Leicester 1, Spartak Moscow 1, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report, Europa League fixture

Embed from Getty Images

Leicester fielded a strong team against Spartak Moscow again giving the hero in the previous game Patson Dake in the starting line-up. Maddison, Barnes, Vestergaard and Pereira were all missing the game. Ryan Bertrand and Ayoze Perez were both starters as well in a team that looked good enough to win this fixture

As we have seen in a number of games this season, possession is not always used in the teams advantage and playing too many passes without stretching the opponent and seldom use the ball in behind and too few trying to dribble and pass the opponent, had my thoughts on Leicester City’s previous assistant manager John Robertson, who at his best as a player with Nottingham Forest did the dribble and past from the flank so many times would have loved to see him out there in his prime, what a player and no one does that anymore, it’s a pity.

Leicester did have a number of chances and especially Ayoze Perez had lively start trying his best, a shot from Bobuakary Soumare hit the bar and would have been a wonderful goal had it gone in, but he really shows his presence as days are going forward and the France U.21 international shows what a gifted player he is.

Embed from Getty Images

Sadly the first half just ebbed out with nothing and Leicester was the team that should have been in the lead. Leicester didn’t look inspired and especially Youri Tielemans made many passes and had a great number of touches not really leading to anything, and also playing too many passes sideways.

Then with a lack of consentration Victor Moses turned up for Spartak and scored from a brilliant header, we did again experience a new nightmare as no one could really understand how this could happen with so much possession. Leicester had enough chances to score and when Daniel Amartey turned up inside the Spartak penalty box after a corner and hit into the backside of the net, Leicester were level.

Shop – Leicester

Brendan Rodgers made two substitutions bringing on Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman with a dissappointing Ryan Bertrand left the field together with Ayoze Perez. Perez had the assist on Amartey’s goal.

Embed from Getty Images

Leicester pushed on and when Ademola Lookman was taken down inside the penalty area, everyone believed Jamie Vardy, who came on for Dake just minutes before, would be a certain goalscorer, but not today as the penalty was saved by Spartak’s goalkeeper Selikhov.

This was just that day when goals did go missing and no one really had the eye to put into the net and sadly the game in it self was a very poor performance and of course Spartak playing in a defensive way stopped most attempts as they were also not good enough.

Kelechi Iheanacho did not score and when he did stay in the way for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s header late on, it was terrible to watch as the team looked out of ideas.and had no good structure going forward.

This looks a bit difficult at the moment and the lack of energy, will and of course a great game plan makes it difficult to get a good result on the day, and also missing some fantastic opportunites of course is sad.

Embed from Getty Images

Leicester will play Legia at home and Napoli away before this is finally settled but of course to get one point was crucial on a run that can also end in the Conference competition as the third team will attend and get a new chance there.

• Positives
  • Daniel Amartey scoring from his header, nice touch and good to see him on the scoresheet
  • Lookman coming on and showing a bit of courage and getting a penalty
  • Soumare’s shot, what a screamer
  • Managing a draw, being a goal behind
• Negatives:
  • Possession of 77% should lead to everyhing else than a draw
  • Jamie Vardy’s penalty
  • Just a draw at home, no energy
  • Too much sideways, must stop with this nonsence

Player Ratings: Schmeichel 6, Amartey 6, Bertrand 4, Evans 6, Soyuncu 5, Soumare 6, Tielemans 5, Perez 6, Iheanacho 4, Daka 5, Castagne 6, Subs: Lookman, Ndidi, Vardy, Dewsbury-Hall

Embed from Getty Images

• Leicester City, Man of the Match
  • Daniel Amartey

Match Stats (H/A):

• Possession: 77 / 23
• Corners: 9 / 2
• Shots on target: 8 / 5
• Fouls: 8 / 11