Leicester City Vs Norwich City — leicester city vs norwich city: Canaries pull clear of danger but Foxes remain in trouble
In leicester city vs norwich city at the King Power Stadium, Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed struck in the second half as Norwich defeated Leicester 2-0. The result left Leicester without a league win in nine Championship matches and in the bottom three, while Norwich have now won seven of their past nine.
Match summary and scoreline
Norwich beat Leicester 2-0 at the King Power Stadium. Anis Ben Slimane opened the scoring in the second half and Ali Ahmed added a second later in the half. Ben Slimane's goal was his fifth in nine league games, and he had come off the bench before scoring — one account described the strike as drilled into the net six minutes after his introduction.
Key moments and goalkeeper changes
The first real attempt came from Harry Winks, whose 25-yard effort almost surprised Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic. Leicester's goalkeeping situation changed late when Asmir Begovic injured an ankle in the warm-up, leading to late stand-in Jakub Stolarczyk coming into the side and making a string of excellent saves, including a fingertip stop to turn a Paris Maghoma effort around a post.
Build-up to both goals
Paris Maghoma was a persistent threat in the first half, probing down the left and bursting through Leicester's midfield, only for Jakub Stolarczyk to deny him on more than one occasion. Maghoma was later taken off just after the hour mark amid questions over his match fitness. Sam Field fed Ben Slimane in the box; Ben Slimane shifted his feet to create a shooting chance and, despite being a late fitness doubt, the Tunisia midfielder found the bottom corner for the opener. Norwich pressed on and, after a Kellen Fisher cross was cut out, substitute Errol Mundle-Smith drove the ball across the face of goal where Ali Ahmed reacted first to steer home the second.
Leicester struggles and substitutions
Leicester have now gone nine Championship games without a win and sit in the bottom three. The Foxes rarely threatened in the match, although Jordan James returned as a substitute after more than five weeks out with an injury. Leicester's centre-backs were repeatedly exposed: Mathias Kvistgaarden was left unmarked to head into the side-netting from an inswinging corner, and on another occasion the Foxes' defence allowed Maghoma a free run to the edge of the area before Stolarczyk produced a superb stop.
Manager reaction and dressing-room tone
Leicester manager Gary Rowett described the performance as very disappointing, saying: "It was very disappointing [after two draws] and the way we attacked in those two games. There were some real positives from those games. Maybe away from home there is less pressure on the players but I expected a little bit more energy about the performance. " He added that players were "waiting for something to happen in the game, everyone looking around and waiting for a team-mate to do something instead of doing something themselves. " Rowett also said: "The two goals sum up this season. It's been too easy to score against us, and I have to do something about that. The first one we allowed them to come inside and create the chance quite easily and the second is a cross into the box that should get cleared. "
Rowett further reflected: "Today, it just felt flat from the start, if I'm being honest, it was really disappointing. There was never really a period where I felt we were working hard enough on and off the ball to create moments and create pressure on Norwich. " He added that the team must do the basics, that the Championship requires a physical element and that "today, we lacked a little bit of physicality, I thought, and athleticism. "
Wider context and other Championship results
The defeat was Leicester's fourth successive home Championship loss. With former head coach Enzo Maresca watching from the stands, the final ball from Leicester lacked quality and composure at times, exemplified when Winks overhit a diagonal pass aimed for Luke Thomas out of play and when a Divine Mukasa flick from a Thomas long throw found no takers in the six-yard box before half-time ended goalless.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Jack Rudoni scored in added time to give Coventry a 2-1 win over Stoke, Haji Wright had earlier headed Coventry ahead before Ben Gibson equalised on the stroke of half-time and Rudoni capitalised on an error from the onrushing Tommy Simkin to put Coventry eight points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough. Ryan Leonard's first-half strike and a late Luke Cundle goal gave Millwall a 2-0 win at Preston. Cardiff beat Doncaster 4-0 with goals from Robertson, Dylan Lawlor, Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson. Lincoln won 4-0 over Blackpool through Conor McGrandle, Rob Street, Dom Jefferies and substitute Ryan One. Bolton thrashed Exeter 5-1 with Sam Dalby, Johnny Kenny, Thierry Gale, substitute Ibrahim Sissoko and George Johnston scoring. Stevenage beat Stockport 2-1 with Adama Sidibeh on target before Carl Piergianni and Matt Phillips turned the game. Reading came from behind to beat Bradford 2-1 thanks to a late Paddy Lane equaliser and a Matt Ritchie stoppage-time header after Matthew Pennington had put Bradford ahead. Wigan beat Huddersfield 1-0 with Jensen Weir's 61st-minute goal. Barnsley beat Leyton Orient 3-1 with a David McGoldrick hat-trick. Northampton drew 1-1 with Peterborough at Sixfields. Rotherham won 1-0 at Plymouth with Joe Rafferty's early goal. Port Vale drew 1-1 with Luton. Mansfield drew 2-2 with Wimbledon as Jonathan Russell scored twice. Wycombe beat Burton 3-0.
In another match, Ipswich defeated Swansea 3-0 at Portman Road, with Anis Mehmeti scoring after three minutes, Ivan Azon adding a second in the 41st minute, and substitute George Hirst finishing the scoring with 16 minutes remaining.
Leicester's troubles continue at home while Norwich's win — part of a run of seven victories in nine — has significantly eased their early-season relegation fears and pushed them clear of danger.
