Leicester City’s Season Review: November

After City concluded the month of October with three consecutive victories, two of which came in Europe, their winning streak would continue well into autumn, starting at Elland Road versus Leeds United.

Leeds’ home for the last century not only yielded three Premier League points for the Foxes, but also their biggest triumph on that soil, while Brendan Rodgers saw his side maintain their 100 per cent league away record in 2020/21 with a 4-1 success.

It was Jamie Vardy who created the first goal of the game as he pounced on Robin Koch’s back-pass and teed up Harvey Barnes, whose strike after only three minutes proved to be his third of the season in all formats.

Then, midway through the first half, came second of the game, through Youri Tielemans’ close-range finish, and while Stuart Dallas halved the deficit straight after the interval, City stood strong before Vardy converted Cengiz Ünder’s pass and Tielemans netted a brace with a penalty in time added on.

The result saw Leicester move up to second in the table, and three days later, their focus switched to a Europa League encounter with SC Braga on Filbert Way.

The Portuguese outfit were considered to be City’s strongest Group G opponents, however a resounding 4-0 triumph saw them register their biggest victory in European competition, with Kelechi Iheanacho proving irresistible on the night.

The Nigeria international scored in either half and set up his side’s third goal – converted by Dennis Praet – before James Maddison’s second European strike for the Club earned a memorable three points to send City three points clear at the top of their group.

Leicester’s fixtures continued to come thick and fast, with Wolverhampton Wanderers visiting King Power Stadium in the Premier League just three days later.

A solitary penalty from Vardy, after only 15 minutes, won the game for the hosts, although the striker also had a spot-kick saved by Rui Patrício at the end of the first half.

Nevertheless, a 1-0 victory briefly sent the Foxes top of the Premier League having amassed 18 points from eight matches prior to the third and final international break of 2020.

Fellow high-flying Liverpool proved to be November’s next opponents, however City’s six-game winning run came to an end at Anfield, as did their perfect away record in the competition.

Jonny Evans’ early own goal, plus strikes from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, handed the Merseyside outfit a 3-0 win, despite a big chance for Vardy to halve the deficit at 2-0 just after the hour mark.

There was no time to dwell on that reverse, though. An important Europa League game – away to Braga – was fast approaching as Leicester looked to book their spot in the Round of 32.

A victory on the night would guarantee progression, however Zorya Luhansk’s 3-0 win away at AEK Athens meant a hard-fought draw would be enough.

During a rollercoaster encounter at Estádio Municipal de Braga, Al Musrati opened the scoring after just four minutes before England international Barnes, capped by the Three Lions a month prior, levelled matters five minutes later.

Braga restored their lead on 24 minutes through Paulinho, but with 12 minutes remaining, Academy graduate Luke Thomas fired home his first goal for the Football Club to make it 2-2 and all to play for.

More drama followed, though, with Fransérgio making it 3-2 to the hosts with little time to play. However, in the 95th minute, Vardy capped off a fine team move to turn home Marc Albrighton’s cross and send City through.

Just one fixture in November remained, with Fulham heading to Filbert Way four days later, however it was the recently-promoted outfit that would return to the capital with a victory.

Although Tielemans and Wesley Fofana both hit the woodwork midway through the first half, two goals in the space of just nine minutes handed Fulham a 2-0 lead following Ademola Lookman’s strike and a penalty from Ivan Cavaleiro.

Despite a fine finish from Barnes with four minutes to go, City were unable to claim a draw as they ended a largely positive November with a narrow loss at King Power Stadium.