Leicester City 1 – 1 Ipswich Town
Post Match Analysis by Chris Griffin
This was an absorbing but frustrating game for City fans. City really should have put the game to bed during the first hour when they had most of the ball and plenty of opportunities to increase their lead. Instead, another Ipswich late equaliser meant the points were shared and City have dropped five points in the last two games.
True, Ipswich played more on the front foot from the start of the second half but they still had plenty to defend as City looked to increase their lead through lots of sustained pressure. But the momentum shifted after some astute substitutions by the away team which gave them four fresh attacking players. They gave Ipswich an edge in energy. City’s midfield looked jaded and clearly felt the impact of the missing and injured Ndidi; the return to Chelsea of Casadei; and the lack of recent training for Dewsbury-Hall.
Maresca brought on Akgun with ten minutes left but I could not have been the only supporter wondering why Praet was overlooked when his ability to help see a game out would have been invaluable and would have provided excellent support for Winks and Pereira.
City dominated first half possession with Ipswich only attacking occasionally. City’s pressing to regain the ball was impressive and effective. They certainly had scoring opportunities. Pereira set up Dewsbury-Hall but he scuffed his effort from the edge of the penalty area. McAteer had efforts that went wide. Town goalkeeper Hladky made a superb safe from Choudhury whose fierce shot was heading for the top corner. Cannon and Dewsbury-Hall had further chances.
Despite City’s dominance there were frustrations, especially the number of times City players turned back from moving forward, thus spurning chances to attack the space behind their opponents’ defence.
However, in the 31st minute City showed they did have the capacity to turn defenders and take advantage of that. Chaudhury played the ball along the left flank to Faes who passed inside to Winks. The midfielder found Mavididi who played a neat one-two with Pereira leading to Mavididi dribbling to the by line and sending a low hard ball across the six yard box where it rebounded off Ipswich left back Davies and into the Ipswich net.
City kept pushing till half time. Pereria shot wide when well-placed; McAteer had a good effort deflected for a corner; and Hladky made a good save from Winks.
Ipswich started the second half with a much greater level of aggression. The first five minutes saw them practically camped in Leicester’s penalty area and forcing consecutive corners. Hermansen had to be sharp to push a Burns’ shot over the bar.
But City rode out this period and the next ten minutes were spent putting Ipswich under pressure with the visitors struggling to escape their penalty area. City also forced several corners at this point. Mavididi had a good shot saved by Hladky. Cannon was first to the rebound but his bicycle kick went over the bar. Cannon had another shot which the keeper had to be at full stretch to divert round the post. McAteer had a good effort cleared off the line.
It looked for all the world that City would increase the lead but it did not happen. Ipswich made their substitutions and the momentum of the game changed with Ipswich adding energy at a point in the match when the home team were tiring. The City back four tried to take the sting out of Ipswich’s play by passing interminably across the City goal. This was a risky ploy as Hermansen found when forced into a hasty and erratic clearance.
The fans were certainly getting nervy. The supporter in front of me remarked; “There seems to be an awful sense of inevitability about this.” And sure enough, in the 89th minute, he was proved right. Luango’s fierce dipping and swerving long-range shot was well saved by Hermansen but he could not hold onto it. The ball fell to substitute Sarmiento who drove the ball under the body of the diving keeper and into the net. That was that. Ipswich had a point which they probably feel they deserved due to their second half performance. But it is hard to escape the feeling from the City point of view that this should have been a home win.
Afterwards Enzo Maresca praised his team’s effort. He acknowledged City created chances which weren’t taken.
Mavididi was a constant threat and should be seeing even more of the ball. Cannon impressed with his play back to goal and with his ability to bring others into the game. But it looks as if the midfield needs more support. Hopefully the Sensi deal can be brought across the line. We can be encouraged that Ndidi may be back in two weeks. There are games coming up which are in the “winnable” category. We need to take advantage of those.
Leicester City: M Hermansen; J Justin; Y Vestergaard; W Faes; H Choudhury; K Dewsbury-Hall (Akgun 81’); H Winks; R Pereria; K McAteer; (Albrighton 90’); T Cannon (Vardy 81’) S Mavididi
Ipswich Town: V Hladky; H Clarke; L Woolfenden; G Edmundson; L Davies; L Travis (Taylor 61’); M Luongo; W Burns; C Chaplin (Hutchinson 71’); M Harness (Sarmiento 61’); K Jackson (Broadhead 72’)
Referee: Josh Taylor
Attendance: 31794
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.