This must be seen as one of the most tricky away games of the season, playing Middlesbrough at Riverside is a difficult task. Surprised to see Enzo Maresca dropping Abdul Fatawu as it was given a return start for Kasey McAteer, and also Kelechi Iheanacho back in the starting line-up.
Hamza Choudhury back in the team, strangely moving Ricardo Pereira out of position and Hamza into his right back position, so it looked a bit of an experiment, also leaving Cesare Casadei on the bench.
Leicester had, as expected, problems to break down Middlesbrough, but still had attempts to score with chances in 1st half to Jannik Vestergaard and Kelechi Iheanacho, but blocked by Middlesbrough. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made the most of a chance later on, as he headed down to Kelechi Iheanacho, but the Nigerian internatioanal was too far from the ball to get any touch on it.
Leicester came out 2nd half with a positive attitude and put pressure on Middlesbrough, but had difficulties with the last pass in front of goal, especially Stephy Mavididi struggles in that area of his play, not really having a link build up with the players and movement inside the box, Middlesbrough defenders having little or no problem to get it cleared.
Leicester pushed on and made new attempts to find the net and came ever so close when Kelechi Iheanacho were played through by Ricardo Pereira, but his attempt hit the post, and on the bouncer, Hamza Choudhury made a miserable tackle, giving Middlesbrough a free kick just outside the penalty box. Sam Greenwood (21), on loan at Middlesbrough from Leeds, stepped forward to take the free kick, and his perfect placement gave Mads Hermanson no chance as the ball found the net with a perfect curve.
Leicester then gave Jamie Vardy a few minutes towards the end, coming on for Hamza Choudhury. It was a bit late to find some sort of momentum, just throwing in legs with little or no plan in place for those changes. Abdul Fatawu also made the field and had positive impact, but still no goals scored and three new points lost as Middlesbrough showed their effectiveness in a game, Leicester had most possession and deserved at least one point.
Leicester are still top of the table on even points with Ipswich. This was a dip again as the team suffers with injury problems and key players having difficulties in getting things 100% correctly, hopefully the international break will give the management a chance to solve their challenges.
- Positives
- Having all the play and opportunities to win the game
- James Justin being in good progress, hopefully he will stay consistant
- Keeping Middlesbrough quiet and showing the qualities needed to get points going forward
- Pereira also having the penetration passes that could have won Leicester the game
- Hermansen showing the quality needed from a goalkeeper to get out of this division
- Negatives
- KDH not in the game as he should, as he needs to be on the upper shelf to get Leicester a win
- Mavididi and Fatawu as well as McAteer, not having their end product complete
- Hamza Choudhury doing a silly and stupid tackle that cost Leicester at least a point
- New yellow cards to Vestergaard, Winks and Choudhury, Winks missing the next match at home to Watford
- Not able to convert and too many lost chances
Player Ratings: Hermansen 7, Justin 6, Faes 6, Vestergaard 6, Pereira 6, Choudhury 5, Winks 6, Dewsbury-Hall 5, McAteer 5, Iheanacho 5, Mavididi 6, Subs: Fatawu, Vardy
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Mads Hermansen
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 67 / 33
- Shots on Target: 6 / 4
- Corners: 3 / 4
- Fouls: 18 / 15
Leave a Reply