We’ll Learn From Our Defeat, Says Rodgers
- Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City will learn from Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road
- Andre Gray scored for the hosts in injury time during Rodgers’ first game in charge of the Foxes
- Rodgers also provided an update on the fitness of striker Jamie Vardy
On Rodgers’ managerial debut for the Foxes, his side suffered a 2-1 reverse after Andre Gray struck in the second minute of injury time.
City got themselves back on level terms when Jamie Vardy fired in with 14 minutes to go to cancel out Troy Deeney’s opener, but they couldn’t see the game out as Gray bagged the winner for the Hornets.
“I was really disappointed for the players and supporters today because we got off to a slow start and conceded early on in the game, which was not ideal, especially away from home,” Rodgers told LCFC TV.
“I know it’s a trend that we need to eradicate. Then, I thought we worked our way into the game. We were a little bit slow with our passing in the first half, but we still got into some good positions.
“We addressed one or two items at half-time and I thought in the second half, the players were excellent. I thought we looked like the team that would equalise, and we did.
“We scored a fantastic goal and it just looked like a matter of time before the second would come. We had all the pressure and really sustained our attacks. You could just sense that they were going to be happy to take a point, Watford.
“To concede late on, we need to manage the game better, because if you give opportunities at this level, people will take them.”
The Northern Irishman was pleased with the way City reacted to conceding early on at Vicarage Road, and believes there’s more to come from his players.
“For players with a new manager coming in, it’s never easy at the time,” he continued. “The players have been brilliant all week. They’ve showed a great spirit and also quality.
“The more we get used to working together, the better we’ll become. We showed enough today to show that we can have a really exciting period. That moment at the end, we can learn from that, and that will make us better.”
With a full week of work on the cards leading up to Saturday’s home fixture against Fulham, Rodgers is eager to get back on the Belvoir Drive training pitches to work with the Club's stars.
He said of the week ahead: “As an ongoing process, it’s something that will take place over time, but I was really pleased today. Over the course of the game, I thought we were the better team, despite conceding late on.
Morgan Points To Positives
Captain Wes Morgan feels there was plenty to be pleased with despite falling to a late defeat at Watford in the Premier League.
“I know the areas we need to be better in, but the players deserve credit for taking onboard what we’d worked on. We’ll just learn to close that game out at the end.”
Finally, Rodgers provided an update on the fitness of Vardy, who was forced off with seven minutes to play in Hertfordshire.
Rodgers added: “He looks okay in the changing room. I think with the collision he had, he just felt it a little bit in the second half.
“He couldn’t just quite continue, so it was unfortunate for him, but we’ll assess him and hopefully he’ll be okay to train on Tuesday.”