Cardiff 0 City 1
With the recent events, the results and therefore match reports of games became secondary to supporting our players. LCFC staff and owners as they grieved the loss of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, however with our first home game since the tragic crash played, we are now publishing match reports for both games played since. Our match reporters of course reflect on the mood of the day as much as the events on the pitch
Match Report by Colin Hall
After one of the most difficult and harrowing weeks in the club's history, a 55th minute strike by Demarai Gray was sufficient to earn victory for Leicester City over hosts Cardiff.
As the club and much of its fanbase remained in mourning over the loss of five people, including chairman/owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Claude Puel's side displayed considerable levels of character and resilience, particularly when talismanic defender Harry Maguire was forced out of the game with a knee injury before the half-hour mark.
Although the clash, between a home team embroiled in a relegation battle likely to last much of the season and a visiting side enduring an indifferent run of form, was far from a footballing classic, the scenes witnessed both before and after the game will live long in the memories of those of us fortunate to be present.
Even the act of securing entrance to the Cardiff City Stadium proved eventful, with a combination of inadequate turnstiles and eccentric stewarding delaying admission for many Foxes for up to half an hour.
However, once inside, the host club made amends of sorts by offering fans free food and drinks packs. With Leicester staff also handing out free T-shirts commemorating Vichai, chaos reigned in the visitors' concourse for a while before order was eventually restored.
No sooner had we finally managed to take our seats than Cardiff fans were joining us in paying respect to Vichai, unfurling Thai flags, laying a wreath and immaculately observing a minute's silence. These actions, together with those seen at other grounds, along with the many tributes left by fans of other clubs outside the King Power Stadium, illustrate the respect and admiration held for him throughout the game.
When the game finally commenced, the Foxes, wearing the grey and orange away kit for the first time in the Premier League, looked understandably subdued. Nevertheless, the defence held firm during the opening period, with Kasper Schmeichel's goal only being seriously threatened on two occasions.
The first of these saw Paterson burst clear on goal, only for to be denied by a spectacular recovery tackle by Maguire. This was the incident that caused the game-ending injury to the visiting defender, which proved sufficiently serious to rule him out for several weeks – a blow for England as well as the Foxes.
Cardiff's next chance arose when Wilfred Ndidi conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area to allow Gray, who had lain prostrate for some time with an injury, to receive treatment. Camarasa's subsequent effort cleared the Leicester wall and struck the crossbar, though Schmeichel may have had the shot covered had its flight been a fraction lower.
The hosts were as physically competitive as to be expected from a side managed by Neil Warnock, but this was an occasion when the Foxes refused to be bullied, and instead set about making their superior quality tell. Indeed, the visitors started to create clear chances of their own, though for various reasons were not able to convert any of them before the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, the breakthrough finally arrived, when a fine passing move on the left involving Marc Albrighton and Ben Chilwell saw the latter cross for Gray to fire home from close range.
While the players celebrated ecstatically in front of the travelling contingent, the winger peeled off his shirt to reveal a T-shirt underneath bearing the message “For Khun Vichai”. This caught the referee's attention and earned Gray the most contentious of bookings.
Although he was technically in breach of the law, this was a time where the official might have reasonably claimed not to see the incident. After all, it was an excuse referee Probert deployed throughout the afternoon, most notably when former Fox Sol Bamba used an arm late in the first half to block a goalbound attempt by Jamie Vardy. In addition a succession of foul throws by home midfielder Gunnarsson also went unpunished. Suffice to say, the sooner VAR is introduced to this league, the better.
Nevertheless, the Foxes successfully dealt with everything that both opponents and officials could throw at them, and the sight of thousands of home fans leaving the stadium leaving the ground well before the end told its own story.
Once the final whistle sounded, the entire playing squad – including players not involved in the match – gathered in front of the Blue Army to thank us for our support and pay further homage to our departed owner. The fans responded with chants in honour of Vichai and various individuals – as well as in support of Puel, whose composure and dignity in recent days has seen his stock rise sharply among the Foxes fanbase. Could this be a turning point in his tenure at the club?
Despite our immeasurable loss, this occasion saw a rekindling of the spirit among players and fans alike which proved such a key factor in propelling us to the Premier League title and sustaining us during our exploits in the Champions League.
If this spirit can be maintained during the coming weeks and months, it is not inconceivable that further glories may yet lie ahead for us.
Cardiff (4-4-1-1): Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Gunnarsson, Arter (Ward 79), Murphy, (Madine 85); Reid (Hoilett 65); Paterson.Subs not used: Smithies, Cunningham, Damour, Harris.
Booked: Arter, Hoilett.
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire (Evans 27), Chilwell; Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton, Maddison (Iborra 82), Gray (Simpson 70); Vardy. Subs not used: Iheanacho,Ward, Diabaté, Fuchs.
Goal: Gray (55)
Booked: Ndidi, Gray.
Referee: Lee Probert. Attendance: 30,877.