Newcastle 0-0 Leicester: indecipherable Smith plan prevails
Foxes of Leicester react to Leicester City’s result at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park. The Foxes were desperate for any points at all in this crunch clash.
There is no doubt about it, Leicester needed to show up on Monday night. In spite of his uneven form and fan criticism, generally the fan base were surprised to see James Maddison on the substitute’s bench for the Newcastle fixture. Maddison is undoubtedly the Foxes‘ most gifted and regularly most productive player. Though, as I previously alluded to, he is not playing at his best at present.
Dean Smith began the match with his LCFC side in a 3-5-2 formation versus the Magpies. Funnily enough, FoL made this very suggestion or observation in a recent appraisal of Smith. Northern Irishman Jonny Evans started a successive match, which was a bonus, for a while. Meanwhile Australian Harry Souttar returned to the starting lineup. Kelechi Iheanacho was also reinstated to the XI following a comeback from injury just this week. Admittedly, Harvey Barnes’ omission also raised an eyebrow. But for his productivity on paper, he is such a weak link in reality on the pitch at times.
Reacting to Leicester City’s result at Newcastle United as Foxes boss Dean Smith gets it right, somehow
Whatever Smith did, it worked, as much as Leicester somehow earned themselves a point that may be valuable at the end of the season. With Newcastle only requiring a draw to seal Champions League qualification, they could be excused for sitting back. But the third highest EPL side did not – LCFC did the dedending.
dark. Next. Iheanacho is back
The Geordies didn’t score from 23 attempts; the Foxes had one shot. Basically, Smith was content for his side to defend for most of the game. Although, there was an attacking appearing double Leicester substitution for the final third of the match. And in the twilight of the game it appeared as if the ex-Aston Villa boss was spurring on his players for the win. Maybe he waited for the fourth quarter to unleash his Foxes fully.
A win against Eddie Howe’s men would have been unreal. A share of the points is better than being beaten or negating a potentially vital goal difference. Victory versus West Ham United might not be enough for the east Midlands outfit to survive. Yet another Great Escape remains possible.