Leicester 0-1 Villa: player ratings – Foxes toothless without Vardy

Leicester City fell to their second defeat of the season yesterday thanks to a last gasp Ross Barkley strike. Here’s how the boys in blue performed.

The Foxes’ fairytale start to the season was handed yet another blow last night, when Ross Barkley’s injury time thunderbolt doomed Leicester City to their second successive defeat in the league.

Prior to the game, many Foxes fans were concerned with Leicester’s ever-growing injury list, fearing the prospect of facing high-flying Villa without a full strength XI. However, there was renewed hope in Brendan Rodgers‘ team selection as he opted for a 4-1-4-1, instead of the conservative 3-4-3 that faltered against West Ham last outing.

The match itself was a scrappy affair, with seemingly endless fouls and seven yellow cards shared between the two sides. Leicester looked to be taking a point late on, until Ross Barkley put the visitors ahead with a hopeful shot from outside of the box in the 91st minute.

All in all, Rodgers’ men defended compactly but struggled to contain Villa captain Jack Grealish all night, while further up the pitch Leicester City’s front three looked devoid of all goal threat without talisman Jamie Vardy. With the East Midlands club’s first European game fast approaching this Thursday, vast improvements are needed across the board if they want to avoid an early exit.