Enzo Maresca picked the same team as he started with vs. Norwich, and it looked solid and fresh from start, but still Birmingham had prepared themselves thoroughly. Former Leicester man Gary Rowett is the 5th manager in charge of this team, this season.
Leicester, as expected, took control from start, going forward and attacking. But it was not until the 28th minute that we got the first goal. A bit of forward and back inside the Birmingham penalty box, in the end, Patson Daka finding Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who scored with a nice, on the floor, clinical finish.
Leicester kept their domination and attacked from the flanks, but it was difficult to break down Birmingham goalkeeper, John Ruddy. The experienced shotstopper made a number of magnificant saves during the game, and in all possibly the best player on the field. The opposite can be said about Mads Hermansen, again making a horrible mistake at the end of first half, shooting the ball straight into the feet of Jay Stansfield, Birmingham were level, 1-1.
The fact that Ipswich had lost their game at Carrow Road vs. Norwich, made this a crucial game and of course not one to throw away points in, but Birmingham shall have full credit for fighting Leicester out of their style and staying well focused behind the ball as everything looked a bit static at times.
Enzo Maresca had done one change from first half, bringing on James Justin for Callum Doyle, and then in the 60th minute making a new switch, bringing on Jamie Vardy for Patson Daka, as it looked the same scenario as the game before, but it looked impossible to break down the Birmingham defending wall.
Enzo Maresca made two crucial changes in the 81st minute, bringing on Yunus and Dennis Praet for Wilfred Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu, as we got different types on the field, looking for those crucial passes and pockets that in the end could open up the canned tomatoes.
We had to wait until the 87th minute for the winning goal, coming from a Yunus pass on the back post to Stephy Mavididi as his header was neatly placed into the net, with Ruddy beaten in the end. This was so fantastic as it all became that special goal of the afternoon that made it very special.
With both Ipswich and Leeds defeated on the day, Leicester are back on top of the table, with one game in hand. Seeing that in hand game, taking place at The Den vs. Millwall on Tuesday, being as crucial as ever, hopefully another three points can be bagged, as Leicester can increase the gap at the top.
- Positives
- Enzo Maresca making crucial changes that made it possible to break down Birmingham in the end
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Stephy Mavididi the two goalscorers
- Never say die attitude, fighting to the very end, fantastic to see that lead to a crucial 2-1 goal
- Negatives
- Mavididi and Faes getting yellow cards
- Patson Daka not getting the support he needs to be the striker we would love to see
- Mads Hermansen too arrogant again, making fatal errors that luckily didn’t end in disaster
- Need to be more attacking in all areas and take more risks with such domination
Player Ratings: Hermansen 5, Pereira 6, Faes 6, Vestergaard 6, Doyle 6, Winks 6, Dewsbury-Hall 7, Mavididi 7, Fatawu 6, Daka 6, Ndidi 6, Subs: Justin 6, Vardy, Praet, Yunus, Coady
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Stephy Mavididi
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 68 / 32
- Shots on Target: 9 / 5
- Corners: 10 / 0
- Fouls: 7 / 11
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