FAN REPORT – Happy New Year And Free Beer

We sent our Fan Reporter Scott Davies to see how Leicester City would do against multi millionaires Manchester City…

Arsenal took the top spot away from the Foxes on Monday with a comfortable win over Bournemouth in the capital, but City had a chance to snatch it back with a win against Manchester City.

Leicester have won the last league game of the last 3 calendar years, whilst Man City haven’t lost their last league game of a calendar year since 2000. Man City are unbeaten on their last 5 trips to Leicester, winning 3 and drawing 2.

The tinkerman decided it was time to live up to his name following the loss at Anfield. He named Inler over Okazaki to sure up the midfield against a quality Man City side and Drinkwater regained his place over King following his hamstring injury. It looked like a 5-4-1 formation to start, but it did morph into a 4-3-3 as the game went on.

Both teams started lively and it was clear they both set out to attack for the win, Leicester once again allowing the opposition to dominate possession, however keeping their shape to hit on the counter.

Chances fell to both sides with Mahrez having a shot which drifted over on 15 and Man City tested Schmeichel through a De Bruyne shot on 17. Man City went close again on 26 when Sagna played in Raheem Sterling who controlled the ball well in the 18 yard box and flashed a teasing shot across Schmeichel who did brilliantly to turn the ball out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Sterling once again fired goalwards, but Schmeichel gathered comfortably to his right.

As the Foxes battled and dealt brilliantly with what Man City were throwing at them, they had a superb 5 minute spell leading up to halftime and perhaps should have taken the lead. First the brilliant Christian Fuchs turned De Bruyne leaving him standing and delivered a cross that eluded both Vardy and Albrighton in the 18 yard box, with the latter getting a foot on the ball, but steering it wide. From the resulting goalkick, Vardy hassled the back line winning the ball and Drinkwater played him in. Credit to Otamendi who did well to get across and put Vardy off his stride forcing the leagues top scorer to blast the ball over the bar.

Half time came to chorus of boos for the officials who were berated throughout by the Foxes faithful for some poor decisions.

The second half came and Leicester had to soak up some early Man City pressure. Schmeichel had to be alert again on 63 when an Otamendi header skimmed up off the wet surface and the Dane did well to palm the ball out for a corner.

Ulloa came on for Inler on 66 and City reverted to a 4-4-2. Kante was back in a natural 2 man midfield and looked much more comfortable with it, although he was still outstanding throughout.

On 76, Fuchs stung the palms of Joe Hart from a clever free kick between him and Mahrez. The ball was bundled out by the Man City defence for what looked like a corner, but somehow, Ulloa was adjudged offside.

Leicester once again ended the half strongly and were clearly pushing for the win, but the game eventually played out in what was an entertaining no score draw and a decent point for the Foxes, taking them joint top going into 2016.

The defence were tremendous with everyone putting their bodies on the line. Of the 21 shots Man City had, only 5 were on target, with 13 corners being conceded due to the blocks Leicester were putting in. Leicester had 11 shots with 4 on target and once again, the Foxes lost out 61-39 on the possession stats, but it didn’t seem like they didn’t see much of the ball, as when they had the possession, they played it about nicely and created some decent chances which on another day, might have gone in.

11 points in December is a fantastic return, particularly when our bubble was meant to burst, starting with Man Utd on 28th November. Robbie Savage and Steve McManaman were still writing us off post match, so we’re just going to have to prove them all wrong! Get behind the boys and Happy New Year to you all.

Man of the Match – This was a tough one, but I’m going with Kasper Schmeichel. His all round game was superb on this occasion.