The past and the future
Gary Rowett had hinted that for the final game of the season he might well choose to shake the team up and give greater opportunities to young academy starlets. Conversely, for many of the first team squad this was their last chance to don Leicester colours.Â
There will be few tears shed for many of these players who have underperformed for so long. The one exception, perhaps, is Ricardo Pereira whose departure from the club in the summer was confirmed by on Friday. A series of injuries over the years has taken its toll on the 32-year-old full back whose displays this season have been below par. But, as the Mercury’s Jordan Blackwell points out, at one time the Portuguese defender was one of the best right backs in English football.
Some of the players likely to depart the King Power Stadium this summer – Ben Nelson, Caleb Okoli and Abdul Fatawu amongst them – were deprived, through injury, of the chance to play one last game for the Foxes. In the matchday squad, though, were many of the usual suspects – including Jordan Ayew, Harry Winks, Stephy Mavididi and Yannik Vestergaard - who have been responsible for this dreadful season and who are unlikely to still be at the club for the next campaign.
The Leicester boss, however, did keep his promise to field some of the young players at Ewood Park. There were no debuts to start with (although Kevon Gray came on towards the end) but there was the first start since January for Louis Page and a rare outing from the off for Jeremy Monga. On the bench were Bade Aluko, Kevon Gray, and Silko Thomas – all three of whom are likely to be familiar names on the team sheet next season.
A season in microcosm
Exactly ten years ago, the Foxes lifted the Premier League winner's trophy. A decade on and the club have meekly surrended their Championship status. At least they finished the season with a win, courtesy of a Mavididi strike after a good run by Jordan Ayew. Ironically, without the six point deduction, Leicester would have stayed up.
Despite the victory, the game was a microcosm of the season. In the first place, this was only the Foxes' second win in twenty matches, their first win since March and the first away win since last December. Away results under Rowett have been decent - only one defeat - and it has been the home defeats that have let the club down.
Secondly, the inability to convert chances was on show once again. It didn't cost the Foxes ths time but one goal from 22 shots, nine on target, is a poor return. They should have gone in at the break in front and could quite easily have gone behind when Blackburn missed two presentable chances early in the second half. A failure to convert chances has ultimately cost City. In short, had Luke Thomas' header gone in late on against Stoke and had Patson Daka not missed a penalty against Watford, Leicester would not have been relegated.
Great support
Despite the wretched nature of the season, the away support from Leicester fans has been phenomenal. Once again, despite nothing riding on the game, a sizeable number of Foxes' fans travelled north to attend the match at Ewood Park. Wholesome backing for the team has not always, to say the least, been forthcoming. However, the commitment of the Blue Army, and their loyalty to their club, has never been in question. We can only hope that this support doesn’t drop off next season in League One.
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