High stakes
To say that the match against Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday was vital for the Foxes is an understatement. With only six games left, they occupied one of the relegation places in the Championship. Given that the Owls are enduring a disastrous season, this was, on paper at least, the most winnable of Leicester’s remaining fixtures.Â
As a result of financial irregularities, the South Yorkshire side were punished with an astonishing 18-point deduction this season. Even if that had not happened, Wednesday would still be languishing at the bottom of the league, having won only one, and drawn nine of their 40 games. They were relegated earlier in the season than any team in the EFL have ever been. It is not for nothing that an Observer journalist described the Hillsborough outfit as a ‘free three points dispenser’.Â
Even though Jordan James didn’t feature against Wednesday, and even though Leicester hadn’t won any of their last ten away matches, the players who were chosen (the same XI that started on Friday) should have had too much for their struggling opponents. An added bonus for the Foxes was that this represented an ideal opportunity to catch up with their relegation rivals all of whom were facing sides in and around them.Â
A familiar story
In further evidence that the form book isn' always right, a stuttering Leicester performance resulted in a woefully inadequate (some would say embarrassing) 1-1 draw. Once again the Foxes conceded early (the first minute) again from a set piece. From then on in the first half, the away side dominated possession and had several good chances to equalise. Oliver Skipp and Abdul Fatawu ought to have done better when well placed.Â
In the early part of the second half, Leicester looked lacklustre, and Wednesday should have doubled their lead on the hour mark. After Rowett made changes on 67 minutes bringing on Jordan Ayew, Bobby De Cordova Reid and Jannik Vestergaard the Foxes were totally dominant, with Ayew, in particular, making a big impact. Only the bar and the post and several outstanding saves from Pierce Charles in the home side’s goal preserved the lead. Eventually, after 84 minutes, he was beaten by a smart shot from the Leicester number nine.
Let’s be clear. This was a game Leicester should have won. They were playing the worst side in the division by a country mile. For a large part of the game the Foxes' tempo wasn’t high enough and the finishing atrocious. That’s now 52 shots in the past two games, 22 on target but only three goals. The two points lost at Hillsborough may well be pivotal in the relegation battle. Â
Any grounds to be optimistic?
It is difficult to be optimistic after such a dispiriting performance and result. Few would now bet against Leicester avoiding the drop into League One. One can’t exaggerate how severe the consequences of relegation will be for the club. Pinpointing exactly what is wrong with this Leicester side is problematic. Many Foxes’ fans are adamant that not enough of the players care about the club’s plight. That claim, of course, is difficult to prove. I’m inclined to think that more important is a lack of confidence and ability.
Most of my match reports this season have been negative. Is there anything to be said of a more optimistic nature for Foxes’ fans after such a devastating result? Okay, I know this is clutching at straws but none of Leicester’s relegation rivals won on Monday, Portsmouth drawing 2-2 with Oxford and neither Blackburn or West Bromwich scoring at Ewood Park. A further point is that Portsmouth, although having played one game fewer than their relegation rivals, have a difficult run-in facing promotion contenders Coventry, Middlesborough and Ipswich in their final six matches. Finally, City’s goal difference is significantly better than their relegation rivals.Â
Ultimately, though, it is difficult to see Leicester winning enough games to stay up. It is a sad time indeed for Foxes’ fans.