- Brendan Rodgers reacts to Leicester City's 2-1 reverse at Aston Villa
- Ezri Konsa's double for Villa overturned Harvey Barnes' opener at Villa Park
- Rodgers says his side must improve their record from defensive set-pieces
- He also comments on the performances of Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
The Foxes led at Villa Park through Harvey Barnes' tidy opener, but two efforts from Ezri Konsa in either half – both from set-pieces – ultimately cost Rodgers' men in Birmingham. Speaking at full-time, the Leicester manager could easily assess why his side fell to defeat.
"On the back of the first half, we played ever so well, taken the lead in the game, but our issue at the moment – clearly – is set-pieces," he told LCFC TV. "That’s something that is zapping the confidence from the team. We’re just not doing our job in key moments of the game. It’s really costing us.
"It’s something we have to look at the structure of. We, like most defences, will defend part-zonal, part guys blocking. It’s just being more alert to danger and also doing your job. For the second goal, we highlighted that in the footage leading into the game, where Konsa goes – he’s mainly at the back post.
"We specifically assigned a player to pick him up and mark him, but it’s nowhere tight enough. He gets a free header and all of a sudden it’s the goal which wins the game for them. It’s about structure, it’s about analysing, but it’s also about doing your job on the field. When you do your job, you won’t concede."
Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall started for the Foxes in Birmingham early in their Leicester careers and Rodgers was enthused by each's performance. Daka played a crucial role in the visitors' opener, while Dewsbury-Hall was a tireless worker midfield for large spells.
"They did very well," Rodgers added. "I thought Patson led the line really well. It’s great pressure leading into the first goal. I thought he was excellent. His link-up play was good, pressing was good.
"Kiernan was excellent. He tired a little bit in the second half. We also stuck on a striker to try and help, but I thought he did very, very well. He looked a threat, neat and tidy with the ball. In the second half, he gave it away a couple of times, but I thought he did well."