Leicester City Vs Norwich City — Canaries pull clear as Foxes' slump deepens
Leicester City Vs Norwich City ended 0-2 at the King Power Stadium, a result that left Leicester with a nine-game winless run and sitting third bottom while Norwich moved to seven wins in their past nine and eased early-season relegation fears.
Leicester City Vs Norwich City: the goals and decisive moments
Anis Ben Slimane opened the scoring after coming off the bench and drilled home soon after his introduction, registering his fifth goal in nine league games from a Sam Field pass in the box. Ali Ahmed added a close-range second after substitute Errol Mundle-Smith drove the ball across the face of goal following a cut-out from Kellen Fisher’s cross, with Ahmed reacting first to steer the ball home and seal Norwich’s seventh win in nine league outings.
Key moments at the King Power Stadium
Leicester started with a chance when Harry Winks curled a 25-yard strike that almost caught Vladan Kovacevic, and Mathias Kvistgaarden met a Paris Maghoma corner unmarked only to head into the side-netting. Maghoma repeatedly probed down the left and produced a low, goalbound effort that forced late stand-in keeper Jakub Stolarczyk into a superb fingertip save around a post; Stolarczyk had been rushed into the team after Asmir Begovic pulled up with an ankle problem in the warm-up. Maghoma was taken off just after the hour mark amid questions over his match fitness, and Ben Slimane—Maghoma’s replacement—briefly forced another excellent stop before scoring.
Rowett's reaction and Enzo Maresca in the stands
Leicester manager Gary Rowett described the performance as "very disappointing" after recent draws and said the side had lacked energy, adding: "The two goals sum up this season. It's been too easy to score against us, and I have to do something about that. " Rowett also said there was never a sustained period where his team worked hard enough to create pressure on Norwich and warned the side had lacked physicality and athleticism. Former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca watched the game from the stands.
How the Foxes faltered in build-up play
Leicester’s final ball repeatedly let them down: Ricardo Pereira’s through-ball to Bobby De Cordova-Reid was cut out when it struck the striker’s heel, Harry Winks overhit a diagonal pass aimed for Luke Thomas straight out of play, and a Divine Mukasa flick-on from a Thomas long throw produced no Foxes takers in the six-yard box as the first half finished goalless. The defensive lapses that led to Norwich’s goals left Rowett calling for clearer basics, saying the first goal was conceded when his players allowed opponents to come inside and create the chance too easily and the second should have been cleared from a cross into the box.
Championship roundup: leaders and late drama
At the top, Jack Rudoni’s stoppage-time strike — four minutes into second-half added time — gave leaders Coventry a 2-1 win after Haji Wright had headed them ahead and Ben Gibson had equalised on the stroke of half-time. Rudoni capitalised on an error from the onrushing Tommy Simkin to secure the winner and put Coventry eight points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough; Middlesbrough travel to Birmingham on Monday. Manager Frank Lampard called the display one of Coventry’s best of the season and praised his team’s character in getting the result.
Other results across the Championship
Millwall edged Preston 2-0 at Deepdale as 33-year-old right-back Ryan Leonard curled home in the 29th minute and substitute Luke Cundle sealed the win in second-half stoppage time. 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 eased to a 5-1 victory at Exeter — Sam Dalby opened the scoring before Johnny Kenny, Thierry Gale, substitute Ibrahim Sissoko and George Johnston added late goals to extend Bolton’s unbeaten run to 10 league games.
Elsewhere, Stevenage came from behind to beat Stockport 2-1 after Adama Sidibeh had given County the lead and Carl Piergianni and Matt Phillips completed the turnaround. Reading recovered to beat Bradford 2-1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium: Matthew Pennington put the visitors ahead, Paddy Lane equalised in the 90th minute and Matt Ritchie headed the dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Huddersfield lost 1-0 at relegation battlers Wigan when Jensen Weir scored in the 61st minute, while David McGoldrick’s hat-trick helped Barnsley to a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient. Northampton and Peterborough drew 1-1 at Sixfields. Rotherham’s early goal from Joe Rafferty secured a 1-0 win over Plymouth. Port Vale drew 1-1 with Luton. Mansfield drew 2-2 with Wimbledon as Jonathan Russell scored twice, and Wycombe beat Burton 3-0.
Leicester now face the task of arresting a nine-game winless streak and addressing the defensive issues Rowett highlighted, while Norwich continue their push away from danger. The next confirmed fixture mentioned in the weekend coverage is Middlesbrough’s trip to Birmingham on Monday.
