Leicester City 0 v Fulham 2
Post Match Analysis by Colin Murrant
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.
This was a Déjà vu performance from Wednesday night, only worse. As against Palace, City had some brief periods of having the upper hand without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances and not taking any of them. Just as in mid-week, City went in level at half time but conceded a goal immediately after the re-start; the away team only had to move into second gear and that was enough to blow City away.
City had started quite brightly with Leno saving from Ayew at close range, the forward seeming to be pulled back as he fell when getting his shot away. Then, Vardy was put away on the right and he centred the ball hard across the box: with Mavididi closing in at the far post, Castagne got a foot in and deflected the ball towards goal, but Leno managed to scramble the ball away for a corner. City had another good move as Kristiansen cut in from the left and made his way across goal, getting his right footed shot in but sending it wide of the post. That was as good as it got for City, apart from a second half chance as the ball broke to Ayew within the six-yard box, alone, he somehow managed to balloon the ball over the bar.
Fulham after the initial City burst, completely managed the match particularly coming alive in the second half. Within three minutes of the restart Fulham went ahead. A ball in from Leicester’s right wing to the far post reached Wilson who managed to square it back across goal for Lukic to nod the ball on to Smith-Rowe to stoop and head into the gaping net. When the ball was sent in from the right, Kristiansen had, not for the first time this season, left his man by rushing into the middle of goal; in this case leaving Wilson and allowing the Fulham man the opportunity to cross the ball.
Adama Traore replaced Iwobi at half-time and the consensus around me was that he is fast but rarely created or scored. A poor prediction as Traore was a constant menace and scored Fulham’s second in the 68th minute. Shortly after Soumare had had a penalty turned down as he was brought down when moving into the box, Fulham broke and, after some good interplay, Wilson crossed from City’s right to the far post, the ball found Traore unmarked, and he struck an excellent shot into the net at the far post. Again, Kristiansen had gone into the middle and left the winger, or though Mavididi might have done more to track. If Leicester were disgruntled by not getting a penalty, Fulham were equally upset that they did not get one as Traore was tugged back as he broke into the box.
This match report could not be complete without mention of the toxic atmosphere that is developing at the games and try to give some insight into why it might be happening. There were several examples of this from both the Kop and the East Stand. The now familiar Chants against Rudkin were most evident but now joined by chants of Sack the Board. As City went two-down, the volume was cranked up in volume as the crowd sang ‘’We are going Down, we are going down.”
These chants appear to be primarily aimed at the Board. Although we cannot thank King Power enough for the Premier League title, the current King Power is a million miles away from the one when Khun Vichai was at the helm. I know some fans think it is sacrilege to criticise King Power, but many fans think Khun Top appears to be an anonymous figure, as is Whelan. How Rudkin survives is beyond a lot of fan’s comprehension after seeing the quality of the squad depleted. The appointment of van Nistelrooy as manager was a clear example of the panic management that is evident as City seem to stumble from one crisis to the next. As well-managed teams like Brentford, Bournemouth. Brighton, Fulham now show the way, City are miles behind, what actually is the plan?
It seems that City can appoint a manager on the basis of 4 games at Manchester United and little else. Four home games that included two comprehensive wins against Leicester. For a Company that is in the business of marketing and selling, they seem to have little knowledge of what the fans want: we ask for a stable, successful team, not one that is in its second relegation fight in three seasons. Nor are we likely to be fobbed off with an occasional beer or a parade of Thai influencers. As an ex-manager might say to the Board, ‘are you an ostrich.’
van Nistelrooy himself was booed for his substitutions. His first was El Khannouss who was City’s sole player showing any flair and creativity: the rest of the team is very limited in this respect. With Ayew left on the pitch, the chant of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ was loud. When Ayew was eventually substituted, the cheering was equally loud, and even louder, this time in a positive way, when Buonanotte replaced him: Buonanotte who was excellent under Cooper is a shadow of that under van Nistelrooy.
In a month when Ipswich paid £20m for Jaden Philogene, Wolves paid £17m for Emmanuel Agbadou, Leicester are in bargain basement paying £3m for Woyo Coulibaly: it is hoped any money coming from the sale of Cannon can be used to seriously strengthen the side. It is reported that we are restricted from signing a loan player until we can rid ourselves of Edouard: if true, another poor decision which the Board have locked City into a loan agreement that is reported we cannot cancel, for a forward who scored seven times in thirty Premier League games last year and clearly Cooper and van Nistelrooy do not fancy.
So as Fulham inflicted a seventh straight league defeat on Leicester City, something at the Club must change quickly and decisively if we are to avoid relegation: a significant number of supporters at the match today displayed that they are very doubtful this can be achieved.
On a final positive note, Alexander Isak, Newcastle, failed to score in his 9th successive game today, thus securing Jamie Vardy’s record for some time yet.
LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Justin, Kristiansen, Faes, Vestergaard; Soumare, Winks (Skipp 64); Ayew (Buonanotte 71), Mavididi (Daka 71), El Khannouss (K. McAteer 64); Vardy. Subs (not used): Iversen, Coady, Okoli, Thomas, De Cordova-Reid.
BOOKED: Vestergaard, McAteer, Faes.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Lukic (Diop 90+1), Berge; Wilson (King 90+1), Iwobi (Traore 45), Smith Rowe (Cairney 80); Jimenez (Muniz 71). Subs (not used): Benda, R. Sessegnon, Reed, Pereira.
BOOKED: Lukic.
GOALS: Smith Rowe (48), Traore (68).
REFEREE: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire) ATTENDANCE: 31,500.