Leicester City: Foxes welcomed back to Premier League with reality check

Leicester City headed to the KCOM Stadium on Saturday looking to start their title defense on the front foot.

However, Hull City had other designs on how defending Premier League title holders Leicester City would start their campaign.

From the opening whistle yesterday it looked like Hull were up for it and Leicester were stuck in first gear.

Despite a summer that the Tigers would want to forget, they came out scratching and fighting for an all important opening day three points.

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Claudio Ranieri manager of Leicester City gestures during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Following their 2015-16 English Championship winning promotion campaign, Hull City have lost their manager as Steve Bruce resigned midsummer, have only 13 players fit for action, a massive battle between fans and ownership and lastly a caretaker that wrote them off before the first kick of a ball.

But, it seemed that 90 minutes on the football pitch in the Premier League continues to prove to be the greatest equalizer.

You cannot forget that even though Hull have been the center of controversy these last few weeks, it takes a great first team to win the Championship and they proved they are here to play.

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Robert Snodgrass of Hull City and Christian Fuchs of Leicester City battle for possession during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /

Abel Hernandez was a fighter leading the line and Robert Snodgrass, who missed all of his last Premier League campaign in 2014-15 due to injury looks ready to make up for lost time.

But, enough about Hull, Leicester City are clearly still in a title winning hangover. Robert Huth’s suspension saw captain Wes Morgan partner a new signing in Luis Hernandez and show their lack of playing time together.

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Danny Drinkwater and Andy King were part of the driving force that brought the Foxes up to the Premier League, but the loss of N’Golo Kante in the engine room was exposed massively.

Likewise Jamie Vardy suffered the same fate as Morgan being paired with a new signing in Ahmed Musa, whom looks exciting for the season, but neither have found their understanding.

Additionally Demarai Gray was given an unexpected first team start ahead of Marc Albrighton which once again showed a disruption of understanding that foiled the Foxes from the start.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with team mates Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City and Ahmed Musa of Leicester City during The FA Community Shield match between Leicester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on August 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton – The FA/The FA via Getty Images) /

Link up play seemed out of the question as none of the first team seemed to sense where each other were going to be and their pace of play was no existent.

The forward group of Vardy, Musa and Riyad Mahrez is going to be the lifeblood of the clubs goals this season but it has not yet shown its final promise.

Manager Claudio Ranieri called his side out following the match for not playing as a team and he was spot on.

The problem is not a lot of time to learn on the job in the Premier League before it puts you in a hole.

With Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United in their first six matches of the campaign the training ground is going to make the difference moving forward.

Leicester have a lot of football to play this season and they have to build the understanding of their entire squad with four fronts to compete on.

The good news if there were flashes of brilliance even if only a few. The understanding will come and you would rather have a reality check on day one then build to improve as opposed to the wheels coming off in mid-season.