Leicester City 1-3 Leeds United
As the midway point of the second half was reached in this Premier League encounter, a reporter commented along the lines of:
‘Leicester have been the better side but this is becoming a bit frustrating for Brendan Rodgers’ side.’
Whether that was the commentators’ curse I do not know but what duly followed was probably as predictable as it must have been irritating for those of a Foxes persuasion.
Yes, he was right – they had been the better side. But with one kick of a football, Raphinha split open the home defence and Patrick Bamford did the rest.
Leicester City 1-2 Leeds United.
It was a scoreline from which the home side would not recover as Leeds avenged an early-season hammering.
Highlights of the game
The high-flying Foxes had firmly burst the Yorkshire club’s early season bubble with a convincing 4-1 win at Elland Road in early November and were favourites to complete a league double over their opponents.
Indeed, this SBOTOP observer felt the suggestion Leeds could capitalise on Leicester’s current injury problems was optimistic in the extreme.
The Whites had endured a miserable and embarrassing start to the year in both league and cup, even if, after three consecutive losses, they had got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Newcastle in midweek.
The main team news was known about beforehand as Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi missed out with a hamstring injury, as did top scorer Jamie Vardy as he continues to recuperate after hernia surgery.
For Leeds, defender Diego Llorente was missing after also injuring his hamstring.
Both clubs lost more players to injury before the half was over as club-record signing Rodrigo had to leave the field early on for Leeds, while impressive full-back Timothy Castagne couldn’t continue and departed shortly before the break.
By then we had seen two goals and a further two disallowed as an opening 15 minutes of Premier League highlights set the tone for an entertaining half.
Harvey Barnes opened the scoring after 13 minutes, driving forward and continuing his fine form after a super link-up with James Maddison before shooting low past Illan Meslier.
Yet there was no time to reflect as just 127 seconds later, Leeds were level.
Luke Ayling found Bamford and his pass was swept home confidently by Stuart Dallas.
The frenetic pace showed no let-up and within four minutes Leicester thought they had regained the lead only for Ayoze Perez to be adjudged offside.
Then it was Leeds’ turn to have a goal disallowed for offside after Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly kept out a Bamford header before the rebound was prodded in.
Both Schmeichel and Meslier stood out as the sides ended the half level pegging.
Into the second period and Leicester were doing most of the probing. At that point the Premier League betting odds would have fancied them to go on and win, certainly draw.
Of course, then Raphinha and Bamford teamed up and, after Jonny Evans came within a whisker of equalising, Leeds scored a breakaway third to seal the points and inflict a first defeat in eight games for the hosts.
Mateusz Klich played Bamford through and he selflessly squared the ball to Jack Harrison for the easiest of tap-ins.
Two away wins in the space of five days and suddenly the world seems a lot rosier for Leeds United.
Key statistics
This was only Leeds’ third win in 17 matches against Leicester in all competitions (drawn six, lost eight).
Bamford is Leeds’ top scorer with 11 league goals. Eight of those have come in away games.
Barnes has been involved in five goals in his six most recent league appearances, scoring three and setting up two. He has also scored seven goals in 20 Premier League games this season – more than he managed in 36 appearances last term (six).
Maddison has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 11 games for Leicester in all competitions, as many as his previous 43 appearances for the Foxes.
The Whites have conceded 36 league goals in 20 matches this season, having let in 35 goals in total in 46 Championship fixtures in 2019-20.
This was the first time this season that Leicester had dropped points from a winning position, becoming the final Premier League side to do so.
They had won all 12 of their previous league matches this season when leading.
What’s next?
There’s no let-up for either side, particularly Leicester over the next few weeks. They travel to Fulham on Wednesday evening (February 3) and are then at Wolves for a Midlands’ derby a week today.
Leeds host Everton on Wednesday night and then welcome Crystal Palace to Elland Road a week on Monday (February 8).
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