‘A Good End To A Good Week’ – Roberts’ Take On City’s Latest Win

- Leicester City defeated Brentford 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday
- Youri Tielemans and James Maddison scored for the Foxes in London
- Iwan Roberts analysed the result during LCFC Radio’s Matchday Live coverage
- Three successive wins have kick-started the season, the former Fox believes

Following on from wins over Manchester United in the Premier League and Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League across the previous seven days, the Foxes secured another top-flight success at Brentford Community Stadium.

A stunning second goal in as many league games for Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans set the Foxes on their way and Roberts, who was on co-commentary duty in the capital, was once again impressed with the quality of his strike.

Speaking during LCFC Radio’s post-match analysis on Matchday Live, he said: “It’s been a battle, the lads have had to roll their sleeves up and stay compact. It wasn’t pretty at times but two wonderful goals for different reasons have seen Leicester through.

“It’s just an absolutely magnificent strike from Youri Tielemans for the first. I don’t think we should be surprised; we know he’s got that in his locker. We know he’s capable of doing that with the right foot that he possesses.

“He’s onto that ball in a shot, he’s first to react and then his technique and the power he generates in the shot is unbelievable. It’s gone past David Raya in the goal before he even sees it.

“You saw the one against Manchester United last week, it’s a different type of goal. He knows what he wants to do, there’s only one place he can put that, right in the top corner of the goal. This one is just pure venom. He couldn’t have hit it any sweeter.  

“He doesn’t score normal goals; every goal is an absolute worldie and it’s just another one to add to his collection.”

The winner came on 74 minutes, courtesy of James Maddison, and was enough to take home the spoils from west London, with ex-City forward Roberts praising the fluid build-up from the several players involved.

“It’s then just a well-worked team goal for the second,” the 53-year-old explained. “It's a simple one for James Maddison but the build-up play was a joy to see. Straight from Kasper Schmeichel’s hands, great hold-up play by [Kelechi] Iheanacho, good link-up and support from Tielemans.

“The weight of pass to Patson Daka is inch perfect. I can’t give Daka enough credit for what he did. It would have been easy for him to take responsibility and try and get his sixth goal in three games with the goalkeeper to beat.

“But he knows he might stop that shot and he knows he has Maddison to his left with an open goal. It’s a simple pass and there was no way he was missing it. It was brilliant, unselfish play from an in-form centre forward.

“The whole move itself was top class.”

The former Foxes forward was also pleased to see both sides of the game come out in Leicester’s performance, with moments of attacking flair at the top end of the pitch matched by their ability to be organised defensively and keep Brentford at bay for large spells.

Roberts continued: “Iheanacho in the second half, getting hold of the ball and making a real nuisance of himself, Jonny Evans was Jonny Evans and Daniel Amartey defended ever so well, he had to do that for a long period.

“There were times in that game when they counter-attacked so quickly and moved the ball so sharply. It was great to see. What I enjoyed most of all is when you’ve got to dig in deep and defend, because that’s what you’ve got to do when you come to Brentford.

“They put plenty of balls into your box, they get plenty of men forward, they compete, they fight for everything. If you’re not going to be prepared to dig in and scrap for everything, then they’ll turn you over. Leicester did that throughout the game.

“They had a lot of set pieces to defend, they got caught with one, but more often than not, they were winning the balls in the box.”

City have moved up into the top half of the table, sitting ninth following matchday nine of the 2021/22 campaign. A run of four games unbeaten, including maximum points from their last two league outings, is a sign that things are starting to come together, Roberts believes.

He added: “A second consecutive league win, which is the first time that’s happened for a good few games, since they beat Crystal Palace and West Brom at King Power Stadium in April 2021. It’s a good end to a good week for Leicester City.

“It’s a massive for the Club. It’s been a slow start to the season, but these are a big three points. It puts them a point behind Brighton in fourth in the Premier League. It’s not a bad position to be in overall.

“There are some points that have been lost, but it looks far healthier than two or three weeks ago. Last week, you got the feeling that’s what was needed to kickstart Leicester’s season... the way they went out and played with confidence and attacking flair against Manchester United.

“It was a tough trip to Russia in midweek and everything that it entails, the journey, the time difference and travelling back, and they’ve responded superbly. They’ve shown very good fitness levels against one of the fittest teams in the Premier League. You can’t ask for any more.”