Matchday Live Talking Points: Game-Changing Subs & Iheanacho's Positive Contribution
As part of LCFC Radio's six-hour coverage of Foxes matchdays, the former City quartet assessed a dramatic night at King Power Stadium, which saw Kelechi Iheanacho net a 74th-minute equaliser.
It means the tie is level going into the second leg at Villa Park on Tuesday 28 January (7:45pm GMT kick-off) and Cottee, Elliott, Taggart and Stearman all picked out their highlights at full-time...
Substitutions changed the game
Tony Cottee said: “Villa performed well. Let’s be honest, they’re having a really difficult season, but they came here, they had their plan defensively, and how to hit Leicester on the counter. In the first half, they were excellent, they caused a lot of problems. Overall, in the second half, it was a better performance from Leicester and Rodgers made good substitutions which changed the game. It’s a fair result.”
Attack vs. defence for long spells
Richard Stearman said: “Villa’s shape was excellent. They dropped into a back five straight away, so it was hard to break through the lines and get around them on the sides, and Leicester struggled to get through them. It was attack vs. defence and Villa were clearing a lot. They ultimately nullified each other really, but Leicester were on top for long spells.”
Iheanacho's positive contribution
Gerry Taggart said: “We all know what Leicester are like this season on the high press. They invite you to play that ball and the longer it took for Villa to take the free-kick, the more you felt this could spell trouble. They did well, Villa, but as soon as you see that happen, you knew something was going to happen. Thankfully, Iheanacho’s come on again and contributed in a positive fashion to get his team level.”
Hamza's role in the goal applauded
Matt Elliott said: “It’s a large part of Hamza’s game and fair play to him. It was unnecessary from Villa at that free-kick. An opportunity to get back into the game was offered to Leicester, where Villa should have just cleared it. It was an avenue back into the game. All of the sudden the game turned on its head and it was brilliant play from Hamza [Choudhury] to win the ball and get Leicester on the front foot.”
A brilliant finish
Tony Cottee said: “Goalscorers don’t always contribute much else because they want to score the goals, but as soon as the ball arrived at Jamie’s [Vardy] feet, it was a great, early pass which helped him get it into just the right position, and then it’s a brilliant finish from Iheanacho. As soon as he was in the box, I was standing up because I knew, as a former striker, the ball was going into the net.”
If you can't win, don't lose
Gerry Taggart said: “The passing wasn’t slick enough at times. Pushing [Youri] Tielemans higher up the pitch, with Iheanacho coming on, obviously helped. It’s the third time (including Wolves and Norwich City) this season a team has tried to do a job, but they’ve made sure they didn’t lose it and they got a draw. Maybe last season, Leicester would have lost, so there is progress. If you can’t win a game, don’t lose it.”
A different proposition at Villa Park
Matt Elliott said: “I think Villa will be the happier of the two sides, but Leicester will have the consolation of being back on level terms after being behind. I’m sure there’s still more than a good chance of them going through. Gary Thompson, who was covering the game on the radio, said a 1-0 defeat wouldn’t have been a bad result for Villa. They’ll be buoyed by the result, but it’s a different proposition at Villa Park.”
A really interesting tie
Richard Stearman said: “Aston Villa can’t play that way at home. They are going to have to come out a little bit, be the aggressor in the game, and try to win the tie. Leicester will set up in a similar manner and take the game to Aston Villa, so it’s a really interesting tie and it’s there for the taking for both teams.”