Leicester City bounced back from defeat at home to Leeds United with a convincing 2-0 win at against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
With several changes made to the starting eleven, Leicester City comfortably made their way through a potentially tricky game against Scott Parker’s Fulham. A collector’s item headed goal from Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring on the seventeenth minute settling any nerves. There could have been more goals with chances for Caglar Soyuncu and Harvey Barnes well saved by Fulham goalkeeper Areola. But right before half time James Justin rounded off a sublime foxes move with skilful turns from both Kelechi Iheanacho and crucially James Maddison in the build up.
The second half was a relatively comfortable event with Fulham being allowed plenty of possession but unable to cause Kasper Schmeichel any serious issues. Another three points on the road then, as Leicester continue to hang around the top four. But what three things did we learn from Brendan Rodgers latest victory?
Players taking their opportunities
With another round of injuries, some changes were enforced upon Brendan Rodgers with normal first teamers Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Soyuncu performing astutely as expected. The two other surprises on the teamsheet knew how big an opportunity they had been given and they took them with both hands.
Kelechi Iheanacho, much criticised and seemingly out of favour was thrown a lifeline up front with Ayoze Perez moved out wide to accommodate him. Only seventeen minutes in and he converted a sublime header from a pinpoint James Maddison cross. The eagerness to make a nuisance of himself continued throughout the game. His excellent turn on the halfway line before releasing Maddison was also a key component in James Justin’s goal. We were even treated to a bit of aggression in closing down defenders. He’s a long way off being seen as Jamie Vardy’s successor but for now another start at Wolves could be likely.
Hamza Choudhury to a lesser extent was given the task of the deep lying midfielder role normally occupied by Wilfred Ndidi or Nampalys Mendy. This too was a great surprise when it’s likely that Choudhury would have been allowed to leave on Monday night had Leicester been able to sign a midfielder. His performance wasn’t spectacular but it was professional and productive. He sat into position well, spread the play quickly, made bursting runs and covered his defence when possession was turned over. Although replaced on 60 minutes by the ever reliable Mendy, Choudhury could well be starting on Sunday as well future games.
Youri Tielemans is up there as Leicester’s MVP
It’s easy to forget that Youri Tielemans has been at the club for two years but his development has been incredible in that time. His performance at Fulham wasn’t one strewn with long range shots and Hollywood passes. But he is now giving far more more mature performances, ones that get wins over the line when needed. His ease and calmness in midfield is what keeps Leicester ticking.
The rest of the team look to the Belgian’s ability and it feeds into their own as he brings all players into the game with a quick brain that translates to quick decisions and effective play. He also doesn’t mind doing the dirty work of putting in the miles and winning those all important cheap free kicks and breaking up the oppositions rhythm. His fitness levels are now at such high levels that his performances are becoming increasingly more consistent. He is up there with a select few at the club that are forming a strong spine through the starting eleven. When Youri ticks, so do Leicester.
Leicester’s away form is ridiculously good
This is one that refuses to go away. Leicester City’s current Premier League away form is won eight, drawn two and lost only one of their 11 games. Only Manchester United have a better record on the road by one point. The psychology factor of playing games away from home is normally accounted against the pressure of playing in front of a fervent home crowd that causes tension.
Although, this season there are no such reasons to assign. In fact the season’s home form is already worse than last seasons. So it would be just as easy to put the poor home form down to the players missing the lift that the foxes faithful gives them in times of need. Fulham didn’t have the same amount of space that they were afforded at the King Power two months ago with Leicester showing the Cottagers plenty of respect and not allowing their counter attack game to get into gear.
Leicester City like to be the team to sit in when at opposing grounds – and the fact that Fulham were afforded 58% possession in this game as opposed to 32% in the reverse fixture would hold this theory up. Another intriguing away day awaits on Sunday in the black country against a Wolverhampton Wanderers team who like to sit in deep.