As we predicted in the preview this game was no walk in the park, and we also warned about Glenn Murray who again became a difficult opponent for Leicester. The fact that a goal was conceded after just 15 minutes shows a bit of uncertainty.
Wilfred Ndidi, Jamie Vardy and also Kelechi Iheanacho were all placed on the bench, because of uncertainty about fitness and maybe give players such as Shinji Okazaki, Vicente Iborra and Marc Albrighton a real chance to shine.
The move to use Shinji Okazaki up front alone was very strange, he is not used to play as a front man, and to see especially Kelechi rested must be as with Vardy an uncertainty about fitness.
Brighton put clear pressure on Leicester and also Kasper Schmeichel made his saves to keep Leicester in the game in the first half. The fact that James Maddison got his second yellow after just 25 minutes shows his lack of self control, and Claude Puel addressed it in his post match comments.
Puel also said he was pleased with the 2nd half performance, introducing Jamie Vardy for Demarai Gray after 56 minutes and a few minutes later Kelechi Iheanacho came in for Shinji Okazaki, and the team changed completely.
Ndidi also had to step in, he did that at the 32nd minute, coming on for Vicente Iborra who had to leave the field with an injury problem.
Leicester with Vardy, Ndidi and Iheanacho is a totally different team, and of course strengthening everything at once, but we will not blame Claude Puel this time for being cautious, but would have risked Kelechi Iheanacho from start.
The 2nd half, with 10 men was great to watch, and to pressure on the Brighton defense resultat in a penalty reward after 79 minutes. Vardy placed the ball greatly in the top right corner, and to see the 1-1 sign on the board was fantastic.
To get anything with 10 men is always a bonus and credit to all the players for their great fighting spirit in the 2nd half and showing the Leicester fans that they really can go out and win battles even with one man down.
In the end a lot of positives to be taken out of the 2nd half performance and always to get anything out of an away win is always a bonus.
- Positives:
- Great goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel
- 2nd half spirit and performance
- Jamie Vardy’s performance, hopefully more to come
- Getting a point, in a very difficult situation
- Negatives:
- Fielding Okazaki as top forward, surely a mistake
- Maddison not able to control his act and his importance
- Iborra not lasting longer than 32 minutes, getting injured
- Four red cards picked up so far, Puel needs to work on this
- Starting to attack and play when you are allready one goal down
- Not being 100% sharp from start, the team is not always settled
- Too many changes and surprises in team selection
- Player Ratings: Schmeichel 7. Pereira 7, Chilwell 7, Evans 6, Morgan 6, Mendy 6, Iborra, Okazaki 5, Maddison, Albrighton 6, Gray 5, Subs: Ndidi 6, Vardy 8, Iheanacho 7
Match Stats: H/A
- Possession: 54 / 46
- Corners: 6 / 1
- Shots on target: 2 / 2
- Shots wide: 6 / 2
- Fouls: 10 / 7
- Offsides: 5 / 1
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