Wasteful Leicester lose out to Spurs at Wembley

Tottenham Hotspur 3:1 Leicester City

City were the better side against Tottenham in a 3-1 defeat at Wembley on Sunday, but failed to turn chances into goals…

Claude Puel starting XI saw Vardy relegated to the bench, and Tielemans in for Ndidi, though Mendy injured himself in the warm-up and Ndidi was reinstated.
The exclusion of Vardy fuelled the rumours that he had fallen out with Puel, but the Frenchman commented: “I would like to develop other options than Jamie.” 

After some early Spurs pressure we got our first glimpse of Tielemans who played a fine ball through to Gray in the 7th minute, but the threat was extinguished by Sánchez.
A minute later Maguire got a firm header to a Maddison free-kick, but Lloris managed to guide it over the bar.
Another great ball from Teilemans sent set Barnes up for a chance, but he missed the target, going narrowly wide of the right hand post.
In the 16th minute there were loud calls for a penalty when Son went down under a challenge from Maguire on edge of the area, but referee Michael Oliver produced a yellow card for simulation.
Two minutes later Rose cut in from the left and fired in a shot but Schmeichel stood firm to block from close quarters.
As the game moved from end to end Maddison wasted a decent chance with a tame, off-target effort. Then Ndidi bodged an attempt from close in after a good Chilwell cross, but the linesman’s flag spared his blushes.
Chilwell then did well to recover a ball he’d lost before setting up Barnes with a golden chance. But he snatched at his shot and sent it wide of the left hand post.
After a good spell for City it was Spurs who took a 33rd minute lead. A superb cross from Eriksen found Sánchez, who got a yard ahead of Maguire to send a thumping header past Schmeichel, for his first goal for Spurs.
City pressed forward as half time approached, but a series of corners came to nothing. The best chance came from Tielemans who retrieved a ball from the dead ball line and delivered a swerving shot that almost caught out Lloris at his near post.
But a decent performance still saw City trailing at the break, with the number of chances missed suggesting that playing without a striker might not be the best idea.

However, City started the second half unchanged.
City created the first decent chance of the half when Ricardo curled in a cross, but Gray’s header went straight at Lloris. Five minutes later Gray turned and fired in a shot, but again it lacked the striker’s instinct, going straight at Lloris.
At last Vardy was standing ready to be brought on in the 57th minute, when City were awarded a penalty after Verthongen knocked Maddison over as he was shaping to shoot.
Vardy came on for Gray, Maddison gladly handed the ball over and Vardy was in the rare position of taking a penalty with his first touch. But he sent it too close to Lloris, who guessed right and tipped it round the left hand post.
To make matters worse, Spurs then doubled their lead in the 64th minute.
As City failed to clear a Tottenham attack, Eriksen was given time and space on the edge of the area to curl a shot just inside the left hand post.
City kept pressing forward and a nod from Vardy sent Barnes clear on goal, but he completed a hat trick of misses firing the ball at Lloris with the goal gaping.
Puel made his second change in the 72nd minute, bringing Iheanacho on for Ghezzal, as City were now dominating play. They pulled a goal back in the 76th minute after a long spell of passes that ended with Ricardo curling a cross in for Vardy to sweep home from close in.
Spurs were clinging to their lead now with City piling forward, and Vardy went close with a snapshot from a Ricardo ball that just beat the angle. Then Iheanacho found the side-netting with a low shot.
But with City pressing so hard they were vunerable to the counter and Spurs sealed the points in the 90th minute. A Chilwell ball into the area gave Sissoko an opportunity to launch a ball forward to Son, Ndidi lost his footing as he tried to intercept and Son hared towards goal before producing a neat finish to win the game.

It had been another baffling performance from City, who looked excellent at times and were the better side, but not having a striker on the field for an hour led to missed chances. And then when a striker came on, he missed a spot kick.
Claude Puel reflected:“It’s the same feeling after our game against United. Another time today, we made good collective performance, with good quality and good moves. We hurt them, without finding efficiency. It’s a big shame.”

Perhaps the most positive thing about the afternoon was the performance of Tielemans, who looked a class act and should give Vardy some bullets to fire. Assuming Puel will put Vardy back in the starting line-up…

Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Rose (Walker-Peters 88), Winks, Sissoko, Skipp (Alderweireld 71), Eriksen, Llorente (Wanyama 80), Son Heung-Min.
Substitutes: Foyth, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Lucas Moura
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Ghezzal (Iheanacho 72), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Okazaki 88), Gray (Vardy 59), 
Substitutes: Simpson, Morgan, Ward, Choudhury.
Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 44,154.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

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Goal-shy Leicester edged out by United

Leicester City 0:1 Manchester United

City got off to their usual poor start and then failed to take their chances against Manchester United at the KPS on Sunday…

Claude Puel made one change to the side that drew at Anfield, with Barnes in for the injured Albrighton, while new signing Youri Tielemans didn’t make the squad.
City had conceded within the first eleven minutes for four games running and they got an early warning shot across the boughs. A good cross from Shaw found Rashford unmarked at the far post but his header missed the target from close range.
But this was only a temporary reprieve. In the 9th minute Ricardo played a ball infield from the right back position that went past Mendy, allowing Pogba to send a superb ball over the defence to Rashford. He cushioned it down into his path before crashing a shot past Schmeichel.

This left City chasing the game again, and United were fairly content to sit back.
In the 15th minute Maddison found a bit of room after some pinball on the edge of the area, but Shaw flew in to block his shot.
Maddison then set off on a run through the middle but had his heels clipped by Lingard who was yellow carded by Mike Dean.
City were doing all the attacking at this stage as proved by a pigeon that wandered round undisturbed in City’s half for a good 15 minutes. Maddison shot straight at De Gea, and Bailly stuck his head in the way of a fierce Gray shot.
A couple of City corners then saw Maguire penalised for a foul and Evans heading wide when he looked well placed to score against his former club.
As City pressed forward again Ricardo was hauled down by Matic, earning a yellow card. Although Maddision’s free kick went wrong, the ball ended up with Barnes who sent a curling effort a yard wide.
City were almost caught out in first half injury time after a poor touch from Mendy, but Rashford’s shot didn’t test Schmeichel.

City came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second half.
Barnes combined well with Maddison in a crowded area but sent his shot flying across the face of goal from a tight angle. Then Maddison swerved his way past two challenges in the area before finding the side-netting with a low shot.
But United managed to calm things down and Rashford sent a shot wide. Mendy on a yellow card, was lucky that Mike Dean didn’t see him wrestling Pogba to the ground in the build up to this chance.
City went close in the 61st minute after Matic brought Vardy down 25 yards out.
Maddison’s free-kick looped up off the wall but Vardy’s overhead volley was saved by De Gea, who manged to grab the ball before Barnes could nip in.
Claude Puel then made his first change, replacing Maddison with Ghezzal, and it wasn’t popular. Loud booing and chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing!” rang out.
United looked comfortable at the back at this stage, with City reduced to a couple of wildly off-target shots from Ndidi and Barnes, Puel made another change with Okazaki on for Gray.
In the 77th minute Shaw fouled Ghezzal 25 yards out. Ricardo stepped over the ball and Ghezzal fired an excellent shot towards the top right hand corner, but De Gea reacted superbly to tip it over.

Three minutes later Ghezzal delivered another free-kick, , nodded back by Maguire, for Evans who missed the ball completely with the goal at his mercy.
Puel then replaced Mendy – who looked a likely contender for Mike Dean’s 100th red card with a series of fouls – with Iheanacho.
With two minutes remaining United broke upfield and Pogba set up Lukaku for a drive that forced a good save from Schmeichel.
Play then switched to the other end with a storming 60 yard run down the right from Barnes. He found Vardy in the area, but his hurried first time effort went tamely straight into De Gea’s arms.
In the 90th minute Ghezzal crossed for Iheanacho who produced a bizarre headed clearance that sent United racing forward, but Schmeichel managed to save Martial’s effort.
City final change came in the fourth minute of time-added-on when a Ghezzal cross bounced through to Maguire, but it reached him at an awkward height and his half-volley flew wide of the far post.
United had now won nine and drawn one of their ten games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but they hadn’t really had to get out of third gear to claim the points.
Another poor start and some wasted chances saw another home defeat for City, who had been better than United for much of the game but also managed to look strangely disjointed at times.
Claude Puel wasn’t happy:  “When you see all the chances and half-chances we had, we deserve a minimum of a draw. I think it’s not a fair result but I’m angry about our poor performance at the beginning of the game. To concede another goal early, to have to chase the game is always difficult. I don’t understand sometimes, it’s crazy. At the beginning we don’t believe enough in our quality because after when we play, we play forward with good intention and can hurt a team like United.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy (Iheanacho 84), Ndidi, Gray (Okazaki 74), Maddison (Ghezzal 62), Barnes, Vardy.
Substitutes: Morgan, Ward, Fuchs, Choudhury.
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Bailly, Lindelöf, Shaw, Matic, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard (Jones 90), Sánchez (Martial 67), Rashford (Lukaku 78).
Substitutes: Mata, Fred, Dalot, Romero.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 32,148.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Battling Leicester earn a point at Anfield

Liverpool 1:1 Leicester City

City dented Liverpool’s title hopes taking a well-earned point from Anfield on Wednesday night…

Claude Puel made three changes for this icy midweek trip to Fortress Anfield with Simpson, Morgan and Barnes replaced by Evans, Albrighton and Gray.
The heavy snowfall ceased around kick off time, but still made for tricky conditions, holding up the ball when it was played along the ground.
However, this didn’t stop Liverpool from taking a 3rd minute lead while City were still trying to find their bearings. Mané received a pass from Robertson and swerved his way through City’s back-line before curling a low shot into the bottom right hand corner.
With Liverpool looking determined to cash in on Man City’s defeat at Newcastle it looked as though this could be a long night for City’s followers. Three minutes later Firmino forced a good save from Schmeichel and Mané headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
After this shaky start City got their act together and there were penalty appeals when Maddison was brought down by Henderson after a poor pass out from Alisson. It looked as though the trip had occurred a yard outside the area, but City didn’t even get a free-kick. City then threatened to break again and Matip had to take a yellow card for blocking Vardy as he raced past him.
City should have capped a good spell with an equaliser in the 25th minute. Another eccentric clearance from Alisson led to Albrighton whipping a cross over from the right.
Maddison was lurking, unmarked at the far post but his header went horribly wrong and he sent the ball across goal instead of into the net.
Four minutes later Maddison wasted a free-kick from a decent position, sending it sailing into the Kop.
City were winning the midfield battle at this stage and as they continued to press forward a few crosses were delivered, but nothing got past van Dijk.
Liverpool threatened in the 36th minute when Mané set up Salah, but his shot was blocked by Chilwell’s leg. The huge shouts of ‘HANDBALL!’ perhaps betraying the nerves of the home support.
Four minutes before the break Robertson  attempted to play Mané through but Maguire clipped his heels close to the halfway line. Referee Martin Atkinson only produced a yellow, with the proximity of Evans meaning Maguire wasn’t the ‘last man’.
As the half entered injury time City struck back with the goal their performance had deserved. Robertson fouled Ricardo needlessly down the right. Maddison’s free-kick was half cleared to Ndidi who had his shot blocked. Chilwell sent a lofted header to towards the far post where Maguire nipped in behind van Dijk to sidefoot past Alisson from close range.

The Liverpool ground staff spent the interval clearing the remaining snow from the Kop End which Liverpool would be attacking, another indicator of how desperate they were to open up that gap on Man City and claim their first title in 29 years.
But on the field they were looking nervy and City went close in the 52nd minute. The lively Ricardo was fouled again and Maddison delivered the free-kick. Maguire nodded it down at the far post and the ball almost went in off Firmino, Alisson producing a fine reaction save.
At the other end Keita, exchanged a one-two with Firmino but went over as he took his shot. Replays showed Ricardo standing on his foot, but fortunately Martin Atkinson didn’t point to the spot.
Liverpool had most of the possession but looked very flat going forward and City threatened on the break in the 73rd minute. Vardy raced upfield and sent Gray in down the left, but he elected to shoot too soon giving Alisson an easy save with Maddison arriving unmarked in the middle.
A minute later Firmino forced a good save from Schmeichel and Matip headed wide from the resulting corner.
Claude Puel then decided it was time to tighten things up, bringing Choudhury on for Maddison.
Liverpool were looking increasingly desperate as time ticked by, Robertson sent a shot well over and Salah hit a free-kick straight into the wall.
Then Choudhury produced a fine tackle to halt Mané’s progress down the middle before
two late substitutions saw Okazaki and Iheanacho on for Gray and Vardy.
Liverpool didn’t manage to mount any late pressure, with a couple of crosses and a corner being dealt with and the final whistle brought a very well-earned point from a fine City performance.

Claude Puel was slightly disappointed with a point: “I think it is a good performance. I have a little regret at the end because we had some fantastic chances at the beginning of the second half. We started slowly and conceded a goal but after we showed fantastic character and personality. We put them under pressure at the beginning of the second half and in this period we have to be more clinical.”

Liverpool: Alisson, Henderson, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Keita (Lallana 66), Shaqiri (Fabinho 67), Firmino (Sturridge 82), Mané, Salah.
Substitutes: Lovren, Mignolet, Origi, Camacho.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Gray (Okazaki 84), Mendy, Ndidi, Maddison (Choudhury 75), Albrighton, Vardy (Iheanacho 90).
Substitutes: Simpson, Morgan, Ward, Barnes.

Referee: Martin Atkinson. Attendance: 53,092.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Leicester outscored by Wolves in seven goal thriller

Wolverhampton Wanderers 4:3 Leicester City

Some woeful defending cost City dear at Molineux, with a late Wolves goal earning them a win in a lively lunchtime encounter…

Claude Puel made three changes with Barnes – making his Premier League debut – Gray and Simpson in for Choudhury, Albrighton and Maddison.
It was an incident packed game from the start and Mendy picked up a 2nd minute booking for a foul on Jiménez.
A minute later Vinagre went down the right and cut a ball back for Neves who had acres of space to line up a superb curling 25 yarder that Schmeichel finger-tipped over at full stretch.
But City found themselves a goal down by the 4th minute. Gray loset the ball in midfield, Moutinho hared down the right and delivered a cross for Jota to outwit Simpson, and prod the ball home from six yards.
Wolves almost gifted City an instant reply when Patrício miscontrolled a backpass and then dwelt on the ball allowing Vardy to nip in and rob him, but the Wolves keeper recovered to block Vardy’s attempt from a tight angle.
Gray then delivered a corner from the left which Maguire headed over from two yards, but the ref judged it to be a foul on Patrício. Moments later Maguire had a spell of treatment after injuring himself while tackling Jota.
City then fell further behind in the 12th minute. Moutinho swung over a corner from the left, and Bennett rose above Maguire to nod home. City ‘zonal marking’ made it all too easy.
At 2-0 down City then had a decent spell. They won a series of corners and Gray had one shot blocked, sent another wide and had another saved by Patrício.
Wolves then broke upfield and should have gone 3-0 up but Jota sent a header from six yards straight at Schmeichel.
As half time approached Wolves went close again when Jimenez rounded Maguire and fired in a shot that Schmeichel did well to block with his leg.
Tempers began to fray just before the half time whistle with the home crowd demanding a penalty for a Simpson push on Jota, and then Jota and Ricardo were both booked.

Whatever Claude Puel said during the break, it appeared to work as City were level just six minutes into the second half.
In the 47th minute City raced upfield and Vardy sent Gray down the right channel. Despite the attentions of three defender Gray outsprinted them before slotting the ball past Patrício.
Vardy then sent Barnes in down the left and his fierce angled drive was tipped over the bar by the Wolves keeper. But Barnes didn’t have long to wait for a goal.
A strong run down the left by Chilwell was blocked by Jonny, but the loose ball sat up nicely for Barnes who lashed it home, via a deflection off Coady.
In the midst of all this excitement Maguire, who hadn’t been able to shrug off his first half knock, was replaced by Evans.
City were running the game at this stage, though they had another midfielder on a yellow card when Ndidi took Moutinho out.
But Wolves turned the tide around the hour mark, and then regained their lead in the 64th minute. Neves sent a precise 60 yard ball to Jota down the left channel, who left Morgan for dead before crashing a shot past Schmeichel.
Claude Puel made another change in the 73rd minute, bringing Maddison on for Barnes.
Maddison had a chance to level when Ricardo sent in a low cross from the byline, but he scuffed his shot wide of the near post from close in.
But Maddison made amends in the 87th minute, delivering a superb free kick from the left that saw Morgan rising above three gold shirts to nod home the equaliser.
But sadly City were not to get a point for their efforts in a hugely entertaining game.
Deep into time added on, City were a little too cavalier in trying to find a winner, and they got caught out. Another raking pass from Neves found Jimenez down the right and his cross picked out Jota who completed his hat trick with a precise sidefooted finish.
Nuno Espirito Santo was red-carded for invading the pitch to join in the celebrations, while Claude Puel buried his face in his hands in despair.
While the rest of the nation will have enjoyed one of the best matches of the season, City’s defending for all four goals was atrocious and the slide down the table continues.

Wolves: Rui Patrício, Bennett, Coady, Saïss, Castro Otto, Dendoncker, Neves, João Moutinho (Gibbs-White 81), Vinagre (Doherty 73), Jiménez, Jota.
Substitutes: Cavaleiro, Hélder Costa, Ruddy, Giles, Traoré.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson (Iheanacho 83), Morgan, Maguire, (Evans 48), Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo, Gray, Barnes (Maddison 73), Vardy.
Substitutes: Albrighton, Ward, Fuchs, Choudhury.
Referee: C Kavanagh. Attendance: 31,278.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Leicester fail to break down Saints’ resistance

Leicester City 1:2 Southampton

City were unable to convert possession into goals on Saturday, allowing ten-man Southampton to leave the King Power with three points.

Claude Puel made eight changes to the side that lost at Newport, with three defensive midfielders against struggling Southampton, and the recalled Harvey Barnes starting on the bench.
City got off to a tentative start, and after Southampton had threatened a couple of times they took a 10th minute lead. Long had his back to goal on the edge of the area when Mendy put in a clumsy and needless challenge that bundled him over.
Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick had the pace to beat Schmeichel despite the City keeper guessing right.
With a precious lead Southampton were content to defend, but City were ponderous going forward with many passes going astray.
Saints always looked capable of a dangerous break and Maddision picked up a yellow card in the 20th minute for hauling back Redmond.
As the visitors attacked down the right Valery then went over in the area, for an obvious dive. Referee Michael Oliver took no action, leaving Maguire and Chilwell outraged.
City were really struggling to put anything meaningful together and on the few occasions Southampton went forward they looked more threatening, Schmeichel having to save from a Stephens header.
City’s first chance came in the 33rd minute when Chilwell crossed for Maguire who headed wide.
Moments later Chilwell was floored by a studs up challenge from Valery, and reacted angrily, with both players being booked.
City went close to an equaliser in the 35th minute when Morgan hit a shot from close in, but Bednarek managed to block it on the line.
As City chased the game up to the break Maguire sent a header off target and  Choudhury had a shot blocked.
Southampton were then reduced to ten men in time-added-on as Valery, who seemed determined to get sent off, fouled Albrighton twice in three seconds and was duly shown a red card.

But there was a sting in the tail of this half. A poor Ricardo header and stumble from Mendy allowed Long in down the left channel and his attempted curler across the keeper was helped into the net by Schmeichel’s touch.
Boos rang around the ground at the half time whistle.

Claude Puel made two changes for the second half with Barnes and Gray replacing Mendy and Albrighton. But Southampton, a man down and with a two goal lead, had abandoned all attacking intentions and formed a tortoise shell around the penalty area.
It was like a defence v attack training game.
A long range Maguire shot deflected off Barnes but McCarthy adjusted well to make the save. Maddison was the next to attempt a shot from distance but it didn’t test McCarthy.
Maddison then sent a free-kick from a good position into the wall before skying the rebound over the bar.
The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute when Ricardo got in behind the defence down the right, and cut back for Ndidi who improvised a finish with his thigh at an awkward height.

Three minutes later Vardy went over in the area, though replays showed this to be a blatant dive and he was lucky to escape a yellow card.
City went forward relentlessly, either through Gray and Ricardo combining down the right, or Chilwell and Barnes down the left, but no one could produce a killer cross and  Vestergaard must have been punch drunk with all the clearing headers he produced.
For all the pressure, Southampton’s goal was hardly under siege.
With 14 minutes remaining Puel made his final change, Ghezzal on for Choudhury, but still City didn’t look capable of breaking the stubborn resistance.
Maddison and Ndidi both sent long range efforts flying over the bar, while Barnes had a volley blocked.
Morgan and Maguire moved forward, and then Schmeichel came up for the corners, but even an eleven man attack couldn’t get past Southampton’s ten men and the final whistle heralded another home defeat by a struggling side.
There was loud booing from a hugely frustrated home crowd.

Claude Puel commented: “I think the fans are disappointed like us. It is normal. 
Other things are not my concern, only to keep my concentration and focus on the team, and to have the right reaction in the next game.”

Before the game, there was the extraordinary sight of a lady supporter having an A4 size ‘PUEL OUT’ message confiscated by a steward. If this policy is to be enforced the stewards may find themselves very busy in the coming weeks…

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Choudhury (Ghezzal 76), Mendy (Barnes 45), Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 45), Vardy, Maddison.
Substitutes: Simpson, Söyüncü, Iheanacho, Ward.
Southampton: McCarthy, Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard, Valery, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Targett, Redmond (Gallagher 90), Armstrong (Cédric Soares 57), Long (Slattery 76).
Substitutes: Elyounoussi, Gunn, Sims, Ramsay.

Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 31,491.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Puel’s gamble fails as Leicester are dumped out of the Cup by Newport

Newport County 2:1 Leicester City

City were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle on Sunday, losing 2-1 to a fired-up Newport County at Rodney Parade…

For the rest of the nation, watching live coverage on the BBC,  this was a hugely entertaining FA Cup giant killing. For Leicester City fans it was all so painfully avoidable.
Claude Puel once again demonstrated that cups are not his priority, making seven changes to his side, bringing Matty James back after ten months out, and leaving Jamie Vardy at home.
The compact little ground was producing a big atmosphere as the teams came out, and you could already feel that City were facing a stiff challenge.

City had the better of the opening ten minutes, dominating possession and had a chance in the 4th minute. Okazaki wriggled through County’s defence setting up Ghezzal for an angled drive that Day tipped round the post.
Okazaki then had a shot on the turn from the edge of the area, but it went straight at Day, as did another shot from Ghezzal in the 9th minute.
But City were rocked in the 10th minute, when County took the lead from their first meaningful attack. Willmott raced down the right, leaving Fuchs in his wake, before delivering a fine cross that caught Morgan out and landed on the head of Matt who glanced it in off the far post leaving Ward rooted to the spot.
If it had looked like a game not to be taken lightly before, City were now facing a huge task.
Newport were the better side now and went close again in the 17th minute when Simpson gave away a free kick, grabbing Semenyou by the shoulders 25 yards out. Dolan’s curling free-kick was heading for the top left hand corner but Ward managed to grab it from the air.
City pressed forward again and had two great chances within a minute. A long crossfield ball from James sent Fuchs in on the left. The Austrian’s cut-back set up Albrighton for a shot that was deflected over the bar. From the corner Okazaki betrayed signs of rustiness heading wide from close in.
From a well-worked corner Dolan then fired in a shot that Ward saved with his legs.
As play moved from end to end Ghezzal was brought down 20 yards out. He took the free-kick himself but it drifted wide.
Newport threatened again when Amond crossed for Matt, but his first touch presented the ball to Ward who gratefully smothered it.
Albrighton then tried his luck from the edge of the box, but it went straight at Day again.

In the minutes leading up to half time Newport retreated a little, eager to take their lead in at the break. City went close when Fuchs crossed from the left and Okazaki produced a side-footed volley, but Demetriou blocked and it was League Two 1-0 Premier League at half time.

Claude Puel made a change for the second half, bringing Maddison on for Okazaki, but City appeared to lack urgency early on.
Then Amond tried an audacious overhead kick that flew well wide and City appeared to wake up. Iheanacho, with virtually his first meaningful touch of the game, rose to meet a Ghezzal cross but he shouldered it too close to Day.
Albrighton went close two minutes later, cutting in from the left to launch a curling shot from the edge of the area that smacked the top of the crossbar.
With Maddison directing things from midfield City were now gaining control of play, but struggling to get through an amber wall.
Puel made his second change just before the hour, with Simpson replaced by Gray and Albrighton moved back to right back, despite being City’s best threat going forward.
A rare defensive error for Newport saw Demetriou make a hash of a clearance and Iheanacho had a chance that he hurried, electing for a shot on the turn that went wide, when he had more time.
Gray and Maddison both had shots blocked as City maintained the pressure, before Puel brought King on for James in the 72nd minute. It was a mystifying decision with the game crying out for the introduction of Ricardo against tiring defenders, rather than someone who hadn’t played for over a year.
Newport continued to hold out, with Willmott blocking a Ghezzal volley, but with time beginning to run out City finally made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute.
Albrighton’s cross from the right was nodded down by Iheanacho to Maddison whose improvised volley was well saved by Day.  The grounded Franks could only clear the ball to the edge of the area where Ghezzal met it with a fierce drive into the net.
But the huge sense of relief only lasted for three minutes…
As Newport broke upfield Neufville crossed from the left and the ball struck the outstretched arm of Albrighton. It was clearly handball and Amond stepped up, sending Ward the wrong way with an assured spot kick.

City looked stunned as they tried to find their way level again. King sent a tame effort straight at Day, and Maddison fired a shot inches wide of the right hand post.
But there was no way back, and a huge roar erupted around Rodney Parade at the final whistle as The Exiles had beaten a side 74 places above them in the league.
Claude Puel insisted that he had put out a side strong enough to win the game, but the proof was in the scoreline – he hadn’t.
City’s season is now reduced to seeing which mid-table position they will occupy, and another opportunity for a cup run has been sacrificed on the altar of ‘resting players’.

Newport: Day, Hornby-Forbes (Pipe 67), Franks, Demetriou, Neufville, Bennett,
Dolan (O’Brien 86), Willmott, Amond, Semenyo, Matt (Bakinson 77).
Substitutes: Marsh-Brown, Sheehan, Foulston, Townsend.
Leicester: Ward, Simpson (Gray 60), Morgan, Evans, Fuchs, Choudhury, James (King 72), Ghezzal, Okazaki (Maddison 45), Albrighton, Iheanacho.
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Ricardo, Jakupovic, Mendy.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: 6,705.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

Leicester kick off 2019 with a win at Goodison

Everton 0:1 Leicester City

A Jamie Vardy strike edged City to victory over Everton at Goodison on New Years Day.

Claude Puel made four changes to the side that lost against Cardiff with Ghezzal, Choudhury, Evans and Simpson replacing Gray, Maddison, Albrighton and Söyüncü.
The game kicked off at 12.30, but didn’t really start then. Early kick-offs often have a subdued atmosphere, and Goodison, half of which was brightly illuminated by a low winter sun, appeared to be suffering a collective New Years Day hangover.
Both sides were giving the ball away frequently in the midfield pinball.
The first half-chance fell for Vardy who ballooned a shot 20 yards over the bar.
Then the home side were presented with a chance by Maguire, but Richarlison fired his shot straight into Evans’ chest.
Everton went close in the 20th minute when a low cross passed through the area, to be met with a fierce shot by Kenny that struck the angle of post and bar.
A fairly dire game trundled on, with the only incidents being some crunching tackles from either side. Evans got away with one on Richarlison, but referee Martin Atkinson’s patience ran out and Choudhury was shown a yellow for a bodycheck on the Brazilian. Digne delivered the free-kick from the left but Zouma’s downward header into the ground didn’t trouble Schmeichel.
Zouma then launched a 40 yarder over the bar, before a rare foray forward from City saw Ghezzal do the same from the edge of the area.
City had an attacking spell up the break, Ricardo cut in from the left and sent a shot narrowly over, and then Pickford comfortably claimed a Maguire header.
The ref then blew his whistle and ended a half that no one was sad to see the back of.

Claude Puel swapped Albrighton for Ghezzal at the break and City looked the better side when play recommenced. Albrighton’s first cross saw Pickford struggling to claw it away. Everton were still struggling to create anything, and the mood at Goodison didn’t improve when City took a 58th minute lead. A terrible bit of control from Keane presented the ball to Ricardo who sent Vardy in on goal. He outpaced Zouma before beating Pickford with a low shot into the far corner. Vardy celebrated with some acrobatics in front of the travelling fans who were now thinking their early start had been worthwhile.
Everton tried to up their game in search of an equaliser, Sigurdsson sent a shot narrowly over, but it still wasn’t happening for them and the City defence were dealing comfortably with a series of crosses, especially Evans who had a fine game.
City were still a threat on the break and Ricardo forced Pickford into an awkward save at his near post with a shot from an acute angle.
Richarlison had a shot blocked from close in, before City swept upfield again. Chilwell led the charge, but couldn’t find a shot to match his run, and Pickford easily saved a tame effort.
City then won a couple of free-kicks. The first saw Maguire heading the ball on to Keane’s arm, but shouts for a penalty were ignored. Chilwell delivered the second to the far post but Maguire managed to shin it over from close in. His blushes were spared by the linesman’s flag.
Everton were still failing to put the pressure on City and the only close call came in time added on when Tosun had a a header from close in but Schmeichel spread himself well to block.
The final whistle saw City’s tough run of fixtures producing nine points from 12, and 7th place. While no one could describe this as a great game, it was certainly a perfect result for Claude Puel and his side.

Everton: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne, André Gomes (Bernard 62), Gueye, Walcott (Tosun 70), Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Baines, Mina, Stekelenburg, Coleman, Davies.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Choudhury, Mendy,
Ndidi, Ghezzal (Albrighton 45), Vardy (Gray 90), Ricardo.
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Maddison, Ward, Okazaki, Fuchs.
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Attendance: 39,052.