Albrighton Points To Leicester's Tactical Adaptability

- Winger Marc Albrighton assesses Leicester City's 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United at St. James' Park
- Goals from James Maddison and Youri Tielemans enabled the Foxes to register their 10th league success of 2020/21
- Title-winner Albrighton believes City were rewarded for demonstrating several of their qualities in the North East
- The 31-year-old also glances towards the bigger picture, as Leicester climb to third in the Premier League

Following a dominant yet goalless first half in the North East, James Maddison's adroit finish was followed by a similarly rousing, first-time strike by Youri Tielemans to put City on course for three points.

While Andy Carroll's late volley inspired a bombardment of Leicester's goal in the final moments, the in-form Foxes resisted their hosts' advances and held out for a result which elevates them to third in the Premier League.

After City's top goalscorer, Jamie Vardy, was the man to locate Maddison for the opener, it was Albrighton's meticulous cross from the right flank which afforded Tielemans with the opportunity to convert City's second. 

Speaking to LCFC TV following full-time, Premier League title-winner Albrighton described how fusing that attacking endeavour with defensive solidity was a key factor in Leicester's 10th league success of 2020/21.

"Obviously, [in the] first half, we had a lot of the ball," the 31-year-old explained. "We didn't really create too much, but we stuck in there and [in the] second half, we just got the two goals and we were comfortable for parts. They (Maddison and Tielemans) are great strikers of the ball, so anywhere around the 18-yard box, you trust that they'll at least make the 'keeper work and today it was two fantastic precision finishes.

"We showed the other side [in the] last 10 minutes as well. When they scored, we showed that we can fight as well, so we've shown all kinds of our game today, which is pleasing.

"Obviously, we like to think we've got the other side of it as well, but we have always got that in our armour, the counter attack. We like to win the ball as high up as possible and then hurt teams on that counter, so I think that proved today how effective we were doing that."

Now up and running in 2021, the Foxes head into the New Year one point adrift of Liverpool and Manchester United at the Premier League's apex, after already wrapping up top spot in their UEFA Europa League pool.

Albrighton, though, is determined to remain grounded, stressing the importance of securing more positive results on all fronts in the weeks to come and improving performances against sides currently below City.

"I'm really enjoying my time at the minute," the former Aston Villa winger continued. "The group that we've got here is fantastic. The facilities now are second to none, it's got everything in place to move forward and we are moving forward every single season.

"We're making strides and I'm enjoying every minute of it, so long may it continue. The other side of it that we want to work on, the teams that we feel we should be beating, we need to do more to get the results against them.

"On the road at the minute, we're really playing well and getting some fantastic results."

Leicester have played one game more than many of their rivals in the upper reaches of the top-flight table - and Albrighton expects much to change in the standings between now and the campaign's conclusion.

"We've looked at it from early on in the season and it's going to keep changing and changing and changing," he added. "From first probably down to sixth, seventh, eighth, it's going to keep fluctuating.

"The teams are going to be moving up and down, and I think we've just got to focus on us and we'll see where we are come the end."