A good test
Leicester have been frustratingly inconsistent this season. Some good performances and results – against teams such as Derby County, Stoke City, Birmingham City and Swansea – have been combined with some wretched outcomes. There has been an inability to put in a full 90-minute display which, too often, has resulted in snatching a defeat or draw from the jaws of victory.
Saturday’s opponents offered the chance for the Foxes to show they are realistic promotion candidates. The Tractor Boys have recovered from an indifferent start and, prior to the game at the King Power Stadium, sat nine places and six points above City in fourth place. A comparison between Leicester and Saturday’s opponents, though, reveals a great deal. Ipswich, like the Foxes, were relegated from the Premier League last season. In addition, they have sold their best players such as Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap.
In other respects, though, the clubs couldn’t be more different. As Jordan Blackwell points out in the Leicester Mercury, financial mismanagement at the King Power Stadium prevented the Foxes from reinvesting in the squad for this season. Three loan deals and two who arrived as free agents was the height of their ambition. Ipswich, on the other hand, spent £50 million on 11 new players. Good as Kieran McKenna undoubtedly is, it is extremely questionable whether he could have done any better than Marti Cifuentes in the City hot seat with the resources available.
Holding out
Despite conceding a sloppy goal, the Foxes held out for a very welcome 3-1 win at the King Power Stadium. For three quarters of the game, Leicester were well on top. Two goals in the first half, the first a good shot by Bobby De Cordova Reid, his third goal in consecutive matches and the second a spectacular strike by Abdul Fatawu (see below).
In the second half, Leicester appeared to have learnt from the last game. Against Bristol, they sat back, vacated the midfield and invited pressure. On Saturday, by contrast, they came out for the second half with the intention of continuing to take the game to Ipswich. In the 52ndminute, they were rewarded with a third goal courtesy of a close-range shot from Jordan Ayew.
On 70 minutes, however, a suicidal pass out from the back by Jakub Stolarczk was intercepted and Ipswich were back in the game. Buoyed by their reinvigorated fans, the away side then looked threatening and Leicester, once again, went too deep despite the protestations of Marti Cifuentes who was urging them to move up the pitch.
A victory against promotion rivals is to be welcomed. Despite the advantages possessed by the away side, Leicester showed they can compete with the best sides in the Championship. Cifuentes seems to have established his best team and, should they stay fit, a play-off place could be a realistic target.
Fatawu from the halfway line
In more than 50 years of watching the Foxes play I have seen some spectacular goaIs. I have never, though, seen a Leicester player score from inside his own half. Step forward Abdul Fatawu. It was quite brilliant. Picking up the ball he drove towards the halfway line before, with exquisite timing and direction, knocking the ball over the head of the Ipswich keeper who was some way off his line. It was a goal worthy of winning any match.
Fatawu’s overall contribution on Saturday was excellent. As well as the goal he was a constant threat on the wing giving the Ipswich left back Leif Davis a torrid time. Foxes’ fans will be hoping that no Premier League clubs come in with a large bid for him in January.