Leicester v West Brom: Ratings as Foxes loss ends unbeaten run
Leicester went into Sunday’s late game looking to see their home form continue to be their saving grace in the Premier League this season.
However, that would not be the case as West Brom and self inflicted mistakes proved too much for Leicester and their home fan support to overcome.
West Brom travelled to the King Power Stadium following a crushing 0-4 defeat to Manchester City last weekend and Tony Pulis’ side were desperate for points.
Claudio Ranieri’s side were in the same boat as the Foxes have been sensational in Europe and at home but their away form has seen them fail to get out of the bottom half all season.
Kasper Schmeichel’s absence was a major blow for the hosts ahead of the match as well as his form in the last few weeks has gone a long way towards keeping his side as competitive as they have been.
The first half showed both sides to be rather devoid of ideas as the opening 45 minutes closed without much of a whisper for a winner out of either side.
That would all change in the second half as James Morrison put the visitors up seven minutes out of the break thanks to an assist from Matt Phillips.
Morrison’s strike saw the home side finally come to life as Islam Slimani powered home an excellent headed goal thanks to a swung in cross from fellow Algerian Riyad Mahrez.
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There was an initial call for Slimani to be flagged offsides, but the replay showed that Craig Dawson had played the Leicester front man onsides.
Ahmed Musa started to run rampant down the left flank and Riyad Mahrez began to come into his own with the hosts pushing for a go ahead goal.
Danny Drinkwater unfortunately was his own sides undoing.
After such a strong season so far, the 26-year-old midfielder misplayed a back pass towards Wes Morgan and West Brom’s Matt Phillips pounced and chipped an onrushing Ron-Robert Zieler to put the Baggies up 1-2 with 18 minutes left.
The Foxes continued to push for a second equalizer until the final whistle but their 20 match unbeaten home streak was finally brought to an end.
LEICESTER CITY v WEST BROM
Leicester City (4-4-2): Zieler (6.5); Simpson (6.5), Morgan (6.5), Huth (6.0), Fuchs (7.5); Mahrez (7.0), Drinkwater (5.5), King (6.0), Musa (6.5); Slimani (7.5), Okazaki (6.0).
West Brom (4-2-3-1): Foster (6.5); Dawson (7.0), McAuley (8.0), Evans (7.5), Nyom (7.0); Fletcher (7.0), Yacob (6.5); Brunt (6.0), Morrison (8.0), Phillips (8.5); Rondon (6.5).