Top Premier League Goalscorers: Ian Marshall

LCFC TV
04 Apr 2020
5 Minutes
Next up on LCFC TV's countdown of Leicester City's all-time top-10 Premier League goalscorers is Ian Marshall, who netted 18 times for the Foxes in the top flight.

Signed by Martin O'Neill from Ipswich Town in 1996, as the Foxes returned to the Premier League, Marshall joined Steve Claridge, Emile Heskey and Mark Robins in the Northern Irishman's attacking options.

City were favourites to be relegated back to the First Division, now the Championship, but Leicester proceeded to take English football by storm, finishing in the top 10 and lifting the League Cup.

Marshall's eight goals in 1996/97 were added to by another 10 strikes across the following three seasons - earning the Liverpool-born forward a place in the Blue Army's hearts forever.

After taking a look back to 10 memorable efforts from Shinji Okazaki, Paul Dickov and Leonardo Ulloa, here's some of 'Marshy's' best moments in Leicester's colours...

Marshall got off the mark for the Foxes in the capital.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Leicester City 2
White Hart Lane
Sunday 22 September, 1996

Marshall's fourth outing for Leicester was a trip to north London to face Spurs. Despite Steve Claridge giving the Foxes a surprise early lead, Clive Wilson's 64th-minute penalty pulled it back to 1-1 at White Hart Lane. With four minutes to go, though, Garry Parker's corner was powerfully headed past future Fox Ian Walker by Marshall himself to seal all three points for the visitors.

A stunning hat-trick sunk the Rams at Filbert Street.

Leicester City 4 Derby County 2
Filbert Street
Saturday 22 February, 1997

Fresh from scoring decisive goals in FA Cup successes over Southend United and Norwich City, Marshall was truly at his best for an East Midlands encounter with Derby County in February 1997. His first was a brilliant half-volley, after Jamie Lawrence's cross, before he capitalised on an error from Rams goalkeeper Russell Hoult and finished off Steve Claridge's cross to complete his hat-trick.

Leicester City 2 Manchester United 2
Filbert Street
Saturday 3 May, 1997

Nobody was taking Leicester lightly at the end of the season, not even Manchester United, as Sir Alex Ferguson's men visited Filbert Street in May 1997. Martin O'Neill's men had, by that time, lifted the League Cup by beating Middlesbrough. Against the Red Devils, Steve Walsh put City in front before a brilliant touch and finish from Marshall made it 2-0. A brace from Ole Gunnar Solskjær, though, sealed a share of the spoils.

The Foxes have enjoyed 195 wins in the Premier League so far in the Club's history.

Leicester City 1 Aston Villa 0
Filbert Street
Saturday 9 August, 1997

Would City be able to continue impressing during their second Premier League campaign? Marshall made sure they got off to a flier at least, leaping highest to meet Steve Guppy's cross and head past Michael Oakes to secure a one-goal success over Aston Villa on the opening day of the new season.

A fifth goal in all competitions in 1997/98 booked a 2-1 win over the Hammers.

Leicester City 2 West Ham United 1
Filbert Street
Monday 27 October, 1997

After Emile Heskey's opener was curtailed by Eyal Berkovic for West Ham, it looked as though Leicester would have to settle for a point against Harry Redknapp's Irons. In among an 82nd-minute goalmouth scramble, however, Matt Elliott had the foresight to lay it off to Marshall to slam in a late winner for the Foxes in front of the old Double Decker Stand.

A double against Newcastle came in a thrilling encounter at St. James' Park.

Newcastle United 3 Leicester City 3
St. James' Park
Saturday 1 November, 1997

When Marshall uncharacteristically gave away a penalty, converted by John Barnes, few will have been surprised to see him make amends just eight minutes later with a header to restore parity on the scoresheet, before repeating the feat to put City 2-1 ahead. While Jon Dahl Tomasson made it 2-2, Matt Elliott put the Foxes back in front, only for John Beresford to snatch a point for the Magpies in the final minute. 

City were four goals ahead after 15 minutes at Pride Park.

Derby County 0 Leicester City 4
Pride Park
Sunday 26 April, 1998

Leicester's first league visit to Pride Park, Derby's new home, could hardly have gone any better. A brace from Emile Heskey and another effort from Muzzy Izzet - all headed goals - put City three goals in front before Marshall nodded home a fourth to make it 4-0 after just 15 minutes. While the visitors weren't able to add to that tally, it's a game which sticks in the memory for many members of the Blue Army.

A last-gasp winner from Marshall stunned Anfield.

Liverpool 0 Leicester City 1
Anfield
Wednesday 21 April, 1999

After missing much of the 1998/99 campaign through injury, Marshall still made his mark in dramatic circumstances on Merseyside. After 90 gruelling minutes of action at Anfield, the scores were locked at 0-0 against Liverpool. The Foxes, though, dramatically sealed a fondly-remembered win in the 90th minute as Andy Impey's pass found Marshall, free in the area, to beat David James in the Reds net.

Victory over Coventry was secured on the cusp of half-time.

Leicester City 1 Coventry City 0
Filbert Street
Saturday 24 April, 1999

Marshall was the match-winner again just three days later as Coventry City headed to Filbert Street. Marshall's 45th-minute effort - missed by the TV crew on the day - extended the Foxes' unbeaten run to eight games as Martin O'Neill's men closed in on a third consecutive top-half finish in the Premier League.

Tony Cottee congratulates his strike partner in Southampton.

Southampton 2 Leicester City 1
The Dell
Saturday 1 May, 1999

In the 17th minute of City's visit to Southampton, Marshall scored his last-ever top-flight goal for the Club. It was a classic 'Marshy' effort, too, as he barged his way into the box to head it past Neil Moss in the Saints goal. Later efforts from Chris Marsden and James Beattie, though, condemned Leicester to defeat on the South Coast.

Watch Marshall's 18 Premier League goals in full