Leicester City faced Hull at the King Power Stadium, as the Foxes looked to win their 7th game in all competitions. Leicester had made a perfect start to the Championship with a 100% record so far and would be hoping to add one more win before the international break. Hull City had only lost one game of the Championship so far, 2-1 against Norwich, they play in a similar style to Leicester where they enjoy possession, so they were going to be tough opposition.
The first-half Leicester got off to a great start by dominating possession and attacking the Tigers’ box. Leicester were used to being on the front foot, however Hull ended City’s unbeaten run, after Delap’s deflected shot found the back of the Leicester net in the 15th minute. He beat Callum Doyle as his effort, from 20 yards out, deflected off Jannik Vestergaard and into the bottom corner. Leicester had few chances in the 30 minutes before half-time. The only standout opportunity was when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played a low ball into Kelechi Iheanacho, who managed to get around the goalkeeper, but failed to find the target. The linesman then flagged for offside.
The second-half started as the first ended and not much had changed from Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City side. After 21 shots with only one on target, the Foxes failed to test Matt Ingram. The best chance came from debutant Abdul Fatawu’s sharp shot hitting the post, but they didn’t create enough threat to convince they deserved any points. They weren’t creative and clinical enough and lacked that final product in the box. This time City failed to snatch a last-minute win.
Leicester City goalkeeper and defenders
Hermansen: 6 – still unable to keep a clean sheet. Didn’t have an awful lot to do during the second-half, claimed the ball well when it was needed, unlucky for the goal. Played the ball out well from the back too.
Ricardo Pereira: 4 – seemed to give the ball away a couple of times, often played the safe option by playing back towards goal rather than trying to get the ball forward. Didn’t have the best game and dived into making unnecessary tackles.
Wout Faes: 5 – the Belgian defender jumped in on the ball and made silly/misjudged mistakes. For example two minutes into the game he should’ve played the ball back to Hermansen when put under pressure by Aaron Connolly, but instead he messed about with it and lost possession off the ball. He often played loose balls into dangerous areas where they were picked up by Hull City players.
Jannik Vestergaard: 6 – got Faes out of trouble at times, played some nice balls through the middle, moved the ball way too slowly at times. Also, for saying how tall he is he is very poor at winning headers.
Callum Doyle: 4 – beaten too easily for the goal, as well as some second-half chances again by Delap down the wing. Not a good game for him defensively.
Midfielders and Forward
Harry Winks: 5 – minus points for his yellow card, which I think was given more for his reaction than the foul itself. Played some decent balls forward, but didn’t particularly stand out.
Wilfred Ndidi – 4 – didn’t make much of an impact to the game at all and disappeared into it. Played loose balls into dangerous areas, which allowed Hull to attack and let them break on the Leicester defenders.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 5 – a lot of potentially good opportunities were thrown away when the ball fell to him, his touch and passing in the final third wasn’t good enough and allowed Hull to gain possession in an area where Leicester were posing a threat. Made some nice runs down the left wing to play balls into the box.
Yunus Akgun: 5 – didn’t shine like he would’ve wanted, but I don’t think some players allowed him too. The Turkish winger showed for the ball and made runs to try and get involved when he could, but the ball wasn’t played to him to show off what he can do.
Kasey McAteer: 7 – attacked Coyle and took him on at every chance he could, even won Leicester a free-kick in the seventh minute. Thought it was a shame that he was taken off by Maresca after a really good game from the young academy prospect.
Kelechi Iheanacho: 5 -.didn’t make as big of an impact as fans know he can do, did come close to scoring in the first-half.
Substitutions
Abdul Fatawu: 7 – what a debut. Had the best chance of the game when his shot hit the post. Every time he whipped a ball into the box it was sharp and precise. Also, played a brilliant ball to switch the direction of play. Looks an exciting prospect and could be a dangerous player for us to have.
Stephy Mavididi: 5 – lost the ball and failed to make a big impact after coming on for McAteer.
Cesare Casadei: 6 – ran into the box and showed himself as an option, finding himself on the end of crosses into the box too. Made a massive difference to the team after he came on and showed lots of energy. Deserves a place in the starting XI.
Jamie Vardy: 5 – made some runs into the box and even got on the end of a cross, but he failed to find the net.