An expected line-up and as we predicted giving starts to Wilfred Ndidi and Kasey McAteer as the team looked well balanced from start. Jamie Vardy took the team out as captain, but Enzo Maresca is said to have a rolling routine on the armband with a captains team being established.
No Conor Coady who will likely be the partner of Wout Faes when he gets fit, being in there today was Jannik Vestergaard, as the back four became a back three when having the ball with Pereira popping into midfield
Despite having massive possession in the first half, up to 71%, it was little or no penetration with Mavididi and McAteer becoming a bit too similar in their runs up front, and of course missing the overlaps that has no show in this system, as the ball is supposed to be passed back and into the pockets opening at other areas of the field.
Mark Robins had his team well organized and they knew their part in this game, making the most of chances coming on counter attacks and errors done by Leicester, it was probably a picture we will see during most games this season. The fact that Leicester had so much possession with little or no fantasy, it became obvious that using Wilfred Ndidi instead of Dennis Praet might give the team something else, and not really bring the top three front runners the best of support. Jamie Vardy will always be silent when an opposition is defending deep, not able to get his runs, and midfielders not really looking for him either with a penetrating pass.
Kasey McAteer had a massive chance to score, coming alone on goal, but his shot was saved by their goalkeeper Ben Wilson. First half ebbed out without any goals as Leicester absolutely must be the team to be most disappointed, and clearly frustrated, putting on pressure but not really using route one, instead from our point of view too many passes used on your own half without any purpose.
Leicester came out 2nd half to get a shocker early on as Coventry went for it and from a Gustovo Hamer corner, after just a minute play, they scored as McFadzean’s header went in from close range.
Leicester struggled even after these minutes, Jamie Vardy having a chance, but nothing really worked well. Enzo Maresca made a change after 62 minutes bringing on Dennis Praet for Wilfred Ndidi, and as we expected that gave the midfield more creative edge. Jamie Vardy left the field in the 75th minute, bringing on Kelechi Iheanacho and suddenly the movement and passing became different and more lively.
Praet became a key as he found Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inside the penalty area. KDH found the goal with a perfect header, 1-1. The game flouted a bit both ways, with Coventry having a massive chance to take the lead, but a stunning save from Mads Hermansen, pushing the ball into the crossbar and over, stopped the attempt.
Just minutes after it was time again for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to show his skill, playing a one to one with Mavididi, and just inside the panalty box, curling the ball in the net with an accurate shot, 2-1. Coventry tried their most to get antything more out of it, but sloppy finishing stopped them from scoring.
9 minutes were added, too much in our view, but Leicester held out and winning this first game under Enzo Maresca was vital and well earned.
- Positives
- Possession, 65%, shows grand quality
- Mads Hermansen having the skill and edge to make crucial and winning saves
- Mavididi with good momentum and great awereness, can change a game
- Kasey McAteer given trust, hopefully he will shine
- KDH fighting spirit and goalscoring skills
- Coming back after being 1-0 down, never gave up
- Praet giving the team more creativity when coming on
- Negatives
- To much play in your own half, little penetration and very few chances created
- Sloppy passing at times, especially in the last face
- Vestergaard and Doyle both had pace problems against Coventry forwards
- Harry Winks not able to get his passes correctly with little or no penetration
- McAteer needs to deliver, convert his chances, and understand his importance and impact
- Hermansen cannot continue to play one to one inside his own penalty box
- Enzo Maresca project needs adjustments, as football in your own half, is not a Pep plan
Player Ratings: Hermansen 7, Pereira 6, Doyle 6, Vestergaard 6, Faes 6, Winks 6, Dewsbury-Hall 8, McAteer 6, Vardy 5, Ndidi 5, Mavididi 7 Subs: Praet, Iheanacho, Choudhury
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 65 / 35
- Shots on Target: 7 / 6
- Corners: 6 / 8
- Fouls: 11 / 13
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