3 Things learned from Leicester’s away day win vs Rotherham

Leicester City continued their perfect start to life back in the second tier of English football yesterday, with their fifth win in a row coming in South Yorkshire at Rotherham United’s New York Stadium. The visitors had Kasey McAteer to thank for taking home all three points, with the Foxes academy graduate bagging both goals in a difficult 2-1 win.

Fred Onyedinma had levelled for the hosts early in the second half, and it looked as though City could be dropping points for the first time this campaign. That was until Callum Doyle’s pinpoint diagonal pass found McAteer on the right-hand side of the area, who curled home a delicious winner.

A tough win which was ground out for the Foxes. Here at Foxes of Leicester, we’re outlining three things learned from Rotherham United 1-2 Leicester City.

Wilfred Ndidi needs to adapt

As alluded to in our player ratings, Wilfred Ndidi put in comfortably Leicester City’s poorest performance, with the Nigerian hooked for new boy Cesare Casadei halfway through the second half. Enzo Maresca places a strong emphasis on keeping the ball and eliminating risks in possession, so to see Ndidi continuing to start is beginning to raise some eyebrows.

It’s on City’s No. 25 to adapt his game to both the new system and the new division, but there are certain limitations that just are not fixable immediately. The manager has put faith in Ndidi throughout this campaign, but it’s expected now that when Dennis Praet returns from injury (provided he is still a Foxes player) that the Belgian will slot into that role, unless of course Casadei is involved from the start.

Stronger opposition will cause Leicester City big problems

Leicester supporters will be both pleased and concerned by their side’s start to the campaign, with the four league victories coming under stressful scenarios with no straightforward assignment to date. The Foxes face Hull City at the King Power Stadium next weekend, who themselves will be a tough nut to crack, with trips to Southampton and Norwich City coming after the international break.

If they come through next weekend with that 100% record still in tact, Southampton will comfortably be the sternest test that Enzo Maresca’s side will have faced up to that point, and a different type of challenge entirely. Saints boss Russell Martin also places emphasis on a possession-based style, and away from home, this might give observers a chance to see how the Foxes perform without possession and having to defend more intensely.

Rotherham have struggled thus far, with one point to their name, and the ease with which Onyedinma ghosted in to equalise highlighted City’s defensive vulnerability. Free scoring Norwich with the rapidly improving Jonathan Rowe in their ranks will likely be licking their lips at the prospect of hosting Leicester on matchday seven.

Harry Winks is key

The cream often rises, as the old saying goes, and in the Championship, Harry Winks is beginning to show his quality having stepped away from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. In a midfield three where his two colleagues struggled, the 27-year-old showed his class on the ball to allow his side to wriggle out of tight spaces, always offering an outlet to receive when his defenders were under pressure.

It’s not just his output and application that impress, his attitude is first class too, exhibiting patience despite the chasing nature of the game and instilling belief in himself and his teammates that the winning goal would shortly arrive. Completing the most passes across the match, Winks displayed his versatility: it was not always short and simple, the Englishman successfully played five longer passes.