Leicester City (A) 25/10/24

Leicester City 1-3 Nottingham Forest

Vardy 23'               Yates 16'

                                Wood 47', 60'

Both Forest and Leicester had wins in the previous game week, keeping confidence and moral high going into the ‘East Midlands Derby’. Well, that’s at least what the Foxes’ fans like to think it is; for Forest it’s just another game. However, they were facing their old manager, so tensions were high.

Last time out at the King Power was a night to forget for everyone associated with the Reds. Falling to a 4-0 defeat on a cold Monday night left them bottom of the Premier League. However, the home fixture was more joyous as Brennan Johnson scored 2 goals to seal a win for Forest. After the 1-0 win against Palace on Monday, breaking our winless run at home since April, Nuno Espirito Santo named an unchanged starting 11. As for Leicester, after their dramatic 3-2 comeback win on the south coast, Steve Cooper made 4 changes, one of which being Abdul Fatawu who all Foxes’ fans have wanted to see in their starting 11.

The game got off to an even start but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock through their captain, Ryan Yates on his 150th league start for his boyhood club. Following a Forest corner, the hosts tried to counter attack, but were stopped on the edge of their own box as Forest won the ball back. Elliot Anderson whipped in a cross, which took a deflection and landed at the feet of James Justin. His failed clearance fell to Yates whose first time finish found the bottom left corner.

Forest’s lead didn’t last long. Harry Winks received the ball just inside his own half before breaking forward into space. He played it out to Ndidi who found Mavididi, also over on the left side. Leicester’s number 10 passed back to Winks on the overlap before he crossed into the box where Jamie Vardy was lurking. The striker poked a toe to the ball just before Murillo could and sent it past Matz Sels and into the Forest net. Vardy has now scored against 28 of his 32 Premier League opponents. The away side looked to regain the lead just minutes later. A Reds’ corner from the right landed at the feet of Murillo around 10 yards out. His shot was blocked by blue shirts before falling to Nico Dominguez at a tight angle. He seemed almost certain to find the far corner but Mads Hermansen made himself big to deny the Argentinian.

Both sides were lacking the final cutting edge to put themselves in front but their best chances fell to a Callum Hudson-Odoi signature effort and a curling effort from Mavididi before the half came to a close.

A dream start to the second half found the Reds in front yet again. Alex Moreno did well to win the ball back for Forest in their attacking half before finding Hudson-Odoi with a back heel. He played into Anderson who broke into the box before finding Chris Wood with his back to goal around 15 yards out. He looked like he was going to pass to Anthony Elanga in a better shooting position but the Kiwi turned and wrapped his foot round the ball and finished brilliantly into the bottom corner. Forest piled on the pressure. Hudson-Odoi broke forward down the left hand side before looking to curl the ball into the far bottom corner. Instead, his effort could only find the post. On the follow up, Anderson’s attempt flashed just wide.

Forest headed into dream land after Wood scored his 7th of the season following a defensive mix-up. Sels played a long ball up the field as both Wood and Faes battled to reach it. The Leicester defender won the first battle, only to head straight back up into the air. Without even looking, the New Zealand international knew where both the goal and the ‘keeper were and lofted his header into the back of the net to increase their lead. Forest dominated as they saw the game out and should’ve made it 4-1. Following a scramble from a corner, the ball was bobbling around waiting for one red shirt to convert it home. The perfect opportunity fell to Yates for his second of the game just 5 yards from goal. Unfortunately for the midfielder, it spun off his shin and went miles over.

Friday was a brilliant win. I can’t believe we're 7 unbeaten away from home especially as 2 years ago we only beat Southampton away all season. The first half we couldn’t really get going and Leicester did well but second half we were completely dominant. Woody’s goals were brilliant and we need to hope he can keep this form up. Our back line was strong again and we are really showing why we have the second-best defensive record in the league. Callum and Anthony also had good games as they had more space to exploit. Our substitutes really show our strength in depth as they all came on and played their part. I think we’re all thinking the same thing though; Do we need to get our passports ready?

 

Leicester City: Hermansen; Pereira (El Khannous 68'), Faes, Okoli, Justin; Ndidi (Soumare 74'), Winks; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Mavididi (Ayew 68'); Vardy

 

Forest: Sels; Moreno (Williams 72'), Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina; Yates, Dominguez; Hudson-Odoi (Sosa 76'), Anderson (Morato 72'), Elanga (Jota Silva 76'); Wood (Awoniyi 81')