Abdul Fatawu and Jordan James were both absent from the line-up vs. Stoke. Jannik Vestergaard and Jamaal Lascelles also missing from the squad, but still Gary Rowett had a good group of players to choose from.
He must have been furious when seeing what happened after just three minutes. No press on the ball and no commitment inside the penalty area giving Stoke an early and soft opportunity to score. The nightmare looked as it was going to be there also in this game.
Jeremy Monga was on the field from start, but Leicester never managed to use his presence, playing him far too little and not using that situation to their advantage. Stoke had three players around him, surely getting that ball out of that area and using him in a certain position would have opened heavy gaps for other players to utilize.
Leicester had no momentum from start and today Patson Daka where not used at all. He looked totally forgotten and had no say in the game. When trying to play him, he often gets behind the Stoke defender marking him and not really understanding what to do. Patson Daka is a chaser and should be played passes to chaser. Leicester still have too much short passes for no reason, instead of smashing the ball up to chase.
Leicester also struggled in the back with Ben Nelson and Caleb Okoli not looking very comfortable at all. Losing their battles and often clearences are to short and lands in the feet of Stoke players. Just kick the ball as long as you can to get Patson Daka to chase them.
Leicester still use too much time playing the ball around as they did under Enzo Maresca. This must stop and every player must be much more direct and always forward thinking. They tend to still play the ball too much backwards and sideways.
Lucky to be only 0-1 down after first half, Stoke having attempts and could have scored, hitting the bar on one occassion. Not much to brag about after first half.
A point on the road 🤝#STKLEI | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/l4ZmF7TBtQ
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 21, 2026
Credit to Gary Rowett for keeping the starting eleven on the field after first half. Four or five could have been changed, but he had his game plan in play and early on second half things started to change.
Leicester played against a 3-4-2-1 set up and that is difficult when you try to control the ball. Winks and Skipp both struggled to get any momentum in the first half, but second half Stoke started to shift and possibly having difficulties to keep track with Divine Mukasa who had great movement. The Man City youngster on loan at Leicester has started to have massive impact and his goal in the 52nd minute was just curled in behind a good Stoke goalkeeper, Tommy Simkin.
The game had switched completely with Harry Winks and Divine Mukasa running the show. Leicester were on the front foot. Then in the 76th minute the two midfielders again was involved, Mukasa setting up Winks to score. Winks found the goal and suddenly Leicester were in the lead.
Steffy Mavididi should have killed the game with a shot from close range, but it went wide. Then again in the 89th minute, trouble was in the air. Stephy Mavididi did not follow Ben Wilmot into the penalty area and he was completely free on the back post. He just pushed the ball over the line, 2-2.
Leicester kept on pushing for a third goal, hit the bar and in the last minute Luke Thomas headed the ball in the post on an open goal, so it was close, but again Leicester managed to throw three points away and being too soft on many occassions cost them again.
One point away to Stoke must be seen as a good achievement. The second half showed what this team can do, but it is a long way to a team who can put on a good performance for 90 minutes plus.
- Positives
- Divine Mukasa, scoring and assisting
- Harry Winks scoring and having a good impact second half
- Gary Rowett not doing silly substitutions late in the game, getting his momentum correct
- Bringing on board a very important point
- Negatives
- Not really focusing on keeping a clean sheet in those crucial minutes of the game
- Again early and late goals conceded stopped Leicester from winning
- The use of Jeremy Monga, looks random and with no plan, he must be utilized differently
- Ben Nelson not really doing what is needed, he had a stinking performance again
- Soft clearances instead of getting Patson Daka to chase balls
- Losing too many man to man battles
- Patson Daka is not reading the game properly, he looks misplaced to many times
- Victor Kristiansen injured
Line Up:
Begovic 5, Pereira 5, Okoli 5, Nelson 4, Kristiansen 5, Mukasa 8, Winks 6, Skipp 5, Daka 4, Mavididi 6, Monga 5, Subs: Thomas L, Aribo
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Divine Mukasa
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 45 / 55
- Shots on Target: 3 / 5
- Corners: 7 / 4
- Fouls: 5 / 6
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