Rodgers: Tough To Take

- Brendan Rodgers analyses Leicester City’s 2-1 Premier League reverse at Brighton & Hove Albion
- The Foxes had two goals disallowed by VAR, while Brighton were awarded a penalty
- Jamie Vardy scored his 150th goal for the Foxes

The Foxes had a penalty decision go against them and also had two second-half strikes disallowed for offside by VAR, ultimately losing 2-1 to the Seagulls at AMEX Stadium.

Although Rodgers was not pleased with the two goals City conceded, he felt they deserved to claim something from the game.

“It’s very tough [to take], against a good side who played well,” he told LCFC TV. “They have good experience and can play good football.

“We didn’t get the luck today, that was disappointing. Three decisions have gone against us, definitely two, for sure. Obviously, that’s always hard when you’re away from home.

“We spoke at half-time to turn the temperature up. We needed to run a little bit more off the ball and we just needed to stretch the game that little bit more.

“I thought the second half, take away the free-kick, which we need to analyse and be better in, apart from that, I thought we were excellent.”

Despite Jannik Vestergaard appearing to be fouled in the build-up, the Denmark international defender was penalised after the ball struck his hand in the area.

When asked about the decision, Rodgers said: “It’s never a penalty, I think everyone can see that. We’re more disappointed with the process and the officials, and how they didn’t review it and see it. Obviously, that gives the home team a lift. I think everyone can see, it was never a penalty.”

Rodgers was able to reflect positively on several aspects of the match, including Jamie Vardy netting his 150th Leicester City goal across all formats.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” he said. “He’s got three goals now in five games. It was a well-worked goal from our perspective, and he looked a threat, particularly in the second half.”

Assessing City’s 2021/22 season to date, and the competitive nature of the campaign, he added: “It’s great, it’s what top-level football is about. The last couple of years, we’ve qualified for Europe, we’ve won two trophies and this is the level.

“We had a tough game in midweek (2-2 vs. Napoli), we should have won that game. We should have got something from today.

“So, you’ve just got to never get too disappointed. I was much, much happier with large elements of our game today.

“There are areas we will be better in and can be better in, and that’s my job to find that solution. I was a lot more pleased with what I’ve seen today.”