Bristol City 1-0 Leicester: 3 things we learned
With all of the build up across nearly three weeks without league football, we were hoping for a Leicester City that was up for nine cup finals. Alas, we've been here before just in a different guise. This was another defeat to add to the other four from the last six games. This continues a run of form that sees the club now desperately clinging on to an automatic spot they've been in for most of the season. So what did we learn?
By Damon Carter
Finishing isn't the only problem
It's pretty obvious so we'll leave the unnecessary statements alone, but Jamie Vardy will cut a frustrated figure after this game. A first-half chance that rubbed the post could have opened the scoring, but it was the second-half chances that will leave a bitter taste in the mouth. A clear chance bearing down on goal that was hit straight at the goalkeeper and then a gift that should easily have opened the scoring. Max O'Leary deserves immense credit for pulling off the saves but the Foxes No.9 will know he should have done better.
Wingers Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu continue to lack confidence with odd final balls and a reluctance to go out wide against defenders. They both missed chances that they should have done better with, but it was their complete lack of aggression and belief that showed through in most of their play and has been a big feature in their recent poor run of form.
The headlines will no doubt draw attention to the missed opportunities and the narrative will draw upon those issues as did manager Enzo Maresca in his post-match interview. But the defensive issues, which have been a consistent problem reared their head again with Wout Faes getting turned in the first half and nearly giving away a penalty and a potential red card. He also allowed a clear chance to get past him and had it not been for a quick Mads Hermansen double save, Leicester could have been down early in the first half. The goal itself was a nice strike from Anis Mehmeti but a reluctance or an inability from Hamza Choudhury to get close to his opponent was a stark reminder that Enzo Maresca's men have only managed three clean sheets in their last 13 league games. These defensive issues will need addressing immediately if they are to get their season back on track.