On Tuesday night, Leicester City Football Club threw away a one-goal lead over a decent but not ferocious or eye-catching Middlesbrough side. Unfortunately for the Foxes team, as well as their Blue Army fan base, they conceded in the final seconds of the game. And this was indeed an important Championship outing for the East Midlands outfit who hold, now rather optimistic, designs on switft promotion back to the Premier League.
It is vital to be on top of your game in every single match in England's second division. But the visitors (did) occupy an automatic ascension spot on the table. Boro had also lost their previous fixture in the league so felt there for the taking in some respects. Once City went ahead due to a Jordan Ayew penalty and Rob Edwards' men had a defender dismissed, an LCFC win seemed on the cards to some.
Yet we were watching with one eye open as Leicester fell into the trap of being too defensive. The home club allowed pressure; a fragility was evident. Sadly our premonition was accurate as veteran, substitute goalkeeper Asmir Begovic stayed rooted whilst a catchable, hopeful cross looped up for what seemed an age.
Leicester City goalie Asmir Begovic goes from hero to villain
The King Power was stunned when Luke Ayling rose above Caleb Okoli who appeared equally grounded for some reason. Though the 'keeper was more at fault. Begovic should have 100 per cent claimed that delivery.
Modern stoppers don't seem to want to catch anything arriving into their boxes aerially at present. They gently parry to oncoming strikers; not to mention punching weakly instead of claiming comfortably!
Jakub Stolarczyk injury update
The 38-year-old actually made a heroic save in a one-on-one situation before staying on his line when it mattered most. Begovic replaced Stolarczyk at half-time because of a groin issue. City boss Marti Cifuentes offered details after the final whistle:
"I don’t know (if he’ll be fit for Norwich). He felt his groin, it was getting worse. It was minute eight or nine that he was feeling it. Probably tomorrow (Wednesday) we’ll get some news on that."Cifuentes, via LCFC Live