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West Bromwich Albion stay steady to see off struggling Leicester City West Bromwich Albion stay steady to see off struggling Leicester City
(about 1 hour later)
Rotation has its place, but the West Bromwich Albion manager, Alan Irvine, appears to be reaping the benefits of fielding a settled side. In the Baggies’ past six Premier League games, Irvine has used 12 outfield starters, and three wins and two draws in that time means his side have picked up 11 points from 18. Rotation has its place but the West Bromwich Albion manager, Alan Irvine, appears to be reaping the benefits of fielding a settled side. In the Baggies’ past six Premier League games, Irvine has used 12 outfield starters, and three wins and two draws in that time means his side have picked up 11 points from 18.
The contrast with Leicester City is marked, and arguably instructive. They have now gone five games without a win since beating Manchester United 5-3 here on 21 September – failing to score in four of them –and their manager, Nigel Pearson, has chopped and changed players in every one.The contrast with Leicester City is marked, and arguably instructive. They have now gone five games without a win since beating Manchester United 5-3 here on 21 September – failing to score in four of them –and their manager, Nigel Pearson, has chopped and changed players in every one.
It is true, as Pearson levelly pointed out, that Leicester looked much improved on their tame 2-0 defeat away to Swansea City last Saturday, and that luck played a considerable part in their defeat by West Bromwich Albion – most obviously in the second-half own goal, when the Leicester centre-half Wes Morgan headed an attempted clearance against Esteban Cambiasso and the ball rebounded past the wrong-footed goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, and into the net. It is true, as Pearson pointed out, that Leicester looked much improved on their tame 2-0 defeat away to Swansea City last Saturday, and that luck played a considerable part in their defeat by West Bromwich Albion – most obviously in the second-half own goal, when the Leicester centre-half Wes Morgan headed an attempted clearance against Esteban Cambiasso and the ball rebounded past the wrong-footed goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, and into the net.
However, as Pearson also acknowledged, his side again struggled to create chances, despite returning to the midfield diamond formation, with Cambiasso at the base, which they had used in the success against Manchester United. “As a contrast to last week, there were a lot of positives,” Pearson said. “You could certainly argue we were unlucky in what was always going to be a relatively tight game. However, as Pearson also acknowledged, his side again struggled to create opportunities, despite returning to the midfield diamond formation, with Cambiasso at the base, which they had employed in the success against Manchester United. “As a contrast to last week, there were a lot of positives,” Pearson said. “You could certainly argue that we were unlucky in what was always going to be a relatively tight game.
“We looked more solid, more disciplined, the work ethic was there, and while we didn’t create too many opportunities, we were reasonably comfortable. It’s more what I’m looking for, without a shadow of a doubt.”“We looked more solid, more disciplined, the work ethic was there, and while we didn’t create too many opportunities, we were reasonably comfortable. It’s more what I’m looking for, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Leicester certainly made a more obviously purposeful start than of late, forcing the visitors on to the back foot. The Baggies looked solid in defence, though, and, playing on the break, more dangerous in attack.Leicester certainly made a more obviously purposeful start than of late, forcing the visitors on to the back foot. The Baggies looked solid in defence, though, and, playing on the break, more dangerous in attack.
Saido Berahino twice came close to beating the offside trap before finally doing so, only for Schmeichel to save his shot from the edge of the penalty area, while Leicester’s best chance of the first half-hour was when Morgan headed wide from Matty James’s corner.Saido Berahino twice came close to beating the offside trap before finally doing so, only for Schmeichel to save his shot from the edge of the penalty area, while Leicester’s best chance of the first half-hour was when Morgan headed wide from Matty James’s corner.
Set-pieces continued to be Leicester’s likeliest source of goals, while, at the other end, another swift break resulted in Berahino laying the ball off for Chris Brunt to fizz a drive just over Schmeichel’s crossbar. Set pieces continued to be Leicester’s likeliest source of goals, while, at the other end, another swift break resulted in Berahino laying the ball off for Chris Brunt to fizz a drive just over Schmeichel’s crossbar.
Even so, it was not entirely surprising that it took an own goal, shortly after the restart, to break the stalemate.Even so, it was not entirely surprising that it took an own goal, shortly after the restart, to break the stalemate.
“It was fortunate, but it was a good move that lead to it,” said Irvine, referring to the manner in which Berahino pulled the ball back across the Leicester penalty area.“It was fortunate, but it was a good move that lead to it,” said Irvine, referring to the manner in which Berahino pulled the ball back across the Leicester penalty area.
With their unbeaten home record now firmly under threat, the Foxes picked up the pace. Vardy shot straight at the Albion goalkeeper, Ben Foster, and was also close to getting on the end of a David Nugent cross, after a move that began with Marcin Wasilewski flooring Berahino with a swinging elbow to the jaw. The Pole was fortunate in the extreme that the referee, Stuart Attwell, back in the Premier League, either did not see it or unaccountably chose to take no action.With their unbeaten home record now firmly under threat, the Foxes picked up the pace. Vardy shot straight at the Albion goalkeeper, Ben Foster, and was also close to getting on the end of a David Nugent cross, after a move that began with Marcin Wasilewski flooring Berahino with a swinging elbow to the jaw. The Pole was fortunate in the extreme that the referee, Stuart Attwell, back in the Premier League, either did not see it or unaccountably chose to take no action.
Pearson brought on Leonardo Ulloa, still the club’s top scorer, with five league goals, despite having failed to score in his past four appearances.Pearson brought on Leonardo Ulloa, still the club’s top scorer, with five league goals, despite having failed to score in his past four appearances.
He soon created Leicester’s best chance, with a cross that Craig Gardner inadvertently glanced straight on to the head of Andy King. The midfielder had only Foster to beat from six yards out, but directed his header straight at the goalkeeper.He soon created Leicester’s best chance, with a cross that Craig Gardner inadvertently glanced straight on to the head of Andy King. The midfielder had only Foster to beat from six yards out, but directed his header straight at the goalkeeper.
For all that Leicester threw men forward in the final few minutes, the impression remained that they would need a fortunate break to equalise: it never came.For all that Leicester threw men forward in the final few minutes, the impression remained that they would need a fortunate break to equalise: it never came.