February 28th • 35/46 • 0-2 (W)
My fourth away day of the season came against beleaguered Leicester City, languishing in the relegation zone after being docked points for various financial irregularities. With my previous way days resulting in a run of DLL, would today be the day I finally got that W on the road? Well, as it happens...
After a drive across the country mostly in heavy rain despite the weather forecast saying there would be no rain, and nearly rear-ending the car in front after traffic ahead stopped to avoid a partially flooded road, I made it to my surprisingly cheap pre-paid parking with plenty of time to walk to the King Power and get to my seat. It's quite a nice ground and instantly recognisable from their historic 2015/16 Premier League title, which was the first Premier League season I properly followed (or had the TV channels to watch). I've had a bit of a soft spot for Leicester ever since they achieved that feat and I enjoyed watching the montage of goals they played on the big screens during the warmup.
We played okay for the first half, abysmal corners form Ahmed aside. We thought Kvistgaarden had scored only to realise it was into the side netting, and Maghoma pulled one just wide with a helping hand from the keeper too. We went into the break at 0-0 having had chances but not taken them. More to do in the second half.
Indeed, more was done in the second half as we completely dominated them, with multiple chances and shots blocked. Vlad had a bit of a moment where he almost got the ball taken off him, but handled it. Kvistgaarden and Maghoma went off at 60 minutes, and I thought we'd have to try and see out a 0-0 seeing as our new found striker Medić didn't come out in their place. But oh ye of little faith. Slimane had a shot saved, but shortly afterwards got the first of the afternoon with a strike from the edge of the box. Ten minutes later, after a tidy free kick routine from Kenny and Kellen, Ahmed made up for his appalling corners by getting our second, before wheeling away with his familiar flailing arms and a knee slide celebration.
Leicester applied some pressure towards the end and I was worried we'd concede, but we held on to see the game out for that first W away for me this season.
I genuinely hope Leicester stay up as after their recent incredible achievements, seeing them in League One would be a travesty, and with the lack of relegation clauses in players' contacts meaning they're on Premier League wages,they could be in serious trouble if they found themselves suffering a double relegation. For us meanwhile, I think that's us safe. We're 11 points from the bottom 3, and still only looking up. It was also interesting looking at the rest of the results today for the teams in and around us:
24th - Sheffield Wednesday - lost (shocking, I know)
23rd - Oxford - won (but big whoop)
22nd - Leicester City - lost (to the mighty Norwich City)
21st - West Brom - lost (to Oxford)
20th - Blackburn Rovers - lost
19th - Portsmouth - lost
18th - Charlton - lost
17th - Norwich City - won (because we're massive)
16th - Swansea - lost
15th - QPR - lost
14th - Stoke - lost
13th - Sheffield United - won
So aside from Oxford stuck in 23rd place, you have to go 4 places above us to find anyone else who even won today, which is huge for us.
What with the Birmingham and mid-week Sheffield Wednesday fixtures, that's 3 games in a week for me, and I'm not stopping any time soon as I have a mid-week trip to Villa Park with Chelsea next week, followed by Wrexham and Leeds away in the FA Cup back to back next weekend, then Sheffield United followed by Preston at home, and then a trip to Stamford Bridge for PSG in the Champions League, making 9 games in 25 days. Got to make up for lost time somehow I suppose.