Leicester City’s top three goal scorers and playmakers were pulled from the game earlier than usual, causing a lack of offense and ultimately leading to defeat against Middlesbrough.
Stephy Mavididi was substituted at halftime during Saturday’s game at King Power Stadium, with Abdul Fatawu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall following suit around the one-hour mark. This marked the earliest removal from a Championship game for Mavididi and Dewsbury-Hall this season, and the second earliest for Fatawu.
Their early exits highlighted the team’s struggle to generate scoring opportunities in the final third. While these three players lead the club in combined goals and assists this season, they found it challenging to create dangerous plays, especially after Middlesbrough took the lead.
Tom Cannon, Kasey McAteer, and Yunus Akgun were brought on to make an impact, and while it didn’t happen immediately, City managed to secure a goal in the final 10 minutes. Coach Maresca refrained from criticizing the performance of the substituted attacking players, attributing the changes to tactical decisions and a need for more quality in offensive plays.
He reiterated that player substitutions could happen at any time if performance levels dropped, but insisted that commitment remained high throughout the game. Despite the loss, Maresca acknowledged that the team had several chances to score, but ultimately lacked the finishing touch.
