Record Breaking Phillips

Phillips came off the bench against AFC Bournemouth to score in the 81st minute with a header that just crept over the line, handing City a 1-0 win and their ninth straight victory in the league, which is a record in itself. 

At 40 years and 191 days, Phillips’ phenomenal scoring feat was marked with a typically good-humoured ‘zimmer frame’ celebration at the Goldsands Stadium, but the records may not end there. 

If he features against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 15 February, Phillips will surpass Chris Powell’s record as the Club’s oldest-ever outfield player. But for the man himself, the records pale into insignificance compared to the all-important three points that sent the Foxes 10 clear of Queens Park Rangers at the top of the league. 

“The gaffer said before the game and at half time it was perhaps going to need the whole squad and perhaps going to need someone to come off the bench and get us that goal,” revealed Phillips. 

“That proved to be the case. For me personally, I’m delighted, but collectively, the three points were huge when you look at the [other] results. 

“It was another fantastic win at a tough place. We had to deal with a lot of pressure at the end and I thought the back four were excellent, so a 1-0 win away from home is always good, but at a tough place like this it’s even better.” 

The striker echoed the sentiments of many of his team-mates when speaking to media after the final whistle at Bournemouth. He insisted that the squad are keeping their feet on the ground, although he urged to Blue Army to enjoy the current record-breaking run. 

He added: “Naturally they (the fans) are going to get carried away and why not? 

“Let them do it and enjoy it. As long as we as players don’t get carried away. We were delighted in there (the dressing room), but there’s a long way to go. 

“There’s 17 games and anything could happen. You saw what happened to Leicester last season but you’ve seen the belief [this season], the hunger and the appetite - all those clichés are there to see and we’ve got goals in the team which is very vital.”