Leicester 2-1 Burnley Report – By Simon Mack

Leicester City 2 – 1 Burnley

19^th October 2019 15:00

Attendance: 32016

The foxes remembered their late Chairman Khun Vichai and went home with all 3 points at King Power Stadium on Saturday.

A walk from Leicester University to the site of the tragic helicopter accident almost a year ago was attended by thousands of the foxes faithful , and as the home fans collected their scarves from their seats a minutes silence to mark the chairman’s passing was impeccably observed.

Taking to the field there was one change for city as Dennis Praet was replaced in the starting eleven by Ayonze Perez. The Belgian international had returned a day later than the rest of the squad due to personal reasons, and it could have been this or Rodger’s tactical thought processes that saw the Spaniard get the nod.

This was a very mixed bag of a performance from city and early exchanges were in that vein, with Burnley making it difficult for the home side to deploy their passing game to maximum effect.

Former fox and Burnley striker Chris Wood was a nuisance to city all afternoon, and despite city having the lion’s share of the possession it was the New Zealander that went closest with a sliding effort that Schmeichel just managed to prevent taking the lead after the ball had ricocheted around the home box.

James Maddison went close soon after when his curling effort from the edge of the box was deflected out for a corner by Ben Mee, yet despite the foxes dominance of ball share it was the clarets that took the lead when Dwight McNeil looped a hopeful cross toward Wood at the back post and the clarets forward leapt above three surrounding city suitors and nodded the ball home high into the roof of the city net.

As the Burney fans found their voice Vardy broke clear on goal but was pushed wide by the path of the ball and his strike went into the side netting. As the clarets visiting fans began to rib the foxes hero he answered their cat calls in the way he knows best and rose like a salmon at the back post to meet Harvey Barnes superb cross just before the half and level the scores. Vardy’s goal celebration let everyone know he had not appreciated the comments of the travelling support but he had answered them handsomely and rescued the foxes spluttering first half display to send them into the break level.

The visitors had set their stall to spoil Leicester’s efforts throughout the afternoon and the 2^nd half was no different. Not only were they slowing down and delaying proceedings at every turn but their play itself was designed to spoil the silky passing game of their hosts. And this worked again to good effect as the match continued with the foxes greater possession largely being wasted and efforts on target squandered. Maddison fired a powerful shot over the bar in front of the family stand, and as city blustered in their attempts to take the lead the largely ineffective Perez was sacrificed for Demari Gray on the right. Shortly after it was Gray that was involved in some clever interplay with city right back Ricardo, and the resultant ‘pinged’ cross to the back of the box found Youri Tielemans in space and he took one touch and royally hammered the ball into the roof of the net to give the home side the lead.

Tielemans had been the stand out player on the afternoon not just for city but the entire pitch. His passing incisive, his positioning thoughtful and his endeavour full of drive. The Belgian had shone once again whilst away on international duty and it was hugely pleasing for the foxes faithful to see him return from scoring for his nation and bring that sublime quality into his performance for club once again.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers deployed Wes Morgan at the back giving the home side a 5 man defence to see out the win, but as the clarets pressed for an equaliser late on it was that man Tielemans that was robbed of the ball just inside the foxes half and an incisive ball forward found city’s biggest pest all afternoon Chris Wood. The New Zealander’s initial shot was blocked by Schmeichel but the rebound fell into Wood’s path and as the ball tricked into the goal Jonny Evans was the only line of city defence between Wood and the goal. As Wood wheeled away in celebration of his late equaliser Evans and Schmeichel protested to the referee that Evans has been fouled as his path collided with the claret’s striker. The ‘VAR Review’ notification on the big screens of King Power Stadium seemed to take an age to appear, but they did, and the goal was chalked back off the score sheet for Wood’s foul on Evans as he dribbled the ball home.

At the final whistle the foxes celebrated another home win and a rise in the league table to 2^nd spot. And whilst last time out away to league leader’s Liverpool the Foxes came home feeling robbed of a point this one had more of a feeling of fortune that we’d secured all three. Post-match viewing of the disallowed goal showed that Chris Wood’s contact on Jonny Evans was minimal, and it was one of those that if it goes for you then you are breathing a sigh of relief but when it goes against you then the bus ride home is full of annoyance.

All that said despite the clarets best efforts to spoil and the foxes own wasteful and disjointed play at times Leicester got the job done and secured all three points. It’s not always going to be beautiful and this was more akin to a junior school kid’s art project that a Mona Lisa….. some promise… some nice bits… but overall no oil painting.

Simon’s player ratings:

Schmeichel: 5.5 A couple of shaky moments and some decent saves too. A mixed bag today.

Ricardo: 6.5 The pick of the defence for me today. Tireless in his efforts both in defence and attack and worked well with Gray to provide the match winning cross.

Evans: 6 Lucky to have his protests upheld for the clarets equaliser that wasn’t. Tried to get things going quickly when he had the chance.

Soyunchu: 6 Nothing really of standout note be it positive or negative. Always works hard.

Chilwell: 5.5 Still looks a tad off colour, Some wayward passing here and there but working with purpose for the cause.

Ndidi: 6.5 Broke it up and in the throng of the match often today.  Did his job without error.

Barnes: 6.5 Provided a superb cross for Vardy’s goal and beat his man here and there.

Tielemans: 7 MOTM Not only for the superb winning goal but for his clever passing and effort too today he was the best player on the park.

Maddison: 7 Worked hard, had chances, some creative passing. Subbed for Praet and maybe still not fully recovered from both his ankle knock and ‘Casino gate’.

Perez: 5.5 Having impressed with his cameo at Anfield this was back to what we’ve been more used to from the Spaniard. Not sure if it’s being played wide or just his own form that is the issue.

Vardy: 7 Not quite his usual chase everything down self today. Rose superbly to head the foxes level and berated himself viciously for hitting the side netting from close.

Subs:

Gray: 6.5 Superb cross to Tielemans for the winning goal. Some neat work.

Praet & Morgan also used.