A new era
It is never boring at Leicester City. In just a couple of weeks, the club has experienced seismic change. First, was the dismissal of Marti Cifuentes. Then came transfer deadline day and the arrival of four new players. Finally, the much-mooted points deduction finally arrived with a six-point penalty plunging the Foxes into a relegation battle, and it could have been much worse with the Premier League wanting a 12-point deduction. Defeat at St. Andrews could see City entering the drop zone. Getting as many points as possible as quickly as possible now becomes crucial.
Foxes’ fans were eager to see how many, if any, of the new signings started the game in the West Midlands. With Caleb Okoli suspended, and Jannik Vestergaard injured and Hamza Choudhury joining Jordan James and Aaron Ramsay on the treatment table, it was in defence and midfield where the new recruits were most needed. The Leicester Mercury’s Jordan Blackwell, for one, suggested that Joe Ariba and Jamall Lascelles might start but that Divine Mukasa and Dujuan Richards would probably be on the bench.
In the event, Blackwell was exactly right with Lascelles and Ariba starting and Mukasa and Richards on the bench. Andy King made two additional changes from the side that lost to Charlton by bringing in Asmir Begovic in place of Jakub Stolarczyk, who has struggled of late, in goal and Patson Daka in place of Jordan Ayew up front. Victor Kristiansen, out for an extended period with injury, was back on the bench.
Championship fare
There was a distinctly different approach to Leicester’s performance at St. Andrews, as if they have suddenly realised they are playing in the Championship and, more to the point, struggling at the bottom of the second tier. The style was more direct and the defence, marshalled by Lascelles, played a high line. The team, too, exhibited a great deal more energy than of late. Unfortunately, the game was transformed by a harsh red card given to Bobby De Cordova Reid by John Busby, It was a rash tackle but no one could really have complained if the verdict had been a yellow card. Significantly, it is unlikely that a yellow card would have been overturned by VAR.
It was a disastrous start by the Foxes. A horrible mistake by Ricardo Pereira gifted the ball to Ibrahim Osman, on loan from Brighton, who made no mistake after just three minutes. Ariba was then booked soon after. Leicester worked their way back into the game and, after 20 minutes, Abdul Fatawu scored a spectacular equaliser after Birmingham failed to clear the ball from a corner.
Leicester were competing well in an end-to-end game, but a red card for a rash tackle by De Cordova Reid, the second match in succession that the Foxes have been down to ten men, changed the game. It was harsh, to say the least, and Busby was overly-influenced by the Birmingham fan’s reaction.
The Foxes held out until half-time but it was always going to be a tough task to hold Birmingham at bay. Not surprisingly, it was one-way traffic in the second half. Leicester worked hard and defended well but they couldn't stop Jay Stansfield from scoring the winner after 67 minutes.
Verdict: Some hope
Defeat, their fourth in five matches, leaves Leicester in 21st place, outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. The Blue Army on social media were highly critical of the team again, and most contributors seem to expect the club to be playing in League One next year.
I'm less critical. Birmingham have been impressive at home for some time now. Moreover, it is difficult to evaluate Leicester’s performance on Saturday given that the game was transformed by a contentious refereeing decision. There was enough, though, to suggest that the new set-up – on and off the pitch – may well be able to push the Foxes up the table.
The new signings, particularly those who started, look like they will improve the squad. Begovich, in goal, was impressive too. The more direct style of play is well-judged and may bring rewards when Leicester have 11 players.
As a final though, despite conducting himself impressively as interim manager, Andy King needs help. It would make sense for the club to appoint an experienced manager to work with him. Gary Rowett, for me, is the obvious choice.