How we scored the Leicester City players as their summer programme concluded with a 3-0 loss to Lens, a concerning display nine days out from the start of the season
Leicester City produced a worryingly-poor display in their final pre-season friendly as they were dominated by RC Lens.
City were second best in all areas and three goals in 10 minutes at the start of the second half gave the French side the win they deserved. Kevin Danso opened the scoring with a bullet header before Angelo Fulgini netted twice.
Nine days out from their Premier League return against Tottenham, the worries are growing for Steve Cooper and City. Again they lacked an attacking threat, registering only two shots, but were also desperately poor in their build-up, while also vulnerable at the back.
Cooper made two changes for the dress rehearsal, bringing in Caleb Okoli to partner Wout Faes at centre-back, with Jannik Vestergaard dropping out, and with Hamza Choudhury chosen to strengthen the midfield, Wilfred Ndidi pushing forward and Stephy Mavididi dropping to the bench. Ricardo Pereira was again among the substitutes, with Conor Coady missing out completely, potentially with an injury.
The tone for the game was set immediately. Lens were on top, dominating possession and territory, and pressing in packs to stop City escaping their own half.
The one positive for City in the first half was that they did not concede. For 20 minutes, they kept Lens at arm’s length. But then the shots came in, Fulgini firing, Wesley Said bending over, and Adrien Thomasson firing into the side-netting. There were moments too where City were at sixes and sevens at the back, scraping the ball to safety.
There was bad news too with Patson Daka going off injured. He appeared to hurt his knee after Danso landed on him when they stretched to meet a cross. It’s a particular concern with Jamie Vardy still out.
But while Lens were not rewarded for their dominance in the first half, they were at the start of the second period. City were undone by three quick goals.
Danso thumped in a back-post header to start the scoring, and it was quickly 2-0 when Fulgini lashed in from 20 yards. The third came shortly after too, Fulgini in the right place to turn in a rebound after a fine reaction save by Mads Hermansen.
With the game won, Lens slowed down and City improved slightly, having their first shot just after the hour, and their only shot on target late on through substitute Tom Cannon. Still, there were a couple more chances for Lens to get a fourth, Remy Labeau striking the crossbar.
City go into the new season on the back of three straight defeats, and three games without scoring. Here’s how we scored the players.
Mads Hermansen: He tried a few long balls in the first half, none of which came off. In the second period, he played more short passes, which worked better for him, while he made one fine save before the third goal, while also bailing Faes out. 5
James Justin: Defended well in one-vs-ones and tried to pass the ball, but he was beaten all ends up by Danso for the opening goal, struggling to match the centre-back’s strength. Still, he should start against Spurs. 5
Wout Faes: He defended the box well at times, reading where the danger was. But he passed poorly, rarely finding men in the middle, while also losing possession on the edge of his box and needing Hermansen to save his bacon. 4
Caleb Okoli: There was an alarming moment of miscommunication early on with Ndidi. If the ball is bouncing in the box, as the centre-back, he has to take charge. He improved, winning headers, but didn’t inspire confidence. 4
Victor Kristiansen: In an attacking sense, he just wasn’t involved, very rarely connecting with any of his team-mates. Defensively he was too easy to get past at times. 3
Hamza Choudhury: The combination with Winks didn’t work. They just weren’t on the same wavelength and ended up arguing. It meant Choudhury was left chasing shadows for most of the game. 3
Harry Winks: He just did not get on the ball like City needed him to, Lens crowding him out. When he did get on it, he didn’t control the game like he usually does. Improved late on. 4
Abdul Fatawu: He gave too many fouls away and seemed too easily frustrated by the pattern of the match, and was rash in most things he did. Rarely beat his man. 3
Wilfred Ndidi: At the top of the pitch, he was totally out of the game and he rushed things when the ball did find him. Forced to drop deep, he was better, but still not great. 4
Bobby De Cordova-Reid: Another who rushed play when the ball did come his way. De Cordova-Reid looked like a new signing again, struggling to read his team-mates’ runs, which was a shame after the positives he showed against Augsburg. 3
Patson Daka: It’s not been a great pre-season for Daka and an injury here ended it on a sour note. It’s difficult to criticise his performance though, the service was non-existent and he wasn’t strong enough to trouble the Lens centre-backs. 4
Stephy Mavididi: There were a couple of nice flicks to connect play higher up the pitch, while he defended well when moved back out to the wing. If no more signings are made, he has to start against Spurs. 5
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