Four goals to one up after 50 minutes, it looked like a comfortable afternoon for the Foxes, but two further goals from the home side in five minutes meant a nervy end. Great resilience, coupled with some classy play earlier in the game, secured the three points for Leicester in this chaotic game. In the end, the result was everything for an embattled manager who hit back at his critics during the week.
Contrasting styles
Not only did Leicester and Stockport play different styles but the away side’s tactics altered throughout the match. The free scoring home side (13 goals in five league games) focus on putting high balls into the box and relying on big strikers to outjump defenders. It was mightily effective in the second half especially, but I think earlier in the game they missed a trick failing to press the Foxes high, as Oxford had done last Saturday, whilst at the same time leaving far too much space behind a back four who defended very high.
For the first 50 minutes of the game, the Foxes played their traditional – under Russell Martin – possession game, scoring four goals, three of which were high quality. Playing another player closer to Emil Riis – Liam Cullen – was an innovation from previous games. For the last 30 minutes or so, Leicester showed a different side to their character. Faced with constant Stockport pressure, the away side showed considerable resilience battling, with very little possession, to protect their lead with a back five. In this part of the match, Martin’s side dispensed with passing out from the back kicking the ball long to bring forward players into the game.
It was touch and go, though, and the Foxes could easily have drawn or even lost the game, Stockport having two goals disallowed for offside. It is too early to say if the Leicester boss has turned things around after that disastrous Oxford defeat. But it’s a start and there is some evidence that the new players are beginning to gel. Let’s see where the club is after ten games.
Experience really did prevail
After last week’s defeat, the Leicester boss bemoaned the lack of experience in his side. The prediction that more of the experienced players – Warren O’Hora, Liam Cullen, and John Lundstram - would be chosen against Stockport came to pass. Lundstram, in particular, had a terrific game. Constantly talking to Louis Page in particular brought out the best in the young midfielder.
One class act from Louis Page
There were several stand-out performers for Leicester. Riis was outstanding up front taking his two goals with clinical finishing. Lundstram was also excellent, particularly given that he has played so little football recently. It was Page, however, who stole the show regularly breaking up Stockport attacks and creating chances for his team mates. In three of the away side’s four goals, the young midfielder was credited with an assist and he was also involved in the build-up for the other. Let’s hope that he stays with the Foxes until the end of the season at least.
Add us as a preferred source on Google