Leicester 2-1 Spurs! By Simon Mack

Leicester 2 – 1 Tottenham

21^st September 2019 12:30

Referee: Paul Tierney

Leicester City staged a fine second half comeback to overcome Tottenham Hotspur’s goal advantage and run out the victors at King Power Stadium on a warm autumn afternoon.

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers picked a starting line-up that included Harvey Barnes and Ayonze Perez in midfield, and the early exchanges saw both sides create some decent chances in the final third.

Spurs haven’t won on the road in the league since January, and came close to falling behind in the 16^th minute when Wilfred Ndidi eventually bundled home from a melee that occurred inside the visitors 6 yard box. But once the raucous city celebrations were over up came the dreaded ‘VAR Review’ notification on the scoreboard and a minute or two later it was the spurs fans that were in delirium as the goal was chalked off for offside. From Tielemans initial strike the ball had been spilled, but when he struck the ball toward goal 3 city players were in offside positions….. no goal? Well VAR deemed it no goal.

The overturn seemed to physiologically lift the visitors, and their flowing and powerful play lead to a move near the half hour that saw Harry Kane bearing down on Kasper Schmeichel in the home goal, as the challenge came in from behind he fell to the floor but somehow prostate still managed to strike the ball home in what appeared to be a second of improvised genius.

As referee Paul Tierney frustrated the home supporters Tottenham seemed imperious in their strides forward and physical edge and the half time whistle blew with the visiting side in control of this niggly and roving match that at times had felt like it might spiral out of control as tackles flew in and the referee struggled to retain authority.

City had their share of play in the first half and had a goal chalked off that pre VAR would have stood, but you felt something from the foxes needed to shift in the second period if anything was to come from this full bloodied encounter for the home side.

Que the second half.

The foxes started the 2^nd period of this match with more of the same in terms of personnel and style, and early on it looked like spurs might overpower their hosts and break their road duck finally at Leicester.

Que VAR.

Serge Aurier drilled a powerful drive into the far corner past Schmeichel and wheeled away to celebrate his doubling of the lead in front of the visiting supporters, but just as the spurs players began to make their way back to commence the game up came that dreaded flash of the scoreboard…. ‘VAR Review’. A minute or two later the goal was overturned as Son was apparently in an offside position during the early phases of the play.

As a city fan waiting for the decision to pop up on the screen sitting and waiting seemed to take forever. Given the game that had been to that point a 2 goal advantage for the visitors seemed a mountain too big to climb, but the new system once again robbed a side of a goal in this high octane match and from that point on things began to change.

City’s summer deadline day signing Dennis Praet had been waiting on the touchline to join the fray when spurs had doubled / not doubled their lead, and he was immediately introduced after the game recommenced.  City then changed their system with Harvey Barnes joining the lone furrow of Jamie Vardy and a diamond midfield behind the pair with Ndidi at the rear and the brilliant and inspirational James Maddison to the front. With Perez withdrawn for Praet, the system change and the mental boost from the VAR decision city strode forward in more purposeful waves, and a ball drilled across goal by Jamie Vardy rolled towards Ricardo who powered into the box and struck the ball home low to level the match at 1-1.

Next up Tielemans was withdrawn for Hamza Choudhury and to the layman’s eye the city diamond midfield now had a more defensive look, but the purposeful strides forward into spurs final 3^rd continued, and it was that man Choudhury who laid the ball square into the path of the brilliant James Maddison who powered it into the corner from 25 yards to secure all 3 points for Leicester City.

This game was cram packed with passion, power and talking points.

Firstly VAR:

For me I can’t stand it. As a fan in the stadium you have no clue at all what is going on or why it’s going on either. It feels like it is geared completely for the TV audience and on both occasions during this breathless match the only way to make sense of what were major game changing decisions was to turn to your mobile phone to see why such key moments had been overturned.

For the decisions themselves having seen them back with the luxury of TV coverage the city goal did have players in offside positions, but for the Spurs goal it was yet another forensic VAR decision that if it goes against you there would be an undoubted feeling of robbery about it.

Isn’t VAR about trying to stop major gaffs from the on field officials from having a detrimental impact? Should someone who is 1.46435mm offside mean a goal is chalked off? I suppose it’s their for debate but for me I despise that type of ruling and feel it detracts hugely from the paying fan in the stadium and from the spirit, tradition and Monday morning debate with your workmates on the match. It’s a shame.

Secondly Rodgers:

Post Manchester United away last week there had been lots of talk about city’s style of play and not in the sense of the type of play Rodgers is passionate about adopting being poor but that when it doesn’t create the opportunities to win the match he’d hoped what does Rodgers do about that. At Old Trafford the system and style was followed rigidly to the death and to the defeat, but this time out it was to Rodger’s huge credit that both personnel and system changes were adopted and it worked absolutely beautifully. City won this match in my opinion because of the tactical bravery and nouse of our manager, and whilst last week there was some questions marks raised this week I believe the city boss deserves huge credit for the skill and bravery of his decisions.

Leicester City now sit in 3^rd after the exchanges this weekend to Saturday evening, and so far apart from that slight disappointment and not getting more up in Manchester the foxes season is hugely bright in its outlook and prospects.

Simon’s City player Ratings:

Scmeichel: 7 Regularly needed to keep city in the game. A confident captain’s performance that was full of passion as always.

Ricardo: 7.5 Scored the leveller and was high tempo and powerful in his forays forward whilst working hard defensively.

Evans: 7 Could have conceded a penalty but got away with it? Worked hard and constantly talking to the defensive line.

Soyunchu: 8 Imperious, passionate and high energy once again. A close run for man of the match. His late run up the field with the ball to run the clock down filled you up with his passion and pride.

Chilwell: 7 Looked exposed at times which wasn’t his fault but more of those infront of him. Did was was asked to his best.

Ndidi: 7 As always picking pockets and disrupting the game. Our anchor man didn’t let us down in this one.

Tielemans: 6.5 Not ticking still. His shot lead to the disallowed goal but still not clicking into gear s the player we all know he can be yet.

Perez: 7 A bot more from the lad today. Good feet and plenty of effort and maybe that wide berth is not quite what suits his best?

Barnes: 7.5 The pick of the rest in midfield. His ball carrying drive and effort until subbed caused problems for the visitors.

Maddison: 8.5 (MOTM) He was brilliant today. Undoubtedly at his best when played in the ‘10’ role just behind Vardy his movement, ability with ball at feet, passing and finishing late on for the winner was of the highest class. Let’s hope his injury toward the end was nothing serious.

Vardy: 7 Got some second half chances when the system changed but failed to convert. Set Ricardo up for the equaliser and was relentless in his closing down and work rate as always.

Subs:

Praet: 7.5 Looked capable at both carrying the ball forward and in defensive duties. On current form must be close on Tielemans heels for a start.

Choudhury: 7.5 Set up Madders for the winner and full bloodied and committed to the cause at both ends of the park.

Gray: n/a Not on long enough to rate. Came on for Barnes up front with Vardy. Booked within seconds of coming on.