LEICESTER CITY 2 WATFORD 0
Match Report by Paul Weston
Having missed the last few home games with flu I was so excited to be walking yet again to the King Power stadium to see how our team would fare against Watford, against whom we should have won in the away match after an excellent first half.
Despite various rumours about Huth and Simpson returning to fitness Puel made few changes from our “A” team. Chilwell, after serving his one match ban, returned at left back. Interestingly Ndidi and James formed the midfield core, with Silva on the bench. Again, Gray was on the bench, losing out to Albrighton, whose performances had been recently more consistent. Interestingly new signing Diabate was on the bench, with no sign of either Slimani or Ulloa. Speculation was rife yet again on whether Slimani was on his way out of the club.
As for Watford, Wague and Deeney both played, and both subject of City interest at different times. I also wonder whether Watford’s manager Silva thought he would lose his job on the following day?
Watford started with a flurry of corners and their aerial advantage immediately looked a threat. Soon after, though, Vardy was put through with a superb pass and the Watford keeper made a smart save, with Okazaki unable to react quickly enough to the rebound. Soon after, from a rare free kick awarded by referee Lee Probert, Maguire nearly set up Ndidi close to goal but the shot was blocked.
As the match developed it soon became clear that Watford were a tough robust tackling side and not the attractive ball playing team that I had expected. As soon as the Watford players realised that Lee Probert was going to keep his cards in his pocket they continued with niggly fouls and borderline tackles, safe in the knowledge that no action would be taken.
It was a baffling and frustrating performance from the referee. It took City players all of the first half to realise that the referee was going to let Watford get away with it. The resulting first half was therefore fairly devoid of attractive football. City could not get their passing game going and players like Mahrez and Albrighton were crowded out and often fouled to everyone’s frustration. Okazaki was on the ground even more frequently than usual!
It was therefore poetic justice that City should score from a penalty. James slid a pass into Vardy, who was brought down by Wague even though he was running across the penalty area. It was in my opinion a penalty and amazingly the referee blew his whistle and actually agreed! Vardy took the penalty really well into the corner, much better than his usual “blast it into the centre of the goal and hope for the best” approach. And an unsatisfactory first half ended 1-0.
City did improve in the second half by upping the tempo but the one goal lead was precarious and, the longer the game went on, one feared a Watford equaliser. The nearest they got to a goal was when substitute Andre Gray, put clean through, shot strongly but it was miraculously blocked by Maguire even before Schmeichel might have saved it. It was a crucial point in the match.
As soon as Watford pushed two forwards up then City started to exploit the gaps. Vardy set up Okazaki whose shot was saved. Ndidi had a curling shot well saved from a pass from Chilwell and also had a fierce shot just over from some way out. Mahrez, whose contribution had been fitful and nothing had come off, started to find a bit more space instead of having three Watford players hacking at his ankles. Gray came on for Okazaki who had worked so hard. Gray also started to run at a more nervous Watford defence.
As the clocked ticked away Puel brought on Silva for Vardy who had worked his socks off and was knackered. It did not take long for Silva to take control of the ball, push forward and slide a lovely ball on the left to Mahrez. Moving into the penalty area Riyad wisely decided that falling to the ground to try to win a penalty would get nowhere with this referee so he did what he can do best, beating three men before shooting in from a narrow angle- a wonderful goal. I immediately forgave him for all his misplaced passes in the rest of the game! The game ended shortly with the score 2-0. It sounds comfortable but it never felt like that at all.
The welcome three points from a not very good game pushes City to seventh place in the league, but eight points behind Arsenal. Safety and 40 points beckon and perhaps we can go on a good FA cup run in the second half of the season, although Peterborough away is the first obstacle.
No-one really excelled in the game and no-one really played badly. My man of the match would be Amartey whose performances, after his aberration against Man Utd, have made it difficult for Simpson to replace him. Amartey’s energy, athleticism, contribution to the attack and tackling are a good combination.
My abiding memory of this game, however, will not be of Mahrez’s mazy run to score or Vardy’s penalty but the most inept, lack lustre and uncommunicative referee’s performance from Lee Probert that I have ever seen, which even beats that of John Moss!
Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Dragovic, Maguire, Chilwell, Mahrez, Ndidi, James, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy. Subs: Gray, Iheanacho, Hamer, Adrien Silva, Fuchs, Diabate, Benalouane.
Watford: Karnezis, Janmaat, Wague, Kabasele, Zeegelaar, Watson, Doucoure, Carrillo, Pereyra, Richarlison, Deeney. Subs: Prodl, Mariappa, Sinclair, Gray, Holebas, Capoue, Okaka.
Referee: Lee Probert.
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation