Tranmere Rovers 0 City 2
Post Match Analysis by Graham Tracey
You realise you’re getting on when you last visited a ground 27 years ago. Back then, Neil Lennon scored an own goal on debut, but the season ended in glory for the much-loved team being newly assembled by Martin O’Neill. How we would love to build another team now under Enzo that we can look back on with such fondness in another generation’s time. Emotional connections take time, and it takes me a while to warm to new players, despite our great start, especially as I’m not an advocate of going overboard on loan signings.
As it happened, it was a night for old faces as much as new ones. Tranmere have of course been on a different trajectory since our 2000 League Cup final victory, but it was remarkable to realise that their young keeper that day was the same now 42 year old Joe Murphy appearing tonight. He had a good game and endeared himself to our fans by bearing the banter in good spirit. Cup fever had not gripped the Wirral, with a fairly sparse home crowd, but it was nice to pass through a manned turnstile for once.
The first half was a turgid goalless affair. As expected, we controlled the ball, usually through Winks, but without creating any openings. Hamza played the fluid defence-midfield role, tigerish as always, while it was great to see James Justin who would always be in my starting 11. Albrighton’s centres were not attacked, while Mavididi was struggling to make any headway on the left despite his evident tricks. Against a deep defence, Vardy looked ineffective. It was good to have a proper look at Casadei, and his stature and energy should be a real asset over the season.
The second half was much better, attacking our end, after things were freshened up with four changes at the break. Marcal was more effective on the left, while there was a promising debut by Yunus whose forte is cutting in on his left foot. He was sometimes found by Doyle’s impressive long distance diagonal balls. With no extra time, it was important that we made the breakthrough sooner rather than later, and this came on 55 minutes. Ndidi confounded all our expectations from his distinguished service by striking expertly from a tight angle and in off the far post. With him likely to leave by Friday, it was a lovely swansong, marked by a warm embrace from Vardy. Wilf then rolled back the years by dominating proceedings, and a few minutes later chipped a cross to the far post for Vardy to nod home from close range and seal our progress.
There were a few further chances without addition. There was time for the tall Ben Nelson to come on for (I think) his debut, while Stolarczyk was untroubled all night other than a couple of long-range efforts and kept (I think) his 3rd clean sheet in 3 outings.
All in all, 6 of ‘nowhere near our best’ victories this season. If Enzo’s assessment that we are only playing to 20% of our potential at present, ‘straight back up Leicester City’ will be more than just a song.
Leicester City
Stolarczyk, Justin, Doyle, Faes, Choudhury, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, Casadei, Mavididi, Albrighton, Vardy.
Substitues:
Yunus, Ricardo, Marcal, Ndidi, Nelson.
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.