Leicester failed to build on their home win over Bristol City and are back to second-bottom of the Championship after they allowed a 1-0 lead to slip to lose 3-1 at home to QPR on Saturday. yahoo fantasy
Piper: “Just So Disappointing” After Collapse
Former Foxes winger and radio summariser Matt Piper described the performance as “just so disappointing. ” He said there had been a little excitement before the match and that he had expected a repeat of the midweek display, but that the team reverted to one of the worst performances of the season.
Piper said he had felt “really confident” since Gary Rowett’s arrival, but that Saturday’s display was “back to as bad as I’ve seen it. ” He described the side as showing a Jekyll-and-Hyde pattern this season and argued that when adversity struck the players “just crumble, ” becoming “passive, lacklustre” and lacking energy and belief.
Piper added: “Until they give us evidence otherwise, we’ve been seeing the players don’t want it, for the majority of the season. “
Yahoo Fantasy: Rowett Identifies Six Problems
Manager Gary Rowett outlined six distinct problems after the match. He said the first issue was the team “give three very soft goals away, ” likening the mistakes to handing out presents on Christmas Day. The first two goals stemmed from errors in awareness and communication between Ben Nelson and Jakub Stolarczyk, while the third came from a free header inside the six-yard box from a corner.
Rowett also highlighted structural issues, saying opposition teams did not have to work hard to get into good positions against Leicester. At 1-0 up he wanted to see his side pin opponents in and prevent transitions that led to corners and balls into the box, but they allowed such situations “far too easily. ” He linked that to out-of-possession structure that has left the defence vulnerable across the season.
Another key concern Rowett raised was the lack of energy off the ball. He said it was the off-the-ball work that was most disappointing and pointed to fitness and stamina issues across a three-game week. He acknowledged he was not present from pre-season and so could not overhaul fitness levels immediately, but noted he had made just one change from Tuesday’s win — a possible sign that rotation may be needed if tired displays continue.
Losers, Ratings And Individual Notes From A Harsh Afternoon
A match analysis described City stars as mostly awful and suggested the performance felt like an epitaph for their remaining dignity. Despite a “fleeting moment of individual brilliance” from Jordan James, the collective display was judged a capitulation to a team that had arrived on a poor run.
The same analysis included a set of starting XI scores for the day: Jakub Stolarczyk 4, Hamza Choudhury 6, Caleb Okoli 5, Ben Nelson 4, Luke Thomas 5, Oliver Skipp 5, Jordan James 7, Abdul Fatawu 4, Divine Mukasa 4, Stephy Mavididi 7, Jordan Ayew 4. yahoo fantasy
Rowett’s list of six problems and Piper’s blunt assessment leave the club facing clear questions about defensive mistakes, team shape, energy and mentality. With those issues highlighted publicly, the focus will be on whether the players can provide the immediate evidence Piper sought and whether Rowett can implement the changes he outlined to prevent a repeat of this kind of afternoon.
