Gary Rowett made four changes to his starting line-up vs. Watford. Jamaal Lascelles got his first start under Gary Rowett. Harry Winks was back in midfield, Patson Daka up front, Ricardo Pereira in his usual right back position.
Watford were on the front foot from start. Leicester had a good structure defensively. The Hornets never really gave Jacub Stolarczyk much trouble in front of goal.
The game went on with minor chances to both teams, but often blocked before getting any serious. Close to the end of the half, Abdul Fatawu was taken down inside the Watford penalty box. Leicester was rewarded with a penalty.
Jordan Ayew who is not in the line-up has been the one taking penalties, this time Patson Daka steps forward. Daka missed his chance with Watford goalkeeper Selvik managing to push the ball in the post. The shambles of this continues.
Watford comes out in the second half to put pressure on Leicester. The Leicester team defended well once again. It was possible to believe that one special chance could be utilized, resulting in a major outcome. However, today Leicester were scrappy offensively.
A battling point 🔵#WATLEI pic.twitter.com/n3MyqB0nsw
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 21, 2026
Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Jordan James never managed to keep possession this time. They worked hard to chase Watford midfielders. Their effort gave them little or no space to play through. Both teams having solid defensive structure today.
In the 61st minute, Gary Rowett decides to make two changes. He takes off Jordan James and Stephy Mavididi. He brings on Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Divine Mukasa. By this time, Leicester had faded. This move made sense. Leicester started to produce more. Mukasa especially had a couple of chances to put the ball in the net. De Cordava-Reid delivers well when he comes on and also a positive change. He was close to get an assist, but Patson Daka’s header on the open goal went wide.
With just 10 minutes left, it appears the lights have gone out on the Leicester bench. Taking off Jamaal Lascelles and bringing on Ben Nelson. Lascelles reacted with questions in his eyes, and strange to see such a move at this time in the game. To change the back line on 0-0 with so few minutes left is a big risk.
Gary Rowett might have appeared to be a genius. This would have happened if Ben Nelson had capitalized on his late chance. However, his movement towards goal never really made it possible to score, from Abdul Fatawu’s pass.
Joe Aribo and Jordan Ayew also got minutes at the end. Leicester managed one point and keep a clean sheet. That is not the worst of results. However, today Leicester should have snatched all three. They had two major goal chances, with Patson Daka missing both.
- Positives
- Jacub Stolarczyk having a very good game and keeping a clean sheet
- Caleb Okoli with a new solid defensive performance
- The defense line and midfield worked hard and blocked Watford attempts
- Gary Rowett having a sensible line-up from start
- Jamaal Lascelles giving the team more experience and defensive quality
- Patson Daka had his attempts and must be credited for his work rate and coming very close
- Negatives
- Gary Rowett not really understanding how he should use James, Winks and Skipp together, you must drop the double pivot and play Skipp as a 6, Winks and James as 8. Today Jordan James was pushed up in that 10 role again, not having the impact he should, and losing his momentum
- Taking off Jamaal Lascelles, he needed the full game to get as much positive as possible
- Scrappy offensively, Mavididi and Fatawu being to predictable, running with the ball instead of using other players to play them into the correct positions
- Patson Daka is taking the penalty. He is not the penalty taker at this club. When Jordan Ayew is not in the team, you need to use another player. Daka at this point is no one you should trust to take the penalty. Daka also missed a header in the 65th minute
- Gary Rowett is the one to point at again, he is the one making those remarkable decisions on penalty takers, substitutions and more, today Leicester had three points in the pocket
- Overlooking Jeremy Monga again, surely Gary Rowett has seen something in training he do not like at all
- Struggling against a 4-4-2 set up, Rowett can’t continue to ignore the opposition
Line Up:
Stolarczyk 7, Pereira 6, Okoli 7, Lascelles 6, Thomas 6, Winks 5, James 5, Skipp 5, Daka 5, Mavididi 4, Fatawu 6, Subs: Mukasa, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Aribo, Nelson
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Caleb Okoli
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 45 / 55
- Shots on Target: 2 / 5
- Corners: 2 / 5
- Fouls: 13 / 8
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