7 minute read
September Foxes review by Damon Carter
After an unprecedented August of success for Enzo’s swaggering Leicester City, a trickier September loomed on the horizon with sterner questions to be asked. Could Leicester City maintain their 100% record? Which players would show commitment to the cause after the transfer window? And would the Foxes improve on their 4-0 pre-season thrashing by Liverpool in the EFL cup?
2nd September - Foxes 0 Tigers (not the rugby) 1 - Championship
First question answered then, no the 100% record did not last long into September. Liam Delap’s deflected strike settled the match for Liam Rosenior’s men. Not for the want of trying, as the Foxes could have taken something here with better finishing from Cesare Casadei and Jamie Vardy both agonisingly close. A slice of luck could have gone their way as on-loan winger Abdul Fatawu cut into the box before crashing a low shot against the post.
The Foxes dominated possession as usual but their casual approach to jeopardy perhaps cost them slightly here as the sense of urgency to get back into the game never quite materialised. It is to be expected though, this is only the second time they have trailed a match this season. But going into the international break they had won six out of seven games. Not too shabby after the car crash of last season.
15th September – Saints 1 Foxes 4 - Championship
No Friday night away victory on any south coast will ever be as good as that one in 2019, but this was still a thoroughly enjoyable way to return to winning ways.
Roughly 25 seconds was all the Southampton fans were able to enjoy in terms of parity as serial tormentor Jamie Vardy opened his league account for the season to stun the St Mary’s crowd. Most significantly in that build up was Stephy Mavididi, who caused Russell Martin’s team all sorts of problems throughout the game. He set up the third goal with great persistence and poise to an unrecognisably skilful Wilfred Ndidi who weaved into the box and finished with class and composure.
Mavdidi continued his tormenting throughout and not just to his opponents. His own teammates were getting wound up by him, as he should have played Jamie Vardy in for an open goal tap-in that went wide. He followed that up by not giving Kiernan DewsburyHall the ball, but instead produced a glossy finish to put the game to bed. Mavididi is becoming a fan favourite, but he will need to get better at decisive moments in games to become a player that could cause havoc at this level.
Let’s also not forget some other players who although not grabbing headlines have had extraordinary starts to the season. Kasey McAteer produced another excellent run and finish to cap a fine performance in his breakthrough season. Whilst Jannik Vestergaard, a man whose forgettable Leicester City career appeared to be over long ago has been given a new lease of life, he’s now keeping Connor Coady on the bench as he pulls out consistently solid performances. It’s amazing what a player can do when treated right by his coaching staff.
One key part of this emphatic victory, lies in the statistics. This was the first time this season that the Foxes had surrendered possession stats and indeed, made fewer passes than their opponents. Beware any team that tries to take this side on at their own game.
20th September – Canaries 0-2 Foxes - Championship
From Southampton to Norfolk, Leicester continued their impressive form at Carrow Road, which was no small feat when considering the opposition had a 100% home record. Changes were made with Iheanacho switching with Vardy, Choudhury taking in the tricky inverted full back/defensive midfield position, whilst Yunus Akgun and Cesare Casadei replaced Ndidi and Dewsbury-Hall in the attacking number eight positions.
A cagey first half saw the game only separated by Leicester’s first penalty of the season after Stephy Mavididi was upended. Kelechi Iheanacho fired into the roof of the net much to the annoyance of the home faithful. Mavididi could also have put some gloss on the score line heading into half time, but his spritely run ended in a shot going narrowly wide.
This ignited David Wagner’s men into action in the second half as they went in search of an equaliser. Shane Duffy’s solid header was saved dramatically by Mads Hermansen for one of the best saves so far this season. Not long after Hermansen gave the ball away deep in Foxes territory, Kenny McLean snapped up the ball and side footed a long-range strike against the crossbar. Lady luck was smiling on Enzo Maresca’s men.
Kasey McAteer should have then added to his tally but misplaced an open goal header over the bar. He didn’t have long to wait to make amends as Dewsbury-Hall opened his body out from a neat first touch and unselfishly (take note Mavididi) timed a pass perfectly for McAteer to tap in his fourth Leicester City goal. The 100% away record continued as the club continued their impressive form and gave Mads Hermansen his first Leicester City clean sheet.
23rd September – Leicester City 1 Leicester veterans 0 Championship
Hermansen’s next clean sheet didn’t have long to wait. A well organised Robins side made life tricky without ever truly threatening their opponents as Leicester produced a solid defensive display. Fatawu, Mavididi and Dewsbury-Hall all went close on occasions. The eventual goal came from another penalty with Wilfred Ndidi once again proving a problem for opponents being tripped from a lazy leg from Kai Naismith. Jamie Vardy gleefully stepped up to notch his third goal of the season before running all the way to the away end to mock their support who had previously tried to wind him up. Another three points in the bag to send Leicester to the top of the league.
In truth, many of the Leicester City sentimentalists pencilled the visit of Bristol City as for many this was an opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ to some true Foxes greats that have earned their place in Leicester City history, including Dave Rennie and Matty James. But the main adolation was given to Andy King and Nigel Pearson. King fought back the tears as the home support sang his name loud and proud. The normally stoic Pearson had a similar moment of emotion The impact he had on the club’s success will live long in the memory, taking them from the lowest point in their history and back to the promised land in the space of six years (with a year out and a mess to clear up).
27th September – This Means More FC 3- Foxes 1 – Carabao Cup
Despite 10 changes to the weekend’s team, the Foxes started lively with a devastating counter-attack that was rounded off by Kasey McAteer slotting home at the Kop end for his fifth goal of the season
Three minutes into the second half, Jurgen Klopp’s men were level from Cody Gakpo. The Foxes held on bravely but were living on the edge. Dominik Szoboszlai cracked in an unstoppable shot into the top corner on the 70th minute and the ever-dislikeable Diogo Jota scored his ninth goal in 13 games against the Foxes to send them crashing out.
Two key things seemed apparent from this game. This is still very early in Enzo Maresca’s project and Leicester are a long way off the Premier League right now, in more ways than one
