Brentford 4 City 1
Post Match Analysis by Colin Hall
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.
Leicester City’s unbeaten run at Brentford, which had previously endured since October 1952, was brought to an ignominious end as the hosts strolled to a 4-1 victory which added further fuel to many fans’ fears of an instant return to the lower leagues.
With Steve Cooper having departed last week, and incoming boss Ruud van Nistelrooy not taking charge until the following day, coach Ben Dawson was handed the daunting challenge of preparing a squad for the trip to the Premier League’s strongest fortress.
Few were surprised that Dawson’s task proved to be in vain. Many far more experienced and accomplished managers have struggled when visiting the Gtech Community Stadium in recent seasons.
But what was particularly disturbing for the travelling Foxes was the abject capitulation of their team, which has become a disturbing habit in recent weeks.
Dawson shuffled the pack and switched to a 5-4-1 formation in an effort to contain a team with the league’s best home record.
But the team he chose was outfought and outpaced throughout a dismal encounter in which many visiting fans headed for the exits with half an hour of the game remaining.
Loanee Facundo Buonanotte, returning from suspension, had provided a rare glimmer of hope when giving City the lead against the run of play.
However, basic defensive errors and lack of organisation resulted in the Bees levelling within minutes and then going ahead within seconds of the restart.
A collective lapse in concentration deep in first-half stoppage allowed the home side to extend their lead, and although City enjoyed more territory in the second half, another sucker punch gave home striker Schade a hat-trick and ended any faint hopes of a revival.
The mood in the stands, where fans denounced director of football Jon Rudkin in the crudest and most graphic of terms, turned even more toxic toward the end of the game.
Sub Patson Daka, making only his second appearance in seven months following injury, looked understandably rusty, attracting the ire of many of the diehards who stayed until the bitter end. His struggles were particularly painful for those who recalled his performance at this same venue three years ago in which he tyrannised the home defence.
The reaction after the game was particularly fierce, with many contributors on certain websites proclaiming the battle against relegation is already, and irretrievably, lost.
Yet what these defeatist and highly insular sections of the fanbase overlook is that City are far from the only troubled side in the league, as Wolves, West Ham and (especially) Everton reminded us during the weekend.
The new manager is fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead during the coming weeks and months.
But he showed his strength of character when overcoming serious setbacks during his playing days, and if he is able to use such resources to motivate and inspire the players at his disposal, he may yet pull City to safety.
City (5-4-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Coady, Okoli (Vestergaard 35), Thomas; Buonanotte (Mavididi 64) Ndidi, Soumare (Skipp 64), Ayew (De Cordova-Reid 80); Vardy (Daka 64).
Goal: Buonanotte (21)
Booking: Justin (82)
Referee: Michael Oliver. VAR: Stuart Attwell Attendance: 17 084