The King Power side failed to make team selection changes count as they fell to defeat against Forest at home. Despite this, Leicester continue to battle just above the relegation zone and will look to maintain their gap to the bottom group in coming matches. That being said, the Foxes will need to do better than against Nottingham.
Nottingham Forest did play well. This is where former Leicester City and Nottingham Forest central defender Wes Morgan comes into the picture: Morgan praised the Forest team, although that will probably annoy Leicester supporters. It also did not help that Nottingham Forest supporters were singing Steve Cooper's name.
Leicester Legend Praises Rivals
Wes Morgan commented on the team Nuno Espírito Santo has developed at our rivals. We have got to look at their side and understand the work that has been done in signing quality talent such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga, and, of course, the currently sensational Chris Wood. Chris Wood is another former Fox who excels at playing against his former club for our local rivals.
"what I like about this Forest side, they’re very organised, they’re well-drilled they’re prepared not to necessarily have the most possession but they’ll soak things up and then come into their own. They ride the wave"Wes Morgan
Forest's head coach excels at constructing impressive defensive structures that can - as Morgan comments - soaks up pressure and then look to push out swiftly and grow into a game. Nottingham Forest are not following the same philosophy Leicester City try to apply: where the Blues opt for possession and a crescendo of passes, the Reds willingly dismiss possession for swift progression and pacy counters. A battle of opposites, and Forest got the better of the Foxes as a result.
Just observing the statistics which came from the fixture, we can see what Morgan means. Steve Cooper's side had 65% of the possession, yet only created 11 chances, with only one of those being on target. That is atrocious. Compare that to 35% possession, 20 chances, five on target and three of those being goals. Nottingham Forest prevented a dominating Leicester City from creating killer opportunities and pounced on a disorganised and seemingly unshielded Foxes defence.
"In transition, they’re fantastic with Hudson-Odoi and Elanga and of course when you’ve got someone up top like Wood – he said in his interview, he’s not the type of player to take on three or four players and he needs that service"Wes Morgan
That front three Forest has is irritatingly good. It is exactly the solid attacking force the King Power side needs: one Cooper has only just used against Nottingham Forest. Morgan has recognised them for getting the ball to Chris Wood, who has been on fire in recent matches. Jamie Vardy similarly has been consistent when the chances come, but those chances are barely coming in comparison to Wood.
Steve Cooper needs to learn from what Wes Morgan means and what Nottingham Forest is doing so well under Nuno. Select your best available XI, drill them defensively, keep them compact and proactive in getting into defensive positions, and then we can look at the attacking side. There is work to do, and the Foxes need that work done swiftly.