Unfortunately, Leicester City Football Club were not able to build on the positive momentum gained in the terrific win in Wales versus Swansea City. The Foxes were subsequently held (after another draining international week led to a potentially impactful domestic hiatus for the East Midlanders) by Portsmouth at King Power Stadium. Oh dear; that was certainly not the outcome us members of the Blue Army fan base were hoping for.
Not many supporters nor spectators were expecting Pompey to hold much sway up on Filbert Way. On the contrary, the visitors were a better exhibition of themselves than expected. Maybe their defeat of Middlesbrough should have been a more telling omen or warning sign in that sense. But one or two of LCFC's problems on the pitch do require explanations. Chiefly, the matter of an unfit Fox competing is definitely a strange one; with what is said to be reasonable justification.
So, why did Leicester head coach Marti Cifuentes allow an injured player to continue playing on? And why did the former Queens Park Rangers manager not substitute the professional in question? Let's have a look, shall we?!
Why Leicester City allowed an injured player to continue & didn't sub him
First of all, Leicester are creating plenty of opportunities. 17 shots is a more than acceptable amount for a game of this type. Six on target shows that City created viable chances for their attackers and midfielders too.
However, the most concerning element of Cifuentes' side is the lack of a finisher. I'm not going to pine over or even mention Jamie Vardy - promise. But there we have it.
Although, the most contentious aspect of the evening was probably Bobby De Cordova-Reid playing injured. De Cordova-Reid immediately suffered a 'hamstring injury' upon being brought on. Yet, because City had no substitutions remaining, he wasn't withdrawn:
"Unfortunately, the last 15 minutes, Bobby felt something in his hamstring, so we were playing with 10 men. He couldn’t sprint."Marti Cifuentes, via LCFC Live