Bristol City 1-0 Leicester City: Three Foxes who let the side down
Leicester City have lost again in a tight title and promotion race where they currently sit third after being 17 points clear prior. Let us explore which players let the Foxes down against Bristol City.
The King Power club fell to a late defeat after a terrific strike from Anis Mehmeti after being gifted too much space on the edge of our box. Enzo Maresca will be cursing the performance in silence: 61% possession and seven shots off target.
Instead of publicly shaming the players, the Italian head coach shamed the supporters he saw as turning against the team despite the broadly successful season up until now:
"We need them. They have been brilliant until today and we need them until the end"
- Enzo Maresca via LeicestershireLive
The only thing I shall comment on this point from Maresca, is that Foxes supporters owe only loyalty to the badge when the team is performing poorly. The supporters deserve the right the criticise and demand more from the players: particularly those who are paid tens of thousands every week to represent that badge and had got the club into such a dominant position.
Leicester City’s let downs
1. Jamie Vardy
Five shots, three off target, two absolute gilt-edge opportunities missed, and only a 65% passing accuracy. Jamie Vardy is a legend, but his performance against the Robins was lacklustre at best, and Enzo Maresca kept him on up until the 74th minute after we already lost the tie. A disappointing outing: Kelechi Iheanacho could have come on earlier.
2. Hamza Choudhury
Partly at fault for Bristol City’s goal, the usually impassioned and defensively-minded academy graduate was great throughout most of the match, but fell short at the most important time. Leaving too much space, a lack of positional awareness and understanding his opponents: the Robins were gifted too much time on the ball, and took their chance.
3. Stephy Mavididi
For weeks, the previously clinical and explosive winger has had fans on their seats with technical expertise and a strikers instinct. However, with a lack of finishing and a lack of chance creation at fault, Mavididi can play well and do little. Leicester’s winger saw only a single shot: a tame effort straight at Max O’Leary.
The past few weeks have illustrated a malaise in the Foxes’ starting XI. A weak mentality which needs to be winning to hold onto hope, which needs fans unending support to succeed. This cannot continue. Poor performances cannot be rewarded with spots in the team. Maresca needs a plan b for Leicester City.
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