In the past few seasons, Ipswich Town and Leicester City have faced each other as equals either striving for promotion at the top of the Championship or struggling to stay in the Premier League. In the encounter at Portman Road between the two clubs on Tuesday evening, however, the Foxes found themselves two leagues below the Tractor Boys. As such, the east Anglian side were clear favourites to progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup,
After a dreadful start to the season, with a manager already under pressure, Foxes’ fans were desperate to see some signs of improvement whatever the result. As is usually the case, both sides made changes from their league outings at the weekend. On Leicester’s part, seven changes were made from the side defeated by Burton Albion. Likewise, the Tractor Boys made nine changes from the team that beat Sunderland at the weekend.
For the Foxes, first starts were given to loanees Harry Howell, who impressed in his cameo against Burton, Christian McFarlane and Tommy Watson. More surprisingly, there were no recognised centre backs in the side with Bade Aluko and Luke Thomas filling in. Conor Chaplin, recovered from injury, captained a very youthful side. Significantly, Hamza Choudhury, subject of interest from Derby County, wasn’t in the squad, and may be part of the exodus in the remaining days of the transfer window.
Promise
Leicester were the better side in the first half with McFarlane twice, Chaplin and Howell having chances they failed to convert. Ipswich offered relatively little. In the second half, clinical finishing by the East Anglian side won the tie.
Sindre Egell opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys on the hour mark after the Foxes defended too high. Aluko equalised a few minutes later converting a Bobby De Cordova Reid header at the far post. Two goals from former Norwich midfielder Marcelino Nunez then decided the encounter. The first was a product of Aluko giving the ball away, the second an audacious strike from the halfway line. A tiring Leicester side, disjointed after multiple substitutions, offered little in response.
Overall, despite the result, it was an encouraging performance by Leicester. Good passing movements, particularly in the first half, was accompanied by the lack of a quality final ball and decisive finishing. As is inevitable with a Russell Martin team, the tendency to play out from the back invited, as is the intention, an opposition press. The benefit of the approach is the advantage gained by beating the press and creating space further up the pitch. There is a risk, though, of giving the ball away in a dangerous area. Ipswich’s second goal came from such a mistake. If the Foxes continue to struggle, it is questionable how far Russell Martin can survive if his team continues to play in such a way.
Can’t win anything with kids?
The most encouraging part of Leicester’s game on Tuesday night was the performance of the young players. Louis Page, in particular, was outstanding playing in the holding midfield position.
The problem for Leicester is twofold. First, because of their financial position, the club may not be able to resist substantial offers for their talented youngsters. They should be giving credit for resisting Manchester United’s bid for Page but what if a Premier League club came in with an improved offer? Second, promising the young players may be but the Foxes need immediate results if they are to escape from the third tier and can’t afford to wait for players to develop. For this reason, more experience needs to be bought in before the closure of the transfer window, most notably in central defence and up front.
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