Leicester City have made a habit of defying the odds in their recent history.
- Advertisement -
For once, their match against Manchester City on Saturday went just as expected, with the fox sinking to a 2-0 defeat.
In fact, it could and perhaps should have been the visitors’ profit margin as well. Only in the first half Kevin de Bruyne hit the crossbar with an evil free kick and Riyad Mahrez was denied a goal against his former club by Kasper Schmeichel’s right boot.
In addition to having the better chances, City also enjoyed periods of comic dominance, which did not give Leicester a single touch during a particularly jarring five-minute spell. The biggest problem for the home, however, was their lack of efficiency.
In their 5-2 victory in the return match in September, they barely wasted a touch, enjoyed only 28% possession and registered seven goal attempts. This ruthlessness was very much lacking on Sunday with regular pace setter Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans visibly drained after an intense international break.
Ayoze Perez – who acted as the link between midfield and attacking Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy – did the best he could with his meager time on the ball, but with the Spaniard starving for service, it proved difficult to feed the front two on the counter.
In form, Iheanacho could not enter the game | Pool / Getty Images
Of course, there were some mitigating circumstances that help explain Leicester’s scratched screen. The lack of preparation time due to international break would be bad news for all sides, but it was especially damaging on Saturday because City is such a tactically demanding team to play against.
The late withdrawal of star hill Caglar Soyuncu, who continues to isolate himself in Turkey after a positive coronavirus test, was also an annoyance. While his replacement Daniel Amartey was solid enough on the defensive, Soyuncus lost claims and contributions in possession.
Although the result was disappointing, its impact on Leicester’s season could be limited to a footnote if the Foxes can bounce back in the two potentially seasonal games to come.
Picked up where we left off! pic.twitter.com/aysFaBFDr2
– Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) April 3, 2021
The first of these is against West Ham, another team that has defied expectations this season. Depending on how Hammer’s trip to Wolves goes on Monday, the pair can enter the game separated by as little as four points and one spot.
The last time they met, David Moyes ” side ‘made a Leicester’ on his opponents and registered 30% possession but still came in deservedly 3-0 winner. It was Rodger’s side’s worst result and performance of the season and they must avoid a repeat of it on Saturday with the race for the European seats warming up to Scottish motorhome levels.
James Maddison’s return – who enjoyed a short and rusty come on Saturday – to the starting line-up could be crucial in turning the tide in Leicester’s favor. West Ham’s stubborn defensive form is notoriously difficult to penetrate and Maddison’s ability to break the line with both his passing and dribbling will be an invaluable asset.
Maddison’s return from injury is a real boost for Leicester | Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
After meeting the Hammers, Leicester put their satnav for Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. Perhaps the only thing missing from Rodger’s football revolution has been a silver cutlery. The club’s first ever FA Cup triumph would represent exactly that and since they have already beaten the Saints once this campaign, confidence will be high.
Winning each of the next two matches would represent a statement of intent from Leicester. It would be a positive step to challenge the story of “bottling bottles” and set them up perfectly for what is a really crazy climax to the season.
