Tottenham 1, Leicester 2, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report, Premier League fixture
Yesterday at 12:36 PM
Again no starting position for Facundo Bounanotte, also missing from the line-up, Stephy Mavididi, instead keeping faith in Jordan Ayew and a rare start to Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Leicester started with positive attitude, the team looked balanced with a certain structure in place. The game waved forward and back over the first 20 minutes.
Then in the 33rd minute it was back to what we have seen in the last 7 games, bad defending, no pressing wide when a perfect pass found Richarlison inside the penalty area, as Wout Faes lost his marking, and the Brazilian scored from a header, 1-0.
First half then just ebbed out as it looked comfortable for Spurs, but still not a type of game that looked lost at half time. Spurs had the lead, but a few positives in this first half anyway.
HUGE from the boys!
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 26, 2025
Delivered by @bcgame#TOTLEIpic.twitter.com/NpZxfvBqCJ
The second half start has been a problem in the previous games, but today Leicester had other ideas, going for a goal straight away. In fantastic attacking style Bobby De Cordova-Reid played through Jamie Vardy with a perfect pass as the 38 year old forward and captain managed to get the ball over the line, Leicester had levelled, 1-1.
This confidence injection made some sort of explosion as it took fire. Leicester with Bouba Soumare in the main part pushed Spurs backwards and just 4 minutes after Jamie Vardy had levelled, Bilal El Khannouss was played through from Bobby de Cordova-Reid, having two assists this afternoon, though the well placed shot from the Morocco international found the net perfectly behind Spurs goalkeeper, it looked like someone had fueled this group of players up with sugar and candy as they blossomed like flowers in the spring.
The 2-1 lead was something to protect, with a back four playing up their ever best, doing what was needed to keep Spurs on distance. Jakub Stolarczyk has been questioned since thaking the gloves, but today he showed what he was made of, calmly taking what was coming, as well as having saves we do normally would describe as fantastic, hopefully he can continue to play to this standard going forward.
Leicester players fought like lions towards the end and 8 minutes of stoppage time. A great day at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 3 unexpected points, but sometimes positive things happen.
Next up is Man Utd in the FA Cup, then Everton will be a new test away at Goodison Park. Just great to have the feeling back of winning, that has been absent for a while, if we overlook the QPR game, which was also a nice feeling.
- Positives
- First half, playing well, and a feeling that this could be a day of some positives, despite being 1-0 down
- Jamie Vardy scoring again, being were he should be, fantastic
- Bilal El Khannouss turning up and being influential when needed, this speaks volumes about this young fantastic prospect
- Defensive attitude, Vestergaard, Justin, Kristiansen and Faes all very solid
- Soumare working as a lion in the middle, starting to look like the organizer we need in the area of the park
- Bobby de Cordova-Reid with 2 assists, hopefully being able to deliver going forward
- Ruud van Nistelrooy getting rewarded with points, as some of the previous performances has shown promise, but no points
- Jakub Stolarczyk turning up and being the goalkeeper Leicester need when Mads Hermansen is absent
- Woyo Coulibaly making his debut with a 2-1 win, being in there at the end, vital positves in the bank
- Negatives
- Leaving the space for Spurs players to be able to make too many crosses from wide areas, leading to the first goal.
- A bit too many clearances not really having the correct power and going straight back to Spurs players
Player Ratings: Stolarczyk 8, Justin 7, Kristiansen 7, Faes 7, Vestergaard 7, Winks 6, El Khannouss 8, Vardy 7, Soumare 8, Ayew 6, De Cordova-Reid 7 Subs: Daka, Skipp, Bounanotte, Coady, Coulibaly
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Jakub Stolarczyk
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 60 / 40
- Shots on Target: 6 / 3
- Corners: 6 / 4
- Fouls: 6 / 16
