A comical own goal from Esteban Cambiasso saw the first defeat for Leicester at the King Power since Brighton and Hove Albion came to town as West Brom held on to record their 4th clean sheet in 10 league matches.
Alan Irvine went to Leicester and reverted to the side that battled back against Crystal Palace 7 days ago following a no show at Bournemouth in the week.
The home side went for a diamond midfield with Wasilewski entering the back 4. Ulloa started on the sidelines with the speed of David Nugent and Jamie Vardy preferred by the Foxes. Nick Powell also came into the squad for the first time.
The first half got worse by the minute if we’re honest. Leicester and West Brom both forced ‘keepers into comfortable saves and both were happy at the break with their defensive shape I’m sure. The baggies had Saido Berahino playing a lone striker role and battled well against Wes Morgan, he constantly looked a threat with Jamie Vardy very lively for the home side.
The midfield battle looked set to continue in the second half, with no one team dominating possession for large spells or territory but the only goal came early on in the half. As the clock struck 48 Chris Brunt rolled Saido Berahino in a wide position and the Albion captain ran in to get on the end of a cross from Berahino. The only baggie in the box was Brunt but his presence was enough to force an own goal, who now becomes WBA’s third top scorer! Wes Morgan decided to clear the danger with a diving header, that header was met by the on-running Esteban Cambiasso who sent the ball back goal wards and past the scrambling Kasper Schmeichel.
That goal allowed the baggies to show their steel. What Alan Irvine seems to be creating is a side with the foundations of hard work. The midfield of Dorrans, Gardner, Morrison, Brunt and Sessegnon worked tirelessly for each other, the strength of those players has vastly improved.
The organisation of this side is very similar to what Roy Hodgson built. However, we all know football and the law of averages meant Leicester would create and so they did. Leo Ulloa who got 20 minutes sent a cross into the box, a deflection later it was on the head of an unmarked Andy King just 10 yards out, the header was smack bang into the middle of the goal and the hands of Ben Foster.
Leicester were like the baggies in their play, organised, solid and posed a threat, they lacked a real goal threat throughout but were largely unfortunate with the one they conceded.
Both clubs have enough defensively to hold clean sheets and Leicester’s home record is still something that keeps newly promoted side in this division, what they need is a threat in midfield, the pace of a winger that sides fear and they’ll have some attacking outlet because David Nugent’s battering ram approach wasn’t going to work against Joleon Lescott.
West Brom will have seen this game as an away one they could get a result from and they’ve not done overly badly on their travels this season with a victory at White Hart Lane and a point at St. Marys with a win at an unbeaten Leicester. The loss at Liverpool was one they nearly nabbed a point from.
So the game was rather even throughout, two good sides separated by an unfortunate own goal, both will be in the mix of the mire come May but both have reason to be optimistic and both have enough defensively to, at the very least, stay in the game.
