Match preview: West Bromwich Albion Vs Leicester City

No wins in five Premier League games, six points dropped in the last three home games, and the goals proving hard to come by, it’s pouring, not raining for Leicester City.

What’s worrying is that it could have been worse had it not been for a bit of luck in each of their last two league clashes, and especially in the recent fixture against AFC Bournemouth, as the referee maybe got his stoppage time calculations wrong.

As much as it is enjoyable to see Leicester scrape through to a draw based purely on fortunes, there’s also a feeling that the performances have got to come now or there could be soon be a lot of doom and gloom at the King Power Stadium, as there is at the Hawthorns Stadium, where Leicester City next go to face West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies have lost six consecutive Premier League games (winless in seven), with their most recent league win being a 2-0 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion. For a team in form, this is the opportunity to have some fun and put a few past a hapless side, but for a team like Leicester City, this is the game with a fear factor about it, because a team that has one foot in the Sky Bet Championship already can at any time put together a solid 90 minutes to stun their opponents.

Puel’s Foxes have been in a habit of gifting points to the relegation-threatened teams, and they could do that yet again on Saturday if they don’t turn up.

Main Man

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth at The King Power Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Riyad Mahrez saved Leicester City’s blushes against AFC Bournemouth with an orgasmic free-kick, and in one of their worst runs of form, they’d need him to do something special yet again on Saturday.

The other players may all have performed badly in the win drought, but Mahrez hasn’t underperformed at all, providing that extra bit of genius that ideally wins his side a game. If he doesn’t do well tomorrow, then it’s hard to see where will the three points come from.

Quotes

"“We go to West Brom to try and win. It will be a big battle and it will be a difficult game against a very good team,” Riyad Mahrez told Leicester City’s official website.“When they are last, they will give 100 per cent. They will give everything. They need to win to believe to stay in the Premier League. It will be a tough, tough game.”"

Next: Claude Puel calls for patience with Demarai Gray

Possible XI

Schmeichel; Simpson, Maguire, Morgan, Fuchs; Ndidi, Silva, Albrighton, Okazaki, Mahrez; Vardy.