Cardiff 0 City 2
Post Match Analysis by Colin Hall
In their last game of 2023, Leicester City eased to a SIXTH win in seven games, with goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Justin ensuring a 2-0 win at Cardiff.
With nearest challengers Ipswich unexpectedly held to a 0-0 draw by strugglers QPR, this victory took the Foxes EIGHT points clear at the top of the Championship.
A record of 62 points from 25 games indicates the ferocious pace City have maintained throughout most of the season to date.
Only a freak last-gasp own-goal, together with eccentric refereeing decisions at Portman Road, prevented Enzo Maresca’s side from posting a perfect record during the month of December.
Where other would-be rivals have faltered in recent weeks, City have powered on, skilfully negotiating a series of potential banana-skin fixtures to strengthen their grip on this league.
Based on Cardiff’s performance at the King Power Stadium in August’s reverse fixture, some fans may have viewed this trip to South Wales with some trepidation.
However, once Dewsbury-Hall had put the visitors front, following fine work to regain possession from Abdul Fatawu, the result of this contest rarely appeared in doubt.
Without the presence of the talismanic Aaron Ramsey, the hosts seemed to lack confidence and self-belief, often letting City defenders – especially Jannik Vestergaard – stroll forward unchallenged with the ball.
As a consequence, City were allowed to proceed through the game at their own pace – a luxury not always enjoyed in recent weeks, and particularly welcome in view of the ongoing heavy schedule of fixtures.
Nevertheless, while the lead remained a slender one, many Foxes remained anxious that it may have proved to be insufficient.
Such doubts were dispelled, though, by the arrival of the game-clinching goal ten minutes after the interval. Once again, Fatawu won the ball in the home penalty area, and this time he set up James Justin for a dipping long-range drive which gave home keeper Alnwick no chance.
This strike was particularly sweet because – as the City online team helpfully reminded us – it came at the same end of the ground where the Foxes, wearing similar colours to those displayed here, suffered such anguish in THAT penalty shootout during the 2009-10 playoffs.
In 2023, though, the goal reminded us of the scorer’s role as a key part of the team’s push for the title. Given Justin’s various injury woes in recent years, Foxes will be especially pleased to see him give glimpses of the form which earned him England honours.
City saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort, with Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi and Patson Daka all coming close to finding the net. However, it was perhaps surprising that, with the game secured, Maresca did not give more game time to his bench.
It’s easy to forget that the City boss is still a rookie in English club management, although this may not prevent wealthier clubs from monitoring his progress during the coming months, with a view to potentially acquiring his services.
But the Blue Army will devoutly hope that any approaches that may be made to City will be firmly rebuffed, and his project of rebuilding the club towards former glories can continue.
Cardiff (4-3-3): Alnwick; Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins; Siopis, Ralls (Tanner 59), Wintle; Bowler (Colwill 59), Etete (Robinson 65), Grant (Meite 40). Subs not used: Turner, Romeo, Adams, Panzo, Rinomhota.
Booked: Ralls.
Leicester (3-4-3): Hermansen; Faes, Vestergaard,Justin; Choudhury, Winks, Ndidi (Casadei 69), Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Daka,(Cannon 82), Mavididi. Subs not used: Stolarczyk, Souttar, Coady, Doyle, Ricardo, Akgün, Marçal-Madivadua.
Goals: Dewsbury-Hall (18), Justin (55).
Referee: John Busby. Attendance: 24 656.
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.