Nick Szczepanik's press verdict: Leicester City

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Media give their verdict on a tough night for Albion.

Nick Szczepanik

2020-12-14T09:10:00Z

The papers made good reading on Monday morning – if you were James Maddison of Leicester City, a member of his family, or had the Leicester City playmaker in your fantasy team, that is. Albion fans would have enjoyed the reports of the 3-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium much less, if they could even find a mention of Graham Potter’s team.

Peter Lansley gave more space to the Seagulls in The Guardian than most other writers. Former English teacher Lansley also directs a football journalism course at the University of Derby, so it is good to note that he himself knows how to produce a balanced account and do some research.

“With both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool failing to win their games against lower-placed London sides earlier in the day, Leicester made light work of seeing off a Brighton side who had been gaining momentum on their travels,” he wrote.

“Even if this result seems unsurprising according to talent and the Premier League table, it did invert the form guide to some extent: Leicester had lost four of their previous six home league games, while Brighton had gained an impressive 14 points from their previous eight away matches stretching back to last season.

“Danny Welbeck had enjoyed the best opening chance as Brighton, so bright on their travels recently, started well enough. But the former England striker, sent in on goal by Alireza Jahanbakhsh after Solly March’s ball out wide, allowed Kasper Schmeichel to save.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh went close in the first half against Leicester City.

“For all the respect Brighton have earned under Graham Potter - they started the evening as eighth in the ‘xG’ (expected goals) table, above Manchester City - they lacked intensity and did not adapt in time to Justin gaining the freedom to create the first two goals.

“Only two points above the relegation zone, they face Fulham and Sheffield United this week. It is time to turn those expected goals into real ones. Potter, who hopes to have Tariq Lamptey back from a hamstring injury on Wednesday, said: ‘We know how tough the Premier League is. Generally, the performances have been okay but tonight was a sore one’.”

Sadly, most other reports were variations on a theme – praise for Maddison and a few lines about what might have been had Albion’s early chances gone in.

Graham Hill of The Sun, for example, wrote that “Leicester’s Marc Albrighton tested Brighton keeper Matt Ryan after only five minutes - but then Graham Potter’s side dominated for a short spell.

“And keeper Kasper Schmeichel kept the scores level when he saved from Danny Welbeck. Brighton had the upper hand at this stage and it caused so much concern on the Foxes bench that Rodgers switched formation. Leicester went from three to four at the back with his wing backs switching flanks - and it worked.

“[Brendan] Rodgers saw his side put their last league home display against Fulham behind them - and with Leicester also in the last 32 of the Europa League, the Foxes boss will be quietly optimistic going into the new year.

Danny Welbeck scored six goals last season.

“But it was lacklustre stuff from Brighton who showed encouraging signs early on, only to allow Leicester to take control.”

In the Daily Mail, Tom Collomosse wrote that “in the early stages, Graham Potter’s men were dangerous, even without Tariq Lamptey who Potter said was rested ‘as a precaution’.

“Solly March raced down the left in the sixth minute and from his low cross, Alireza Jahanbaksh’s 20-yard effort was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

“Schmeichel did even better to keep the score level three minutes later. Once again March – who was lively early on – found space and released Jahanbaksh, who sent Welbeck bearing down on goal. The former Manchester United forward’s finish was on target but Schmeichel diverted it over the bar with his boot.

“That persuaded Rodgers to switch to a back four and send Justin to the right-back, with Albrighton moving to left midfield. It worked perfectly, with Justin exposing Brighton left-back Dan Burn repeatedly.”

Ditto Sean Taylor in The Independent: “It could have been a different story, however, after an open start to the match saw good chances at both ends.

“Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did well to block Alireza Jahanbakhsh's effort before then making another fine save with his leg when Danny Welbeck was through one-on-one.”

With no limitations of space, it was the BBC website once again that was able to provide the most detailed analysis, even if it makes uncomfortable reading to Albion faithful.

“On the wrong end of a controversial VAR decision in defeat by Southampton at the start of the week, Graham Potter could have few complaints as his side were outclassed by superior opposition on Sunday night,” Harry Poole wrote.

“Though this was not one of those occasions - the visitors threatening on the counter in the opening stages but dejected after Leicester's first - there is a sense their performances have deserved more than the table suggests.

“But after just one win in their past 10 league games, it is now time to deliver as they face two of the four sides below them in Fulham and Sheffield United next week.”