Boro Hold On For Victory On Filbert Way
Goals from Finn Azaz and Sam Silvera gave Boro a first-half lead on Filbert Way and, although City threw everything at Michael Carrick's visitors in the final moments, Jamie Vardy's late hit wasn't enough to rescue a point. The Foxes remain nine points clear of second-placed Leeds United - their next opponents at Elland Road on Friday night - and 11 ahead of Southampton in third. For this matchday 33 assignment, Enzo Maresca made one change to the XI which overcame Sheffield Wednesday in midweek as Patson Daka came in at centre-forward. A lively atmosphere greeted the two sides at they emerged from the Filbert Way tunnel. A large tifo illuminated the Spion Kop too, reading: ‘Leicester City: The ace of clubs’.
Leicester created the first opening. Five minutes in, on the right channel, Abdul Fatawu played a short corner to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who unleashed a wicked cross towards the back post. Jannik Vestergaard was there and got his head on it, although the Dane could only find the side netting. Boro might have arrived in the East Midlands without a win in four in the Championship, but remain a stern opponent for anyone at this level. It was the visitors from the North East who in fact dictated the early play. The City backline, though, were initially able to shield Mads Hermansen’s net. The shot-stopper’s only task in the first 15 minutes was to swat Daniel Barlaser’s in-swinging corner away from danger.
Daka, the Zambia forward, has seven goals in 10 league outings for the Foxes this term. He’ll have been particularly disappointed not to have added to that tally after spurning two headed chances in the opening stages. First, he did well to make contact with a raking Wout Faes diagonal, but Tom Glover in the Middlesbrough net could scoop it up. The former RB Salzburg man then misjudged Fatawu’s dinked cross in the area and headed across goal instead of towards it. The City pressure continued in earnest, with Fatawu’s sighter well blocked by Matt Clarke moments later. Just as Maresca’s men were building, they were stung on the counter and the game's complexion tilted.
Silvera’s quick release over on the left flank put Lewis O’Brien away. Reaching the byline, he squared it across goal. Hermansen did his best to make himself big, but Azaz got his head down and buried it from close range on 24 minutes. For the first time since 13 December, Leicester had conceded first in a game. Maresca called for calm from the sidelines. Fatawu’s silky feet gave him room to cross just after the half-hour, although Dewsbury-Hall’s header was knocked behind. The fragility of City’s position in the game against a side who had come to counter them to was laid bare from the corner. The home side lost the ball and, before long, O’Brien was storming forwards. He had only Ricardo Pereira for company – who himself didn’t have any defensive reinforcements. Eventually more players in white arrived in the middle, but Ricardo read the situation brilliantly, both blocking O’Brien’s path to his team-mates and also taking the ball away from the man on loan from Nottingham Forest.
It was 2-0 on 37 minutes. Good work from Riley McGree on the right freed him to tee up Silvera, who rifled it through Hermansen. Only once before this season have City been two goals down and that instance came in the latter moments at Coventry City last month. The only positive at the break was that they at least had 45 minutes to rectify the situation. With the Manager’s words ringing in their ears, Leicester started the second half by camping in Boro’s defensive third. Mavididi was replaced by Tom Cannon too, presenting a new variable for the visiting backline to contend with. The plan seemed to be to suffocate them and pounce once the gaps started to appear. The visitors were standing tall, however. A Harry Winks drive was deflected behind before Glover seized on a loose ball in the box before James Justin could apply a finish.
There was an underlying jeopardy for the Foxes too. Pushing forwards would inevitably leave gaps at the back. Faes had to concede a free-kick to halt a breakaway just after the hour. McGree then curled it narrowly wide of Hermansen’s near post. Before long, Vardy, Yunus Akgün, and Kasey McAteer were also on the pitch, adding more attacking outlets for the frustrated Foxes. Boro’s next dash forwards saw Silvera try and chip Hermansen from 25 yards, but the 'keeper had it covered. The siege then resumed, but Middlesbrough's walls remained strong. An excellent block from Rav Van Den Berg stopped Dennis Praet’s cross from reaching a waiting Vardy in the middle. Another precious chance then fell at the feet of their top goalscorer when McAteer drilled it low across the box to Vardy, but the No.9 couldn't keep it down. He wouldn't miss next time.
A Winks free-kick, intended for a head in the box, was turned by the wind into an effort on goal, with Glover needing to palm it for a corner. A further low ball towards Vardy was then cut out by Van Den Berg. Another gilt-edged opportunity came and went with six minutes of normal time to play. Cannon's delivery was inch-perfect, rolling it to Vestergaard's feet in the middle. The goal was gaping, but the former Southampton centre-back swung a boot at it and it flew over the bar. The pressure finally told seconds later. A moment of brilliance from Cannon released Vardy, on the defender's shoulder. The Club's third all-time top goalscorer knows what he's doing in those situations and drilled it past Glover, as Filbert Way erupted. Roared on by the Blue Army, Leicester locked Boro in. Inside four added minutes, first Vardy glanced Ricardo's clipped cross wide. Vestergaard then sent one of several Marc Albrighton deliveries behind. City pushed and pushed, but a third home defeat of the season was finally confirmed. A huge night at Leeds is next up for the promotion-chasing Foxes.