JibrinLeicester City missed the opportunity to capitalise on defeats for their relegation rivals by taking something from their home encounter with Norwich City.
Second-half strikes from Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed, paired with a lethargic display, meant the Foxes slipped to a 2-0 loss, their fourth consecutive reverse on home soil.
As a result they were unable to use Gary Rowett’s first home match in charge to cut the deficit on West Brom, Blackburn or Portsmouth. Indeed Albion’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Oxford saw United close to within two points of City.
Here’s what stood out on a dispiriting afternoon at the King Power
Disappointment
In the vast chasm between expectation and reality lurks disappointment.
At least that’s how it felt at the King Power Stadium yesterday lunchtime as two encouraging away displays, the one at Middlesbrough in stark contrast to virtually anything else produced on the road this season, generated hope Gary Rowett’s first home match in charge would be a turning point. It wasn’t.
Foxes fans arrived with just a flicker of optimism that the improved industry and mental resilience evident on Teesside would be both replicated and result in a precious victory.
Unfortunately Tuesday night’s intensity was not repeated and while the Foxes were still in the contest at 0-0, they were never truly in command of it.
Rowett conceded afterwards his players didn’t toil hard enough with the ball or without it, which leaves the question why?
Two clear explanations jump out. Firstly they invested so much effort against Boro, a side that featured only one set of fresh legs – due to injury constraints – was always going to struggle to go back to back in five days. At this point it should be mentioned Norwich had 24 hours less recovery time and even with 14 players sidelined were willing to make four alterations.
The other suggestion is there is psychological scar tissue accumulated from playing at the King Power, where three straight defeats, a pre-match protest and mounting discontent among the fanbase have made home games an uncomfortable ordeal. Rowett felt the players were jittery. Poor lambs.
Whatever it was, this feeble display has achieved one thing – ensuring the gap between expectation and reality won’t be so vast at Portman Road next Saturday.
Fire-starters
Having been encouraged by what he’d witnessed and heard on his travels with City, Rowett was asked in his pre-match press conference about what he’d hoped for from the home faithful. He was hesitant to place too much responsibility on the supporters.
He said: ‘I’m not a big believer in that the fans have to lift the players. I think the players have to show a performance that allows the fans to get behind.”
To be fair to the King Power faithful they were eager, there was warm applause for the players when they emerged from the tunnel, a generous reception for Rowett himself and then it was a case of ‘don’t tell us, show us’.
When there was something to ignite the atmosphere, it lifted but there wasn’t enough.
A corner early in the second half raised the temperature, a challenge from Ricardo Pereira did likewise but supporters need to witness more, a thunderous tackle, a surging run, a piece of ingenuity. There wasn’t enough to be enthused about and Norwich never really had to contend with a hostile fusion between those on the pitch and those in the stands. It was difficult not to feel underwhelmed nor escape the conclusion the players hadn’t fulfilled the brief.
Top down
Among the crowd was Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha who was no doubt hoping to witness something that would give him heart.
In his programme notes he wrote of ‘the vital connection between our players and our fans’. As mentioned above, the players didn’t do enough to earn that.
What he would have observed, though, was a team that lacks a viable outlet up front, with Patson Daka unable to make any impact eventually replaced by Jordan Ayew, whose introduction, it’s fair to say, was not met with a warm reception.
The chairman must surely be questioning himself how the recruitment department have left this season’s managers so bereft of striking options. Between them Daka and Ayew have only seven Championship goals – Jordan James, a midfielder who hasn’t featured for two months, has nine on his own. Abdul Fatawu can be infuriating but he has 15 goal involvements.
City are going to find every game a grind with such an unimpressive selection up front. Whatever happens this season or next a club of City’s stature cannot be left so vulnerable in the most crucial position.
Hopefully James will swiftly rediscover his rhythm because without him and Fatawu finding the back of the net it’s very difficult to foresee the team scoring the goals that will relieve the pressure on their shaky defence. It’s a significant burden to place on a loan player but his comeback could not be better timed.
Late call
Asmir Begovic’s ankle problem saw him removed from the teamsheet before kick-off and replaced with Jakub Stolarczyk.
The Pole had been No. 1 for most of Marti Cifuentes’ tenure before Andy King dropped him for the trip to Birmingham City, with the 25-year-old’s save percentage in the lower reaches of the division. According to website FBREF Begovic’s has actually been poorer.
Overall Stolarczyk did reasonably well on his recall. He produced an important fingertip save after Paris Maghoma was permitted to run 50 yards straight through the heart of the City team in the first half.
He also denied an unmarked Ben Slimane a few minutes before the Tunisia international broke the deadlock. His handling and distribution were solid.
The only frantic moment also arrived in the second half when he rushed from his goal but was beaten to the ball and needed a combination of the offside flag and a sliding intervention from his captain to prevent it from being the kind of blunder that seems to loom in the background.
Rowett suspects Begovic might sit out the Ipswich game which should see the Stolarczyk handed the chance to register a first clean sheet in 30 Championship matches. Yes, it’ll be 30.
Jibrin
