Leicester 2, Preston 2, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, Championship Fixture

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Gary Rowett had to make one change to his line-up, Jordan James missing out and Divine Mukasa getting that place in midfield. This was the best team to play, considering the situation and what has been seen in earlier games.

The start couldn’t have been better, Patson Daka catching the ball after a mad pass from a Preston defender, having little or no problem to score on the situation, totally setting Daniel Iversen out of play.

As we have seen all season, something is wrong with the set up and how players act in certain situations. Nothing looks fluid with missed passes, lack of correct movement and placement of set pieces you would normally believe had a plan, but looks totally random.

This leaded to acts of errors giving a very weak Preston side, chances to score goals out of nothing. Andrew Moran’s goal in the 38th minute, was an act of foolish and very unneeded play from Abdul Fatawu, as his back sideways pass was snapped by Lewis Dobbin, having the assist to Andrew Moran’s bar hitting screamer from distance. No chance for Jacub Stolarczyk to save it. It was all back to start for Leicester, 1-1.

We're forced to settle for a point ⚖️#LEIPNE | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/sIX9D0dgzy
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 3, 2026

The act of specials with a massive negative letters came 7 minutes later, close to the first half break. This shows the massive problem this football club are in at the moment. Lack of leadership and load voices building a momentum on set pieces. Instead of filling the defense with what you got at the final minutes, you just have Leicester players standing watching, as Preston scores their second. Hard battling Preston players getting a chance, Ben Whiteman curling it in with no pressure at all, close to madness. Preston are 2-1 up at the break.

Coming on second half, Leicester struggles to get momentum, but in some way manage to get the grip on it again halfway through that final half. Suddenly Preston are feeling the pressure, but former Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and his defenders manage to hold out almost until the end.

Oliver Skipp had a brilliant chance to score in the 63rd minute, again Patson Daka was involved, as the ball deflected and Skipp came alone against Daniel Iversen, but the attempt was saved.

Gary Rowett makes his first two substitutions in the 80th minute, taking of Lamaal Lascelles and bringing on Ben Nelson. He also gives minutes to Bobby De Cordova-Reid who comes on for Oliver Skipp. Then a minute later Patson Daka again on the run, getting the ball and scoring from a nice shot. Leicester were level and had at least one point in the pocket. Fantastic for Patson Daka to score twice as his form and attacking willingness will be of great importance going forward. Luckily Gary Rowett did not make the substitution he looked to do, bringing on Jordan Ayew, who is in no way a solution for this top spot up front. To change Patson Daka with Jordan Ayew is a total change of approach and makes little or no understanding of what is going on from the bench, it looks awful decision making.

Leicester kept momentum towards the end, bringing on Jeremy Monga, Jannik Vestergaard and Jordan Ayew to replace Stephy Mavididi, Divine Mukasa and Jordan Ayew. The scare was to see Patson Daka limping off, hopefully not injured. Mavididi and Mukasa were both taken off after weak performances, they are simply not able to get into the positions and played through as they should.

The game ended 2-2, luckily one point gained, and not losing. But the struggle continues as players do not really click and makes the correct passes, dribbles and decisions needed to get more on the front foot. Preston looks as if they were two more players, Leicester not able to cross the ball or being fast enough in decision making on and off the ball.

The next game comes around the corner on the 6th of April, playing Sheffield Wednesay away. A new important game and again hopefully black hole moments will not ruin a football game that is a must win and should be so. Hopefully Gary Rowett will just keep the line-up he played today and make one change bringing back Jordan James for Divine Mukasa, nothing else needed.

Jannik Vestergaard was back in action today, strangely he was not given minutes for Jamaal Lascelles and instead putting on Ben Nelson in the ending minutes of the game. The Danish international came on later as a striker option. Again a very strange approach and far from reliable from the management team.

Patson Daka was lively. It helped that he just played for 30 minutes as a sub for Zambia in their 0-5 defeat vs. Argentina. A long trip back according to Gary Rowett, coming into training yesterday. Luckily, he had just been sitting on different planes, and not played much football.

Positives
- Patson Daka scoring two and helping this team with his brave and very good performance
- Caleb Okoli again with a solid performance in the back, winning vital battles on the floor and in the air
- Ricardo Pereira looking to be back at a level we have normaly seen him in the past
- The team from start was spot on, with Jeremy Monga far from the player he could have been if given a chance to shine over a long period of time
- Coming back and getting a very vital point on board
- Again a lot of possession, and the best team on the field, but in the end points were equal
Negatives
- Gary Rowett again having problems with his substitutions, close to taking Patson Daka off just seconds before he scored his second of the day.
- Strange to see Ben Nelson getting on in these final minutes, luckily it all went well
- Leicester again giving away a lead, having a lot of clumsiness in passes and movement
- Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks becomes isolated with no real midfield job done by Divine Mukasa

Line Up:
Stolarczyk 5, Pereira 7, Okoli 8, Lascelles 5, Thomas 5, Winks 5, Mukasa 4, Skipp 5, Daka 8, Mavididi 5, Fatawu 4, Subs: De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Nelson, Monga, Vestergaard