It’s now five consecutive wins at the start of a season for Leicester City, a feat that has not been achieved by any Foxes side that came before the current crop. Saturday’s task was to dispatch of Rotherham United, who remain winless in the league at the start of this campaign.
If the previous three league outings had been satisfying yet unconvincing, City’s trip to South Yorkshire was following the trend and then some. For the first time this season, it truly felt, with the scores level, as though the Foxes were not going to drive forward to get that winner.
The typically late goal, did arrive however, and with Ipswich Town’s defeat to Leeds United running simultaneously, City pulled out a two point lead at the top of the Championship table. It’s Hull City at home next up for the East Midlands club, but here at Foxes of Leicester, we’re outlining our player ratings from Rotherham United 1-2 Leicester City.
Mads Hermansen: 6
Little to do for the Danish stopper, with the Millers registering only one shot on target. Better signs however regarding his distribution, with more competence shown on the ball than has previously been seen. The goalkeeper showed he could mix it up too, playing the short percentage passes more often but angling some longer balls into midfield when needed.
Ricardo Pereira: 6
A solid if unspectacular performance from the inverted full-back, who is clearly a very intelligent footballer compared to many at Championship level. There did however seem to be a detachment between his ideas and execution, with various examples of overhit passes or the wrong choice, plus a few instances of being caught in possession.
Wout Faes: 6
The confidence and exuberance Faes showed in parts last season seems to be returning to the fore with the more good results his side seem to pick up. A competent defensive showing from the Belgian who seems to take more risks in possession as he further adapts to playing at a different level.
Jannik Vestergaard: 5
A composed performance in possession for Vestergaard, who still shows us he is a liability in a defensive sense. Fred Onyedinma’s equaliser stemmed from the Dane being caught under the ball from a diagonal cross.
Callum Doyle: 7
The young loanee from Manchester City continues to grow in both confidence and competence in his second consecutive spell in this division. Excelling in both wide areas in attack and more central areas when the ball is on the other side, Doyle is proving to be an excellent acquisition for the Foxes. After arrowing a pinpoint diagonal ball to Kasey McAteer for the winning goal, the teenager was instrumental in the effort to run the clock down towards the end of the game.
Wilfred Ndidi: 3
Enzo Maresca‘s experiment with Wilfred Ndidi could well be coming to an end, with Dennis Praet braced for a return from the treatment table. The Nigerian had one of those Wilfred Ndidi games where most things that could go wrong did.
For a system that relies so much on ball retention, especially in midfield, Ndidi’s inclusion does seem somewhat counter-intuitive given his track record with the ball at his feet. There was one failed attempt at a cross-field ball that led to one Foxes fan exclaiming: “If you can’t pass it 5 yards, don’t try 50!”
Harry Winks: 7
One player who looks a cut above the opposition at Championship level is Harry Winks, who excelled once more this afternoon in that reserved midfield berth. The former Tottenham man painted a figure of calmness on what was a stressful assignment for City. During the second half he helped the Foxes out of a seemingly inescapable corner to start an attack; it’s clear to see just how important he is to Maresca’s system.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 4
The Shepshed-born dynamo has had one of these matches coming for a while, so for City to pick up all three points without their engine room performing at 100% is still encouraging. Dewsbury-Hall was sloppy in possession, but his energy towards the match’s end was important in seeing the game out.
Kasey McAteer: 8
After a two-week lay off with an injury, City’s latest academy product goal scorer justified his manager’s faith in putting him back into the eleven straight away. Two different types of goal for the 21-year old, with one back post header and another curling effort into the top corner. Finishes aside, a very solid outing for the Northampton-born man, who provided a threat from the right all afternoon long.
Kelechi Iheanacho: 6
McAteer’s first was set up by City’s frontman, who apart from providing the assist, struggled, and was hooked after less than an hour’s play. The Nigerian did well to find space in the penalty area and chip a looping cross onto McAteer’s head. Iheanacho’s touch was generally off and he didn’t seem to be linking up with his surrounding players in the way one would normally expect.
Stephy Mavididi: 5
Another off day for a City forward, this time for the last away game’s match winner Stephy Mavididi. The man signed from Montpellier struggled to impact the match from out wide, still finding time however to butcher a decent chance to double his side’s lead on the stroke of half time.
Jamie Vardy: 6
Substituted on for Iheanacho on 59 minutes, with a few good touches in and around the penalty area. Unspectacular, but there were worse players on the pitch.
Cesare Casadei: 6
No winning goal today for City’s newest recruit, but a mixed performance that provided both worry and encouragement. Casadei’s first thoughts when receiving the ball are clearly to go forward, so he could be a decent outlet late in matches, but a couple of times the Italian was caught in possession, and even surrendered possession with a needless dive late on.