Enzo Maresca made no secret of his idea of giving other players a chance from start, but of course also having the options of bringing on a subs bench of pure quality, and that was what we got, with a very strong central defence in Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady.
Leicester looked prepared and the line-up used also had Arjan Raikhy in a starting position, as well as giving Tom Cannon, Yunus Akgun, Hamza Coudhury, Dennis Praet, Callum Doyle, Mark Albrighton and Wanya Marcal starts, they all took their chance.
Leicester were the dominate team first half, without having a great number massive chances, until the 41st minute when Marc Albrighton hit the post with a nice finish, but not fortunate enough to get the ball into the net.
First half was the test to pass. It was done with glance. Leicester looked the team being in the upper tier, so a colossal benchmark and showing the quality of the team and squad as they continued to play in the same pattern as we have seen all season, very pleasing.
Arjan Raiky came of after first half, being replaced with Ricardo Pereira, giving the team even more power as this probably was decided in forehand, to get more of the established group in action. Leicester came out second half to try to bring this game to bed, and pushed for a goal all second half, without being fully successful, especially Yunus Akgun having oppertunities to strike.
Enzo Maresca makes two more changes after 68 minutes, bringing on Abdul Fatawu and Kelechi Iheanacho for Tom Cannon and Marc Albrighton. This is a definate upgrade again as the two players coming on are players that will be very influencial towards the end.
Jacub Stolarczyk was close to give away the ball on a number of occassions but he manage to keep Bournemouth from scoring with a number of good saves and all in all a good performance from the understudy goalkeeper, also making crucial saves. The game goes to extra-time, being 0-0 at the end, something Leicester should be most unsatisfied with, putting on a show that really makes us believe in this group going forward.
Then in extra-time we do see a new fantastic benchmark from a player that at times can look brilliant, but also make us uncertain, but today with his cracker of a goal from distance, curling the ball into net, he just shows what he has in his basket, this became the crucial moment, what a fantastic goal.
Leicester kept it going and Jannik Vestergaard could have put it all to an even bigger bed, but his long run from the back ended in a shot going to a corner, but still what a performance from the big dane, he was colossal today and shows he can cope with this level of football.
Leicester kept their defense well towards the end and all credit to the players and the manager for such a brilliant performance. Showing the quality needed with a good game plan and everyone putting in a good shift. Reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup is a major achivement, let’s just push on for more.
- Positives
- Getting a good answer on the level of this team, it looks very promising
- Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard shows what type of partnership they can build
- Being competitive with a team, leaving out Winks and Dewsbury-Hall
- Great game planning as players coming on made it more solid and progressive
- Arjan Raikhy getting minutes as well as seeing a Marcal Madivadua in great progress
- Abdul Fatawu delivering, what a massive goal
- Jannik Vestergaard man of the match against a Premier League team, fantastic today
- The best performance from a Leicester team for a long long time
- A great team performance, being stronger and more effective away from home against a upper shelf opponent
- Negatives
- Not able to score more, a bit unlucky, as it could have been an even more solid result
- Five yellow cards
Player Ratings: Stolarczyk 7, Choudhury 8, Coady 8, Vestergaard 8, Raikhy 6, Doyle 6, Praet 6, Marcal 7, Cannon 6, Albrighton 6, Yunus 7 Subs: Pereira 7, Fatawu 8, Iheanacho 6, Justin, Nelson
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Jannik Vestergaard
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 49 / 51
- Shots on Target: 4 / 6
- Corners: 13 / 5
- Fouls: 15 / 16
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