Enzo Maresca saw his Leicester City side battle to maximum points in the Second City last night to move three points clear of Ipswich Town.
The Foxes tend to be slow out of the blocks, but took the lead last night after a counterattack of Premier League quality. James Justin hit his own woodwork, and the visitors needed a further slice of luck when a clearance landed on Stephy Mavididi’s chest. But there was nothing fortuitous about the finish from the Juventus man as he calmly dinked the Foxes into the lead.
The Blues hit back within four minutes, as Jordan James smartly finished into the far corner, beyond the reach of Mads Hermansen. That was the fourth goal they’ve conceded in the opening fifteen minutes of games, the joint-most in any period, which is becoming a concerning theme. The former Manchester City assistant will be keen to avoid this, saying the following to Leicester’s club media: “Especially in the first 15-20 minutes, we struggled a little bit but then it was much better.”
But in double quick time, Leicester regained their advantage, utilising the openness of the hosts midfield. Abdul Fatawu sliced open the Blues backline, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made no mistake with the finish. Birmingham were left exposed on too many occasions, which left Leicester playing a style of football they aren’t accustomed to. Maresca addressed this after the game: “We don’t like to use counter-attacking but sometimes you need to use it. We’ve scored 90 per cent of our goals playing in a different way but when we need to use it, we use it. It’s the way he (Mavididi) has to continue until the end.”
If the Blues started the game the stronger, then Leicester began the second period looking to kill the game, and the illusive third goal arrived on the 50-minute mark. The Foxes’ summer recruit Mavididi added his second of the night with a finish that had a helping hand from Emanuel Aiwu, in front of the visiting Leicester support. His celebration this time was slightly more low-key than his first, when he jumped into the home end, instead celebrating with his own fans. That goal felt like it secured the points, and the feeling was matched in the away end with chants about their Portuguese right-back Ricardo Pereira.
There was a second brace of the afternoon when James set up a grandstand finale by firing in fifteen minutes from time. Instead, Cesare Casadei missed a guilt-edged chance before the end, but it didn’t come back to haunt his side as Leicester secured their eighteenth three-point haul of the season. No side this century have picked up more points at this stage of the season than the Foxes in the second tier, who extended their advantage over third-place Leeds United to thirteen points.
Next up for the leaders is a meeting with basement side Rotherham United, while Wayne Rooney’s side make their first trip to Plymouth since 2008 as they looked to distance themselves from the drop zone.
Writer’s View
There were signs of fragility from the Foxes, particularly in the early exchanges that were evident in last month’s disappointing draw at Sheffield Wednesday. But while they conceded late at Hillsborough, Enzo’s side professionally saw out any pressure to record yet another victory.
Foxes fans were expectant of this side following the summer, but very few will have been able to forecast that they would be quite this good. With a promotion clash away at Ipswich to come on Boxing Day, it will be very interesting to see how the top two fare at a boisterous Portman Road.
