At the conclusion of our 13th game, which marks just under a third of the season, we find ourselves with an impressive 39 points, a mere one short of the coveted 40-point milestone. Undoubtedly, this achievement is nothing short of remarkable. However, I must admit that my confidence was shaky prior to the match, and there were moments where it appeared that we might witness our first draw of the season. On my way to the stadium, several QPR fans had the audacity to say, “Three easy points for you today,” to which I retorted, “If only you had been following Leicester City for as long as I have…”
Marasca made a bold move by fielding a strong team that included Coady but retained a tight defense with Vestergaard, while Choudhury replaced Pereira. Vardy took charge as captain and led the team from the front. The game kicked off with City resorting to their familiar slow passing approach, which though it may irk certain individuals, has its strategic merits. Maresca had made it clear that there would be no room for complacency, but as the first half unfolded, it seemed that our team had grown a bit too comfortable. Finally, just moments before the half-hour mark, Mavididi appeared to make a cross from the left, only for it to take an unexpected deflection and nestle into the top right-hand corner, grazing the upright on its way in.
Contrary to the notion held by many pundits that QPR would crumble after conceding the first goal, they surprised us all by equalizing with an explosive strike from just outside the box, a mere ten minutes later. Choudhury should be commended for his brilliant goal-line clearance, thwarting a threatening header with Hermansen entirely helpless. However, Dozzell executed a perfect shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance. This sudden resurgence instilled renewed hope in QPR, and they persistently pressed forward, in search of another goal.
The majority of the second half unfolded on the end of the pitch where our passionate fans were situated. Being in the front row of the upper tier, I was fortunate enough to have an excellent view of the events unfolding, especially during the heated moment just before the hour mark. Dozzell, the scorer of QPR’s goal, foolishly dragged Fatawu to the ground, earning a well-deserved yellow card. Fatawu, clearly infuriated, retaliated by pushing Dozzell, causing him to be sent flying. Later on, Ainsworth, then the QPR manager (but now sacked), accused Fatawu of gamesmanship. However, the force of the push was so intense that it would have been impossible for Fatawu to remain on his feet. Fatawu also received a yellow card for his reaction, but after consulting with his assistant, the referee bestowed a second yellow upon Dozzell, subsequently sending him off. This incident led to a bit of a melee, with Vardy somehow finding himself at the center of it all. Despite being the captain, it appeared to me that he needlessly involved himself. Needless to say, there was an excessive amount of testosterone circulating – both on and off the pitch.
As is often the case, City did not seem to reap the rewards of facing a weakened team, and the prospect of securing a winning goal seemed increasingly unlikely, regardless of the numerous opportunities that presented themselves. Then, out of nowhere, during the 80th minute, Winks unleashed a powerful strike, scoring his first-ever goal for Leicester, much to our delight. There was little noteworthy action for the remainder of the game. City stood out as the more dominant side, claiming a staggering 79% possession. Nevertheless, it was somewhat disconcerting to witness them struggle to convert their advantage into tangible results. A few usually reliable players, such as Justin, Winks, and Vardy, seemed to be below their usual standards, but given their exceptional capabilities, no complaints can be made.
Overall, Leicester deservedly emerged victoriously, and we march forward with confidence. Interestingly enough, it appears highly probable that Everton will face a 12-point deduction and almost certainly be relegated by the end of this season. If this had occurred last season, as it should have, City would have avoided demotion at their expense. However, in retrospect, relegation has proven to be beneficial for us. It provided the club with an opportunity to streamline the squad, offload high-earning players, and bring in young, hungry talents eager to prove themselves. Had we managed to stay up, would Rodgers have departed and been replaced by Maresca? Logically, this outcome seems quite unlikely.
Finally, I must touch upon the behavior of our fans. As soon as Winks scored, several young men rushed to the front of the stand, obstructing the gangways entirely. One daring individual even climbed onto the parapet right beside me. With one leg precariously hanging over the edge, his friends held onto the back of his coat. It would have been incredibly easy for him to lose balance and suffer a severe injury, at the very least. Unfortunately, the stewards made no visible effort to address the situation or restore calm. This starkly contrasts with my experience at my previous football outing, where I witnessed the Lionesses triumph over Belgium at the KPS. The atmosphere was filled with high-pitched screams from hundreds of young girls (and some boys), devoid of foul language and rowdy singing.
City Lineup: Hermansen; Choudhury (Ricardo 67), Coady, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Casadei (Iheanacho 79), Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu (Albrighton 83), Vardy (McAteer 83), Mavididi. Substitutes not used: Stolarczyk, Faes, Souttar, Marcal, Daka.
