If anyone thought that League 1 would be a stroll for the Foxes, this game and performance would disabuse them. Yes, Leicester dominated possession, but the best chances fell to a physical Notts County and the home side deserved their late equaliser.
In the first fifteen minutes, Notts County were the better team. Leicester looked off the pace continually getting caught in possession. In the fifth minute, debutant keeper Alex McCarthy was too slow in distributing the ball and County’s Ollie Cooper raced in to deflect the ball onto the crossbar.Â
The Foxes grew into the game as the first half progressed and some astute movement created chances for Bobby De Cordova Reid, playing, once again, as a false nine, and Sammy Braybrooke who turned exquisitely in the box and curled a shot just past the post.Â
The second half followed a similar pattern with periods of Notts County pressure accompanied by Leicester possession. A good cross field pass from Sammy Braybrooke to West Burns on the right almost led to a goal but the latter’s cross was just too far ahead of Reid who beat the goalkeeper to the ball but then allowed a home defender to clear.
On the hour mark, Leicester took the lead. After a 44 pass move involving all 11 Leicester players, Braybrooke found Jayden Joseph on the edge of the area and his shot beat the County keeper at the near post. The home side came back strongly as the Foxes defended deeper. With 10 minutes of normal time to go a cross into the box was headed onto the post. With Harry Souttar appealing for offside, the ball fell to Conor Grant who directed the ball past McCarthy.
Leicester offered very little in response and the game drifted to an end with both sides taking something from the game.
Preparing for departures
As I wrote in an eve of season piece, there will probably be more ins and outs before the transfer window closes on September 1st. In a pre-match interview, Russell Martin made the significant comment that Stephy Mavididi and Wout Faes were not included in the match day squad at Meadow Lane because there had been considerable interest in both players, neither of whom are likely to stay.Â
Good and bad
On a positive note for the future, all three young debutant players in the starting line-up (Braybrooke, Alves and Joseph) had promising games. It was fitting that all three were centrally involved in the move that led to Leicester’s goal. Alves was a constant threat on the left, Braybrooke offered some delightful touches in midfield and Joseph showed he is capable defensively and in an attacking sense.Â
At the back, Caleb Okoli looked assured although Souttar was unusually indecisive at times. Oliver Skipp had a decent match but too often gave the ball away in dangerous areas. Luke Thomas had a poor game continually getting caught in possession and failing to cut out the cross from which Notts County scored.
Striker problems
As I commented after the cup game against Northampton last weekend, Martin’s decision to play Reid as a false nine didn’t work and yet he persisted with it at Meadow Lane. The lack of a focal point in Leicester’s forward line was a real problem against Notts County and is likely to continue unless tackled. The need for a player who is able to hold the ball up, allowing midfield players to join the attack, and sniff out chances in the box is paramount. Martin waited until the equaliser before bringing on Admir Bristrić but by then it was too late.
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