A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E
8 DECEMBER 2024
LEICESTER CITY 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the KING POWER STADIUM, LEICESTER.
After the Fulham disappointment the Seagulls were off to the Midlands to take on City in the Premier at the King Power Stadium, the game being broadcast over the airwaves by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following their 1-3 reverse at Fulham on the 5 December, the Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Tariq Lamptey, Yasin Ayari, Georginio Rutter and Evan Ferguson coming in for Igor Julio, Simon Adingra, Mats Wieffer and Matt O'Riley, the latter four dropping down to the substitutes bench. Back in his usual position on the touchline was Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler, after serving a one-match touchline ban.
Leicester had gained promotion to the Premier after finishing Champions of the Sky Bet Championship last season but in the summer Head Coach Enzo Maresca left the Foxes to take up a similiar position' with Chelsea. Former ottingham Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper was appointed in place of Maresca prior to the start of the season but didnt last long, being dismissed by Leicester a few days after the home defeat to Chelsea on the 23 November.
Former PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was then appointed Head Coach and his first game in charge was the 3-1 home win over West Ham United on the 3 December.
For Albion's visit the Foxes had to make one enforced change from the West Ham game, with Jordan Ayew replacing the ineligible Facundo Buonanotte, who was on a season-long loan from the Albion.
Early chances in the game fell to the Foxes but Kasey McAteer and then James Justin failed to convert. Next, it was Albion's turn to do a bit of attacking as Joao Pedro fired a volley wide and Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen made a series of saves from Yasin Ayari, Pervis Estupinan (twice) and Evan Ferguson.
The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes when Estupinan's long cross from the left found Tariq Lamptey on the opposite flank from where the wing-back unleashed a superb left-foot curler of a shot which flew over keeper Hermansen into the Leicester net. An excellent goal. 1-0.
Before the break Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen was called upon to make a routine save from Jamie Vardy's header. An impressive first-half from the Seagulls but they should have been leading by more than one goal.
Half-time 1-0.
First opportunity of the second-half fell to the Foxes but Jan Paul Van Hecke came to Albion's rescue as he deflected Jamie Vardy's goal-bound strike away for a corner. Vardy again went close with a header from substitute Stephy Mavididi's cross which narrowly missed the Albion goal.
The Seagulls increased their lead on 79 minutes with another excellent goal as substitute Matt O'Riley threaded the ball through to fellow substitute Yankuba Minteh who in a mazy run left Leicester defenders Victor Kristiansen and Conor Coady in his wake before slotting a low shot past Hermansen with his left-foot for Albion's second. 2-0.
The Seagulls looked good for the points. However, with the new Head Coach impetus the Foxes went on the offensive and substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid's shot was deflected to the predator who is Vardy and in a flash the ball was nestling in the back of Albion's net.
Four minutes to go and the Foxes were back in it. 2-1. On 89 minutes the Albion brought on defender Igor Julio as substitute for Kaoru Mitoma in an effort to shore things up but this move was to backfire on the Albion. In the second minute of time added on Julio decided to dribble with the ball in his own-half, lost possession of the ball to Mavididi who in turn found Vardy on the left who astutely passed the ball across the goalmouth to De Cordova-Reid who slotted the ball home for Leicester's equaliser. It was De Cordova-Reid's first goal in the Premier for the Foxes and a disaster for the Seagulls. 2-2.
Another two points tossed away by the Albion. Final-score 2-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 16 attempts at goal, with 7 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Leicester City had 10 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
SUMMARY - Yet another two points thrown away by the Albion, that's ten so far this season and it needs to stop. On the plus side, the Seagulls scored two cracking goals at the King Power. We've got another M23 derby this weekend against the Palace and three points would do very nicely.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Tariq LAMPTEY, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 46), Yasin AYARI (Matt O'RILEY 71); Georginio RUTTER, Joao PEDRO (Yankuba MINTEH 70), Kaoru MITOMA (Igor JULIO 89); Evan FERGUSON (Danny WELBECK 70).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Brajan GRUDA, Jakub MODER, Simon ADINGRA.
Leicester City line-up (4-2-3-1):- Mads HERMANSEN; James JUSTIN, Conor COADY, Jannik VESTERGAARD (Wout FAES 81), Victor KRISTIANSEN; Wilfred NDIDI (Oliver SKIPP 52), Boubakary SOUMARE; Kasey McATEER (Bobby DE CORDOVA-REID 62), Bilal EL KHANNOUS (Patson DAKA 81), Jordan AYEW (Stephy MAVIDIDI 62); Jamie VARDY (Capt).
Subs not used: Danny WARD (G/K), Hamza CHOUDHURY, Luke THOMAS, Caleb OKOLI.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Fourth Official: Simon Hooper.
VAR Official: Graham Scott.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Carlos Baleba, Mats Wieffer. Leicester City: 1 - Boubakary Soumare.
Possession: Albion - 45%. Leicester City - 55%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).
Attendance: 31647.
NEXT GAME:
15 DECEMBER 2024 - CRYSTAL PALACE - Home - Premier League - kick-off 14.00. "Live" on Sky Sports.