Leicester coming out with a team, without team captain Jamie Vardy, Conor Coady leading the team out. Leicester started well putting pressure on Shrewsbury early on, bringing the positives from the Villareal game on.
This is all about minutes, listening to Steve Cooper’s post match talk, he build a picture from the game that was spot on and in real a honest picture of what it was all about, playing a physical Shrewsbury team, having a number of good performances as well as a bit of negatives.
Leicester looked comfortably first half, composed and defensive solid, also having a good pressure going forward, with that free kick from Stephy Mavididi hitting the net in the 21st minute.
Then a few minutes later Patson Daka was played through, but still not taking the correct choice and his shot was well saved by the Shrewsbury goalkeeper.
We all knew there would be changes second half, bringing on Choudhury, Justin, Soumare, Souttar, Okoli, Cannon and Marcal coming on. Ward, Thomas, McAteer and Mavididi all being held on the field.
Shrewsbury strangely managed to get a better hold on the game keeping pressure on Leicester, struggling in midfield and not really seeing the ball being played forward in the tempo it should by especially Hamza Choudhury. Bouba Soumare also had a troubled time in the middle of the field, not really finding the correct pockets to play.
In the 51st minute Shrewsbury strikes from close range, the ball hits new man Kaleb Okoli, as his deflection hits the net and it’s equal again, 1-1. No chance for Danny Ward to catch that one. Luckily Leicester managed to score again just a minute after, James Justin playing through Kasey McAteer as Leicester are in front again, 2-1.
In the 63rd minute, time for three more changes, Michael Golding, Will Alves and Brendan Cover are given minutes, replacing Luke Thomas, Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer. The team struggles to get the play running smoothly seeing Shrewsbury again putting pressure on Leicester.
Will Alves shows promised and willingness to try as his shot from distance came close, but it was not much more happening until the end. One great positive from this game was to bring home another win, which in itself will give players confidence, that is what wins are doing with you.
As we did see and heard from Steve Cooper, he looks to have establishing a system of play that will suit Premier League opposition not being so obsessed with possession in your own half, that in a way will be less suited when you play a team like Shrewsbury away. Lovely to hear the new manager talking as he did, because what we did see was close to the comments he made.
Also news on Jacub Stolarczyk, not being involved in pre-season games so far. he will be out for six months with an ancle injury. Jamie Vardy was absent from the game today as well, being sidelined with a knock from the Villareal game and hopefully back for the travel to Germany.
- Positives
- Steve Cooper giving loads of players minutes, trying out different options
- The system and style, 4-2-3-1, looks the way to work, with PL as benchmark
- McAteer and Mavididi impressed, Ndidi and Winks looked more balanced than ever
- Winning and scoring goals, always good in preperation for a new season
- Negatives
- The new away kit with flames, not our cup of tea, but winning always makes a shirt better
- Abdul Fatawu looking more or less lost on the left, that might be a problem or he needs more time
- A bit of individuel errors regarding close control
Player Ratings: Ward 6, Pereira 5, Coady 6, Nelson 5, Thomas 6, Ndidi 6, Winks 7, McAteer 8, Mavadidi 8, Daka 6, Fatawu 5, Subs: Justin 6, Choudhury 6, Soumare 6, Cannon 5, Souttar 5, Okoli 5, Marcal 6, Alves, Golding, Cover
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Kasey McAteer
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 42 / 58
- Shots on Target:
- Corners: 7 / 5
- Fouls: –
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