The opening weekend of the Premier League season saw Leicester City draw 2-2 with visiting side Brentford. Goals in either half by Timothy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were cancelled out by second half goals from Ivan Toney and Josh Da Silva.
Leicester City’s new No.1, Danny Ward: 5.5
The Welshman looked very assured claiming aerial balls. His distribution was fairly accurate, but rarely was he asked to complete many difficult passes. Not much the Foxes’ new first choice stopper could have done about either goal also.
Timothy Castagne: 6.5
A very competent first half display by the Belgian, he took his goal wonderfully. Arriving at the near post from a James Maddison in swinging corner to fire LCFC into the lead. Had very little to do with both Brentford goals, a solid performance by the full back.
Daniel Amartey: 1
A nightmarish display of the basic defensive fundamentals might be putting it too generously for the Ghanian. He was at fault for both goals allowing Ivan Toney – after playing the striker onside – to pin him in the box, turn easily and drill the ball into the bottom corner. For the second allowing Da Silva to cut inside and have a free shot at goal. Bewilderingly poor defensive performance and a horrible way to kick-off the season.
Wesley Fofana: 6.5
Completely nullified the goal scorer Toney in the first half, while also progressing the ball nicely through the lines when the opportunity arose. He was slightly rash at times, but it was decent outing for the Frenchman.
Jonny Evans: 5
With his debut as the new club captain, it was not one to remember, slow passive build-up play, with the occasion long diagonal sprayed across the pitch. Despite not being at fault for the goals it was a mediocre performance for the 34-year-old.
James Justin: 5
Not an especially bad performance, but little to no impact in the opposition half and gave no cover to Amartey in the second half where all of Brentford’s attacks were from.
Wilfred Ndidi: 6
Good defensive performance breaking up play and covering passing channels, as he so often does. However, his progressive passing had very little quality in any of them, gifting the ball away too many times.
Youri Tielemans: 6.5
Tielemans showed bundles of composure in the first half when the Foxes had the majority of the ball, he broke the lines consistently and threatened with shots from range, one striking the post. His lack of mobility, along with sloppiness in possession, is where City became unstuck losing most midfield duels and second balls. It was one of the reasons the away team got back into the contest.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7.5
By far Leicester City’s best player, the engine of the midfield, he bailed his side out with sharp technical work down the left flank on occasions when building through that side had broken down. He took his goal stupendously well just moments into the second period and once he was substituted his impact on the game was highlighted as the East Midlands side never recovered.
James Maddison: 5.5
His first touch and end product were just not there all afternoon. Even under little to no pressure, the ball seemed to consistently roll underneath the studs or bounce off the midfielder’s foot. Chalk it up to getting back into the pace of the Premier League but nonetheless, he had very little impact on the final result.
Jamie Vardy: 4
With an opportunity to score in his sixth opening day weekend, it was a very lacklustre display from City’s talisman. His decline in pace meant he was unable to stretch the visiting sides defence in behind and his link-up play was non-existent really – although not necessarily all down to Vardy – but again no tangible impact on the game.
Subs:
Patson Daka: 5
Difficult to grade the Zambian despite playing a reasonable amount of minutes his touches were very limited and the opportunities to get shots on goal were very low percentage – one being a wildly optimistic attempted overhead kick. He did the stretch the defence at times but didn’t capitalise when he was able to.