A point gained
The Hawthorns is a happy hunting ground for the Foxes. It is 15 years since they were last defeated by the Baggies.
Leicester started brightly but in their very first venture into the away side’s half, the impressively-named Samuel Iling-Junior waltzed through the centre of the Foxes’ defence before slotting the ball past Jakub Stolarczyk. It was abject defending. Wout Faes took far too long to engage the WBA attacker and Jannik Vesterggard was nowhere to be seen.
Leicester’s play was neat but much too slow. There was very little penetration, and when the odd chance was created it was missed.
In the second half, with Julian Carranza on for Jordan James, the Foxes played a little quicker and more direct but again created very little. Shots were misdirected and the Baggies should really have extended their lead. Tempers flared as the referee made a number of controversial decisions.
And then, in the fourth minute of injury time, a hopeful cross from Abdul Fatawu eluded the Albion central defenders, and Bobby De Cordova Reid, on as a late substitute, hooked the ball across the box for Nathanial Phillips to inadvertently divert the ball into his own net.
Once again, it was another unsatisfactory performance from Leicester but unlike last weekend this was definitely one point won rather than two points lost.
A troubled soul
Much of the Leicester talk before the game on Friday night focused on Stephy Mavididi’s performances so far this season. It has been a struggle for him with some lacklustre outings and no goals or assists. The winger’s miss when through on goal against Coventry symbolised his struggle. He has looked a shadow of the player who lit up the Championship last time round. The big selection question heading into the game against the Baggies, then, was whether Jeremy Monga would get a starting berth ahead of his more experienced teammate.
It is important that, at this early stage of his professional career, the sixteen-year-old is not exposed too much to the rigours of first team football, but the winger’s promise is such that it might be the time to unleash him from kick off.
Not surprisingly, given what we know about Marti Cifuentes’ tendency to be very conservative in his team selections and his public support for Mavididi, it was an unchanged side that took the field against WBA. Although he did some useful things in the first half, Mavididi still looked way off his best. At times he appeared to be trying too hard. It was no surprise when he was substituted for Monga in the 64th minute. To be fair to the player he replaced, the youngster didn’t offer that much more and was booked for simulation.
Goalscoring a problem
If anything is going to derail Leicester’s promotion surge this season (ignoring, for a moment, the likely points deduction) it will be their inability to score enough goals. Against Coventry last time out, for instance, the home side edged it in terms of chances created but failed to find the net when well placed to do so. There was a similar pattern in the latest match. Of the current top 6 in the Championship, only Preston have scored fewer goals than City (seven as opposed to the Foxes’ nine) with Middlesborough, Bristol City and Coventry already well into double figures despite having played one game less.
With the departure of Jamie Vardy it is, perhaps, unsurprising that scoring goals has become a problem for Leicester. His replacement in the number 9 shirt – Jordan Ayew – has put in some impressive shifts but he has only scored once this season. Meanwhile, Patson Daka continues to struggle in front of goal. Much will depend, in the coming weeks and months, I think, on how successfully Cifuentes tackles this problem.
One answer might be the new on-loan striker Julian Carranza. However, his two substitute appearances so far have been less than impressive. Against the Baggies he had half the game to show his worth but looked off the pace. Like Monga, too, he was booked for simulation.
It may be that the Leicester boss has to dive into the transfer market in January although, by then, it might be too late. Alternatively, it might be the style of play that has to change. At present, the build-up is too slow and too little time is spent in the attacking third. What is for sure, the Foxes cannot afford to lose Abdul Fatawu in January since, with two goals this season, he might be the one to make up for the lack of an out and out predator up front.