Leicester City hero Alan Smith has delivered a “touch and go” verdict on the Foxes’ efforts to remain in the Premier League this season.
The Sky Sports match summariser played 200 times for Leicester City between 1982 and 1987, scoring 76 goals before going on to win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during an eight-year spell with Arsenal.
But he retains a soft spot for his first league club, and is hoping they can defy the odds to retain their top-flight status a year after winning promotion back to the Premier League.
And he insists they have already won one of their biggest battles this season – and against the odds too. He explained: “With the dark cloud of the points deduction hanging over them, you thought they’d got no chance because it was always going to be a struggle anyway.
“And when not too many players came into the club in the summer, you thought they’d be up against it again, but they’ve done better than I thought they might, thankfully.
“Obviously, the points deduction went away, which probably surprised most people – it surprised me, the lawyers did a great job there – but it’s going to be touch and go, I think. I really do think it will be that close.”
Smith has huge admiration for City boss Steve Cooper, but believes the Foxes’ fate may ultimately be decided by how their rivals near the bottom of the top-flight table far come May.
He told the AceOdds betting website: “I like Steve Cooper, he’s a good coach and a good manager. At the moment there’s a three-point gap between them and the relegation zone. It’s nothing really at this stage, but let’s hope they can keep their heads above water. I’m hoping they will.
“I think it will be a close-run thing and a lot will depend on how Ipswich, Southampton go. I think it’ll be tough for Southampton and certainly be tough for Ipswich as well, and then you’ve got the likes of Wolves and Crystal Palace – are they going to stay down there or are they going to slowly rise with their Premier League experience? But yeah I hope they can.”
Smith admits his day job with Sky has only brought him into contact with the Foxes once so far this season, and has been encouraged by some “unexpected results”.
He explained: “I’ve only commented on them once and that was against Spurs on the opening day when they came back to draw, which was a good point. They’ve also got some unexpected results with late goals in recent months. [Summer signing] Jordan Ayew has popped up a couple of times, so I just hope they will have enough.”
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