Leicester City 1-2 Chelsea
Post Match Analysis by Chris Griffin
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.
Optimism was in short supply as City fans walked to the ground. “Really don’t fancy us today,” said one. Another commented “It has to be damage limitation.” And a third succinctly opined “We’ll get hammered.” This gloom matched the gloomy weather and proved well-founded as City put up a weak display. The result makes the game seem much more evenly matched than it was.
Of course, at the time fans were unaware that the game would be an important step on the City journey as it was to be Steve Cooper’s last in charge. Traditionally the City board does not rush to release coaches. However, with only ten points gathered from nearly one third of our fixtures and reports of alleged player unrest, the board clearly decided action was needed. Whether a newcomer will achieve more with this squad is a moot point.
We settled down hoping to see a contest. Instead, we witnessed the most one-sided 30 minutes of professional football most of us would have ever seen. After half an hour Chelsea had racked up 82% of possession. It was like watching a training session for defence v attack. City were all over the place and losing Winks through injury after 10 minutes didn’t help. Chelsea pressed high and City sat deep. There were swathes of the game when all Chelsea’s ten outfield players were camped in our defensive third. As a consequence, we could not keep the ball or build any attacking play. Our passing was careless and long clearances merely led to Chelsea bringing the pressure back onto us.
Felix missed with two long range efforts and Hermansen made one excellent save from Madueke. But we knew a goal was coming, although the comic way with which one did was unexpected. As against Forest Faes struggled to deal with a long punt from the defence. Three times without success he tried to hook the ball back over his head to clear. He could have knocked it out for a throw in. He could have hit it back to Hermansen so the keeper could clear. Instead Fernandez, taking advantage of Faes’ struggles, nicked the ball and played Jackson into the box. The striker’s fierce shot into the corner gave Hermansen no chance.
Chelsea kept pushing forward. Palmer fed Cucurella whose cross was swept into the net by Madueke. Luckily VAR ruled Cucurella offside. However, we were beginning to see a little more aggression from City as shown by Skipp, Soumare and Ndidi each collecting yellow cards. El Khannouss’ dribbling skills gave us a little forward momentum. Referee Madley was frustrating the City fans as a number of robust Chelsea challenges went unpunished while City’s were whistled up.
It was not till the last five minutes of the half that City began to threaten the Chelsea goal. Skipp sent McAteer away down the right. The winger cut inside and unleashed a fierce low drive which beat Sanchez’s dive but sadly went just the wrong side of the post. Then El Khannouss and Kristiansen combined, and the Dane sent over a low hard cross. The ball came to Ndidi near the penalty spot, but he miscued his shot sending the ball spinning away over the by-line well wide of the goal.
Half time came and with it the predictable comments. “He needs to change it and freshen it up. We need more aggression. Just one behind we can get back into it.” But there were no changes until the 70th minute leaving it a little late to make an impression. Mavididi provided some energy and attacking intent. Turning into the area he drew a suspicious looking tackle from the much-jeered Fofana but VAR ruled no penalty.
Chelsea claimed the clincher in the 75th minute. Okoli was slow to react to a cross and Fernandez headed goalwards. Hermansen made a good parry, but the ball rebounded back to Fernandez who headed into the empty net. City sustained some fight back but did some puzzling things. Good work down the left won a corner. We packed the area sending the defenders up but then played a short corner and the Chelsea defence had time to close down any chance of a cross: an opportunity wasted.
City eventually got on the scoresheet in overtime. Cordova-Reid was brought down from behind by Lavia. At first the assistant referee had given offside. But Var overturned that and Ayew calmy stroked the penalty into the goal.
There was an unexpected piece of sentiment when ex City coach Maresca sent on ex City player Dewsbury-Hall to play for the last few minutes. The City fans gave D/H a good ovation and did so again at the final whistle.
Fans understand that City’s chances of survival in this league are not defined by how we play against the Chelseas of this world. But it is worth noting the good outcomes for weekend matches from the teams below us: Wolves, Ipswich and Palace. Between now and 4 January City have eight matches. We need points from those games. The new manager will firstly need to identify quickly where improvement is needed and secondly how to achieve it.
Leicester City: Hermansen, Okoli, Faes, Justin, Kristiansen, Winks (Skipp 11’), Samoure, Ndidi (Ayew 71’), McAteer (Mavididi 71’), El Khannouss (Cordova Reid 79’), Vardy (Daka 79’)
Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Badiashile, Colwill, Fofana, Fernandez, Caicedo (Lavia 81’), Felix (Nkunku 81’), Palmer, Madueke (Sancho 85’), Jackson (Dewsbury Hall 91’).
Referee Andy Madley Attendance: 31880