Maguire: Good To Collect Points Away From Home
- Leicester City and England defender Harry Maguire reflects on a 1-1 draw with West Ham United
- The Foxes lost a lead after Cheikhou Kouyate cancelled out Marc Albrighton's opener
- Maguire admits City are frustrated by the timing of the goal, just before half-time
- He also believes any point away from home has to be hard-earned in the Premier League
On Friday, Marc Albrighton’s eighth-minute opener was curtailed by a Cheikhou Kouyate header, a source of great frustration for the Foxes, but Maguire says they must move on.
“It was maybe a fair point in the end,” he told LCFC TV. “We started the game well, in the first half it was a little open and that suited our attacking players, but maybe we could have been more clinical.
“In the positions we got into… I see it every day in training, with the quality we have at the top end of the pitch, we will usually punish you.
Maguire: Set Play Cost Us
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire reflects on a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.
“So, maybe we could have been more clinical, but from our point of view [in defence], it was sloppy to concede that goal just before half-time.
“We spoke about how crucial it would be to get off to a good start in the week. It would put them under pressure, the atmosphere would change, so that’s what we tried to do.
“Thankfully, we did but it was a soft goal just before half-time and a set play we probably should have been a bit braver with.”
One factor that particularly frustrated Maguire was the nature of West Ham’s goal. Kouyate’s header was the sixth City have conceded straight from a corner this term.
“Set plays are always horrible to concede and always nice to score,” the England centre back added. “[West Ham are] a big side, they were a big threat.
“We knew it would be tough but we dealt with almost every one. It was hard to get the flow of the game going. We both take the point, we settle for it, and we move on to the next game.”
Unbeaten in 5 away from home is always a positive. Areas to improve but we will work hard for the next game. Safe journey home 🦊#Lcfc
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) November 24, 2017
While disappointed, Maguire says City can take pride from their away form following a run of results which has now seen them go five unbeaten since a 2-0 reverse at Manchester United in August.
Not since the 2015/16 title-winning campaign have the Foxes gone so long without defeat on the road.
“Our recent form away from home has been pleasing, we’ve got a few draws in there, but if we were more ruthless in our defending, we’d have a few more wins,” Maguire continued.
“It’s something we will work on but it’s always pleasing to pick up points away from home.”