City's performances in the 2-1 defeats by the Terriers.

"At times, I thought we played some good stuff," he said.

"We discussed in the dressing room how we weren't clinical enough. When you are not clinical teams can punish you. They had one or two chances and took them. If we don't take our chances then we are to blame.

"We have been unlucky in our last two games. The performances have been decent but we haven't been clinical enough.

"I don't think there is a problem because, if we keep making the chances, then at some point we are going to take them.

"We have to just make sure that if we aren't taking the chances we are more solid at the back."

James said there was an element of good fortune about Sean Scannell's winner for Huddersfield on Tuesday.

The striker picked up the ball on the halfway line and was able to race towards the City box. He cut inside both James and Paul Konchesky before slipping the ball between goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's legs.

"He is quite quick and strong," said James, who tried to shepherd Scannell down the touchline.

"I have shown him the line to keep him on his left foot. Konch has come across and it has ricocheted back to him. He has the momentum in front of me and put it through Kasper's legs. There was an element of luck about it."