Poor excuses after no score bore

A feature in Leicester City's matchday programme showing Matt Jones relaxing in his 'dream house', complete with snooker room and heated outdoor swimming pool, exemplifying the luxury lifestyle enjoyed by current Premiership footballers.

Yet, one suspects, it would not have gone down too well on an afternoon when largely working class punters witnessed, with growing and groaning frustration, the puny efforts of highly paid young men from Leicester and Everton.

They had plenty of time to read in between any meaningful action as these two under-achieving sides struggled, in a match of mind-numbing mediocrity, to a 0-0 draw at Filbert Street.

Not that you could blame Jones. The 21-year-old Wales international midfielder, a £3million recruit from Leeds by former Leicester manager Peter Taylor, was not even required to break sweat from his place on the substitutes' bench.

Rival managers Dave Bassett and Walter Smith, struggling to conceal their embarrassment at the paucity of entertainment, were left to grasp at statistical straws such as the number of corners and failed goal attempts.

It was awful. But at least Bassett supplied some light relief when the subject of the Jones home was raised.

He said: 'I don't know too many managers who have a swimming pool at their house. Certainly not me. I'd probably throw myself in it.'