Leicester City 0-3 Manchester United
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.
This week ten years ago City were firmly at the foot of the premier league. The future looked bleak. The team needed to make up nine points to escape the bottom three. Just like now.
But things were different in 2015. On the first Saturday in April City took three points from West Ham with Andy King deflecting a Vardy shot into the net deep into overtime. The following week Vardy played a blinder at the Hawthorns and City took three more points. The momentum to climb the table was set. The Great Escape followed and the next season saw an historic narrative, thrilling fans across the world.
Fast forward ten years and the chances for a Great Escape 2 are remote judging by recent performances, including this one against Manchester United. The midfield of the current team lacks the energy, creativity and commitment provided by Cambiasso and Drinkwater ten years ago. The current defence does not possess the “they shall not pass” mentality of Huth and Morgan. Up front the play lacks edge and sharpness, with expected goals opportunities spurned.
Against Manchester United there were some moments of “might have been.” Early on Ndidi played a through ball for Vardy but the striker’s shot was blocked by Onana. Daka and El Khanouss had goal bound efforts blocked by totally committed defenders. Ndidi just failed to make good head contact with a Kristiansen cross into the box. In the second half Buonanotte had a shot blocked by De Ligt in front of an open goal following good work by Vardy. Deep into overtime Onana gathered another Vardy effort. A good number of possible opportunities but none converted.
Seven consecutive home defeats without scoring tells a very desperate and sorry story.
In all honesty this was very much a walk in the park for the visitors. Fernandes and Ericsen applied plenty of control – the latter hitting the post in the first half with a curling long range effort. In defence new arrival Heaven was immaculate and unfortunate to have to go off with injury early in the second half. The Leicester supporters, perfectly capable of reading the runes of the game, became increasingly subdued as they watched Manchester United stroll to an easy and comfortable win.
The goals involved a sequence of defensive errors. Around the half hour mark Coady lost possession in midfield. Soumare, covering, failed to cut out Fernandes’ pass. Faes allowed Hojlund to receive the ball and gave him the time and space to fire a fast shot into the far corner of the net with Helmsman stranded by the lack of cover.
20 minutes into the second half Garnacho had the ball in the net after cutting in from the right wing. This effort was ruled out for offside though many City fans were left puzzling how the winger was able to drive the ball into the net through three defenders immediately in front of him. Minutes later an attempted interception of a Fernandes pass by Kristiansen saw the ball return to Fernandes and his quick pass gave Garnacho the chance to turn quickly and drill a low shot into the net. Finally, in the 90th minute, Dalot beat Mavididi, passed to Fernandes whose first time shot beat Hermansen from the edge of the penalty area. Cue exodus of many City fans.
Another depressing home fixture making relegation look even more certain. What also seems certain is that the squad needs to be in much better shape next season else any thoughts and hopes for a swift return to the premier league will be off the agenda pretty quickly.
Leicester City: Hermansen; Faes; Coady; Thomas; Justin (McAteer 82min); Soumare (Winks 64 min); Ndidi; Kristiansen (Mavididi 82 min); El Khanouss (Ayew 90 min); Daka (Buonanotte 64 min) Vardy
Manchester United: Onana; Lindelof; De Ligt; Heaven (Collyer 51 min); Mazraoui; Ugarte (Casemiro 69 min); Fernandes; Dalot; Garnacho (Amass 69 min); Eriksen (Zirkzee 69 min); Hojlund (Obi 85 min)
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Attendance: 31,173