Leicester City did exactly what they needed to do: steady the ship, dig in, and fight for a crucial victory. Some may argue that a 1-0 win away to Sunderland has put an end to the rot, and that is true in terms of results, which is what matters at this point in the season. The performances did not indicate major difficulties, but a disturbing trend was emerging.
For a while at Sunderland, it felt like a familiar story: Leicester dominated the first half, created golden opportunities, and had all the momentum, only to squander it and give the opposition oxygen of hope. Leicester have had the boot on their opponents’ windpipes numerous times before relinquishing their advantage. Are they overly nice? Are they playing too much? They were becoming typical complaints of Enzo Maresca’s squad.
The second half at Sunderland was perhaps their worst 45 minutes in the last four games, and they were put under more pressure than in any of their previous three defeats – but they stood up to it and won. So what was the difference? In the first half, Jamie Vardy returned to the team and converted one of the numerous missed opportunities. That’s 68 shots on goal in the last four games, and they’ve only scored four – that ratio would definitely be greater if Vardy was fit.
However, his influence extends well beyond that. Leicester knew they needed to win this game, so Maresca resorted to a tried-and-true performer, someone who can lead from the front. Leicester are a fun team to watch, but they might be too easy to beat at times. Vardy exudes aggression and attitude, which establishes a tone. The 37-year-old’s involvement will be critical in the remaining ten games, as it is no longer about performances and possession metrics, but about points. He may not finish many games, but he has demonstrated the importance of starting.
Another seasoned professional, who Leicester fans haven’t seen much of, made an impressive impact. When Conor Coady agreed to leave the Premier League to join Leicester last summer from Wolverhampton Wanderers, he anticipated to play an important part. He was an England international and a consistent performer, and he was assigned to play as the defensive pivot. Leicester had pledged £7 million ($9 million) to sign him despite financial concerns.
Coady began pre-season in that capacity, and it was evident from Maresca’s selections that he would be an important player — until he was replaced at halftime against Leuven with a foot injury that would keep him out until the end of September. Jannik Vestergaard appeared to be on his way out of the club after being ostracised by Brendan Rodgers, but he stepped in and took his chance, reducing Coady, 31, to only eight Championship outings.
Leicester’s possession and territory domination under Maresca has resulted in them frequently camped high in the opposing half. One effect is that they have 60 or 70 metres of room behind their defence, large stretches of pitch that a quick counter-attacking team could exploit. He didn’t want Vestergaard or Coady to be exposed for pace, so it was either one or the other. It was Vestergaard’s moment, but now it appears that Coady has the opportunity to shine. Coady may have been disappointed in the past with his lack of playing time. Even England boss Gareth Southgate appeared to regret Coady’s decision to lower a level when he was short on plausible defense options.
Despite being in a surgical boot, Coady insisted on attending all away games to encourage his teammates, returning to the pitchside after each game to sign autographs for supporters who had traveled. He remained in the dressing room, offering advise and support to the young players, particularly 20-year-old Callum Doyle and, more recently, 19-year-old Ben Nelson, whom Maresca had chosen over Coady. He has taken 21-year-old striker Tom Cannon under his wing, and the two are carpooling from Merseyside. Coady was the first figure in a Leicester tracksuit to shake the hands of the heartbroken players as they exited the field following their home defeat to Middlesbrough.
During pre-season games without supporters, Coady’s voice could be heard reverberating around the under-21 pitch at the training ground. Coady could still be heard in Sunderland, which had almost 40,000 spectators. Leicester have not conceded a goal in Coady’s last three starts in all competitions. His leadership, expertise, and composure are necessary, especially given Maresca’s team’s wastefulness on the other end of the game. Leicester need experienced players, and Coady and Vardy meet the description.
