Righto, that’s us done for now. Stick with us for the Charity Shield, our blog of which will be live shortly, and check back here or on the site for our report from the KP. Otherwise, though, thanks for your company and comments; peace out.
Updated
Goodness me, Daniel Farke has picked Archie Gray, aged 17, Eddie’s great nephew and born in 2006 – ! – for Leeds’ match against Cardiff City, who welcome back Aaron Ramsey, aged 32.
Updated
And more to read:
And more Prutton!
Forgive me for I forgot to note that Sky’s coverage is being hosted by David Prutton. Sadly, his total loss of swede when playing for Southampton against Arsenal is absent from YouTube, so we’ve to settle for this:
Dewsbury-Hall thinks his side dominated the ball for most of the game, but couldn’t take their chances. Winks, meanwhile, says he’s exhausted, citing the nine minutes added time, and that at half-time he told the ‘Kee” he’d score if he kept shooting. Maresca, meanwhile, has asked that he get into dangerous areas – “them pockets” – and Winks rhapsodises his style of playing as something instrumental in persuading him to join the club.
Today’s biggest story, though, comes from Melbourne.
I enjoyed that; of course I did. I’m not certain the Champo is the best league in football, but it’s definitely in the top one.
That Beckham goal I mentioned:
FULL TIME: Leicester City 2-1 Coventry City
A huge roar greets the final whistle; Leicester take three crucial points, thanks to two belting goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
90+10 min Wright, who’s looked useful, charges at the Leicester defence, but a desperate challenge from Choudhury does just about enough to poke the ball away from him.
90+9 min Kelly sticks a ball into the box, Faes gets it away, and Leicester are almost there.
90+9 min Leicester counter with Dewsbury-Hall – his ball-carrying has been good today – but his pass to Iheanacho, in space inside him, is far too heavy.
90+7 min If, as looks likely, Coventry leave the KP with a defeat, they needn’t feel despondent. They’ve played really well today, and it’s taken two tremendous goals to relieve them of the points. Most sides they’ll face this season won’t be capable of doing what Leicester have done.
90+6 min Coventry, though, haven’t given up and they progress down the the right, Van Ewijk diddling winks and crossing well from the right … but Vestergaard humps clear.
90+4 min It’s only one game, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks good enough to boss it at this level. He’s never previously bagged a brace, but with orders to attack the box, there’s no reason to think he won’t do so again soon, and his two finishes were fantastic.
90+3 min Apologies, I forgot to note that Leicester send Choudhury on for McAteer, whose performance was promising.
90+3 min What price Hermansen’s save from Wright now?
90+2 min Palmer, who’s played really well, is replaced by Sakamoto, making his Coventry debut.
90+2 min Winks is late on Wright and is booked.
90 min We’ll have nine added minutes; good.
89 min Sheaf is booked for scything through someone, in the excitement I didn’t see who, then Palmer is late on Hermansen and also booked.
WHAT A GOAL! Leicester City 2-1 Coventry City (Dewsbury-Hall 87)
This is exactly what Maresca wants to see – no wonder he’s pogoing away down the touchline. His side move the ball right then work it back across the park, Mavididi, who’s had a really good debut, taking a pass from Dewsbury-Hall and poking a cunning return through Thomas’s legs … for Dewbsury-Hall to sweep a left-footed free-kick-style finish – think David Beckham v Spurs on the final day of 98-99 – into the the far top corner! Brilliant! He has saved his side here!
Updated
86 min Now here come Coventry again, a bouncing ball moving from Wright to Gooden back to Wright who, on halfway, takes a trrrific touch, holds off Doyle, and punishes a fine rising shot that Wilson tips brilliantly against the bar and out!
84 min Yup, Iheanacho has changed and is changing this game, teasing Kelly and Latibeaudierre on the right of the box before he’s eventually crowded out, Dewsbury-Hall arriving on the scene to wrap a curler around the far post and into the side-netting.
83 min Faes strides forward and knocks off to Iheanacho then keeps going, only just unable to collect Dewsbury-Hall’s slide-rule pass into his stride down the blind side of the Coventry defence.
82 min Nice again from Leicester, who works the ball from centre to right, McAteer standing up a cross that Mavididi can only head wide. Iheanacho has made a difference.
81 min On the touchline, Maresca celebrated his side’s goal in the grand manner. He’ll know that it’ll take time for his methods to settle, and also that his side can afford to drop a few points in the meantime, given how many they have to play. But momentum is crucial, and a home defeat to local rivals is no way to start a tenure.
80 min Both sides think they can win this…
78 min Here comes Dewsbury-Hall again, outside the box, dead centre, feinting a shot, moving across his man to create the shooting angkle, and lashing one just over the bar. Suddenly, the game done changed.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Coventry City (Dewsbury-Hall 77)
Mavididi escapes Thomas but with a neat turn having drawn his man in, and though he has to go back infield because he’s no support in front, Winks arrives onto the ball and punches a firm pass into the path of Praet … whose first time cross is superb and superbly met, Dewsbury-Hall punishing a fine header down into the far corner. That’s a lovely, lovely goal.
Updated
75 min A second change for Leicester, Iheanacho replacing Vardy. I’m not surprised Maresca wants to stick with his formation, but I wonder if he might regret a like-for-like change with his team chasing a goal and not looking especially like catching up with one.
75 min I’m a little surprised Robins removed Hamer, who’s been excellent, but I guess he wants hard running more than cunning passing at this point in proceedings.
73 min Already, the Coventry fans have a song for Haji Wright.
71 min A triple change for Coventry, Hamer, Simms ands Eccles departing, with Kelly, Wright, and Van Erwijk – the latter two making their debuts – arriving.
70 min Again, McAteer is Leicester’s outlet and he whips over a cross on the run that McFadzean does brilliantly to turn away, also on the run but facing his own goal.
69 min Twenty-five yards out, Hamer tries the knuckleball free-kick and sends it hectares over the bar.
Updated
68 min Gooden weaves through midfield so Doyle bumps him over and is booked.
67 min Back come Leicester, McAteer finding space down the right and teasing over a low, straight cross that Wilson does superbly to tip away before Vardy can scavenge.
66 min Have a look! A tremendous ball from Latibeaudierre into Palmer allows him to find Palmer, who finds Hamer … who caresses a scrumptious through ball that again finds Gooden alone on the left of the box! But again, he can’t find the finish, dribbling a weak effort across Wilson that the keeper collects easily enough.
64 min Though Coventry still look dangerous, Leicester have improved these last few minutes, Winks having a shot blocked then Dasilva presenting his body to Ricardo’s thrash. The visitors are giving Robins everything.
62 min Palmer has played superbly today and again he shows for the ball, ploughs forward, and though he’s held up, manages to force through a pass that sends Gooden, outside him, in on goal down the left of the box! But Hermansen is out sharply, spreading himself well to block the attempted dink – though he oughtn’t really have had a chance.
62 min Change for Leicester, Praet replacing Ndidi.
61 min Sheaf fouls Mavididi and Dewsbury-Hall has a chance to swing over a ball, from the inside-left channel … and he does so nicely, Vestergaard sliding in at the far post to send a shot just wide.
60 min The away end have seen the banner, singing “1-0 to the Cov bastards”. Lovely stuff; league football is back!
Updated
59 min Leicester get it out to Mavididi, who’s looked dangerous when on the ball, but he’s forced to funnel it back inside. His side are struggling to penetrate.
57 min Coventry are bossing this now, winning another corner down the left; this time Leicester get it away, but this match is escaping them. Maresca needs to act, I think, else his team will soon be further behind.
55 min The away end is properly raucous at the moment, lauding McFadzean with the song first coined at Leicester in honour of Harry Maguire. Meantime, on the pitch, Thomas goes down the right and stands up a cross, Coventry sustain the attack, and Thomas finds Hamer inside the box who knocks off a lovely cushioned first-time pass for Eccles, who dinks a cut-back from the line that Gooden meets first time, Hermansen again forced to save down by his near post.
54 min Coventry counter, Palmer carrying the ball forward and over halfway, shaking off Winks before squaring for Simms, right of centre. This time, his imparts a decent strike, Hermansen saving well low at his near post.
52 min Vestergaard brings down Gooden and is booked; Hamer, out on the right this time, will swing over another ball … and it’s another total expletive, narrowly missing various advancing attackers and McFadzean at the back post.
51 min “I’ll take this,” wrote Keith Hastings at half-time. “Given that we (Cov) are the underdogs here, especially given that we’ve basically got a new team out there who have had little chance to work together, I’ll happily take a 0-0 result today.”
I’ve been pretty impressed with both sides, but agree this is very encouraging for Cov so far.
50 min Leicester, though, aren’t panicking, back passing the ball. I wonder, though, if they might soon try Daka, Iheanacho or both, because Vardy is struggling to get involved.
48 min Robins’ pre-match interview made clear how keen he is to retain Hamer and that delivery shows exactly why. It needed a decent finish, but no one wants to defend a ball sent in with such pace and venom.
GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Coventry City (McFadzean 47)
Welcome to the Championship Leicester City! Hamer swerves a brute of a corner towards the near post and McFadzean, peeling away off the line, gets behind the ball to punch a fine header inside the near post, the captain scoring a captain’s goal! Now then!
Updated
47 min Coventry, though, have started the second half like they mean it, winning a corner down the left…
46 min Oh Ellis. Oh mate. Ohhhh maaaate. A long, clever, clip over the top from Hamer, and Simms is away! The ball is bouncing awkwardly, but if he takes it in stride, he’s surely got the pace and power to keep the pursuing defenders behind him. But rather than burst into the box, he tries a half-volley from 20 yards, shanking it off his shin instead, and the chortles of the crowd tell him exactly what an oversight that was.
46 min We go again…
Half-time happiness: in general, I can’t get behind the use of the word “super” as a synonym for the word “very”, but I’m super, super-proud of my buddy Naj who was presented with the first-ever lifetime achievement award at Stonewall’s recent awards ceremony. This, people, is the beautiful game.
Updated
HALF-TIME: Leicester City 0-0 Coventry City
Leicester have been the better side, but neither has created much and both look capable of finding the single goal that might be enough.
45+1 min The champions are out! No threepeat for USA!
Updated
45+1 min Ricardo inverts again, wins a challenge and sweeps out to McAteer, who slams a rising shot that Wilson beats away at his near post. In comms, they think he should’ve scored, but Latibeaudierre was sliding in sho he had hardly any time at all to get his shot away, and he gave it a proper leathering. Perhaps he goes far corner, but I totally understand why he rushed.
Updated
45 min We’ll have one added minute.
45 min The corner is a goodun too, cut back to the near-post edge, Anderton to Sherginham style, before the ball makes its way to the far side of the box where Faes blocks Simms’ shot and another defender, I didn’t quite see who, does likewise with Palmer’s effort.
44 min Nice from Simms, who comes deep, turns his man, and finds Palmer, who steps away from Winks, exchanges passes with Hamer, shoots … and here’s Winks sliding in like a maniac to block the shot behind.
42 min Simms’ poor touch allows Faes in to intercept and he gambols forward to join Mavididi, who goes on the outside then cuts back across the face … and neither the defender nor Vardy can reach the pass to apply the finish.
40 min “I have a soft spot for both of these clubs,” says Bogdan Kotarlic, “because in the nineties, when football was still romantic, they were actually very good with some awesome players (Muzzy Izzet, Emile Heskey, Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby...) and nice stadia with a soul (Filbert Street and Highfield Road). I hope they both get promoted at the end of the season.”
I’m not sure I’d term Filbert Street or Highfield Road “nice” but agree they were preferable to what both clubs have now. Progress is plastic.
38 min The play’s been a little more even these last few minutes, Simms a muscular menace and buying his team time when they play into him. He, Palmer and Gooden also look ready to go every time Leicester seek to pass their way out.
Updated
37 min Nice from Mavididi, who sees Thomas coming for him so rolls studs backwards over the ball, chops, and moves away. He can’t make anything of it, but it’s absolutely ridiculous how technically skilled almost every player now is.
35 min But he swipes straight into the wall. Poor effort.
34 min McAteer cuts in from the right and across Dasilva, who challenges once he’s lost control but is penalised nevertheless. Free-kick Leicester, a couple of yards outside the box, left of centre; Dewsbury-Hall will take, and fancies it.
32 min Coventry work the ball out to Dasilva and immediately, Faes slides in to unload him; he’s started well. But Coventry gamble from the throw, Thomas charging froward, playing off Simms, moving into the box and arriving on the end of Gooden’s cut-back to thrash a shot over wide of the near post. Nice, that.
31 min I imagine Robins will be relatively satisfied with what he’s seen so far, his team under pressure but wearing it well and looking not incapable of scoring.
29 min Leicester win a corner down the left and Ricardo swerves in a fine ball to the far stick, meeting the run of Doyle, who heads down … but not powerfully enough, Wilson shovelling away and around the post, the resultant corner coming to nowt. That’s the best chance we’ve seen so far, and in retrospect, perhaps an effort straight at goal would’ve yielded one.
29 min Penalty shoot-out alert! Will the two-time champions struggle through to the last eight?
28 min This has been a pretty enjoyable game so far, but it could use a goal.
26 min Now here come Coventry again, Palmer playing into Simms who lays off a return as the route to goal parts. But from 20 yards, Palmer opts to sidefoot powerfully despite a ball at awkward height that really needed lacing, and the effort flies a yard or two over the bar.
25 min A warning from Coventry, Simms controlling well in the box before spending too long trying to conjure the perfect shooting lane and finding himself crowded out.
Updated
23 min Leicester are pressing high and look pretty fit. And, as I type that, Winks sells a dummy and strides into the space created then, in the next, er, play, flights a ball over the top for the marauding Ndidi before Palmer hurls body in the road of a shot from Dewsbury-Hall. So Leicester come again and, though McAteer’s poor throw hands Coventry a goalkick, so far they are the superior side, by far. They’ve not, though, created much.
22 min Dewsbury-Hall looks sharp and he finds space down the left-hand side of the Coventry box, screwing a square pass behind those keen to attack it.
20 min Coventry have got in among Leicester these last few minutes, stemming the flow of attacks, then Sheaf nails Vardy. “Welcome to Championship,” muses Lee Hendrie.
18 min Tangentially, here’s something on the greatest goal in Coventry’s history and one of the most iconic goals of the 80s.
17 min I mentioned my joy at seeing the old Cov badge back, and there’s also something fitting about their kit being made by Hummel.
15 min Leicester are dominating now, a ball into Vardy squirting back to the inverting Ricardo, his first-time snap-shot again straight at Wilson.
13 min Vardy slides out to McAteer, who hits the line and stands over a decent cross that can’t quite find an attacker, then Ndidi turns up down the flank and wins another corner. Leicester are coming.
12 min Doyle switches play nicely and though McAteer – just 20 – can’t find a decent first touch, he gets at Dasilva, who yanks him back. Free-kick Leicester out on the right, and though the ball in creates no danger, they quickly win it back and begin their probing passing again.
11 min The corner comes to nowt.
10 min Coventry win a corner down the left and Hamer aims for the far top corner, swinging in an olimpico that neither defender nor keeper dare attack, the ball fizzing just beyond the upright. Leicester then surge forward, Faes playing a fine first-time pass into midfield, Dewsbury-Hall driving again, and Ndidi winning a corner off McFadzean.
9 min As he did in pre-season, Ndidi is playing further forward than previously, more of an 8 than a 6 according to the Dutch formulation. He’s certainly got the quality to contribute in attack, and with Winks behind him, the change makes a lot of sense.
7 min Dewsbury-Hall drives forward, swaying inside to work a shooting lane on his left foot, nary a defender bothering to bother him, but his dragged effort is straight at Wilson.
6 min Email! “Brilliant,” says Jeremy Boyce of the Souls of Mischeif redo, “hope the match lives up to it. Also conclusive proof that the bucket-hat comeback is still on and, judging by your photo of the Cov Bastar...er fans, that it hasn’t made it to Coventry yet. Ever been to Coventry ? If you have, you’ll understand.”
I have, but I enjoyed their Supergran tribute. There can’t be many greater theme tunes.
5 min Better from Leicester, Vardy sweeping wide for Mavididi, hugging the left touchline. He might go on the outside but instead takes the simple option, passing infield, and the move breaks down.
3 min There we go, sort of. Leicester try playing out as per the Maresca doctrine and Simms quickly nails Ricardo. Coventry can’t make anything of it, but they’ve clearly prepared to capitalise on opponents trying to assimilate a new style.
2 min OK, fair enough: Coventry are indeed playing a front three with Simms on the left. I daresay he’ll be targeting Ricardo at the back post whenever possible.
1 min Immediately, Simms runs the left channel, forcing Faes to challenge – which, in a turn-up for the books, he manages to achieve without conceding an own goal, sticking the ball into touch instead.
1 min Coventry set us away!
For the hoards emailing for a profile shot of old Vardz, here we are. Superb work.
Here they come!
By the way, how good is it to see Coventry’s gorgeous crest back on shirts?
Our teams are tunnelled.
On Vardy, we can be certain he won’t consider himself too good for this level of football and, though his pace has faded, his nastiness and instinct have not. If he gets service – and I’m looking forward to seeing Mavididi and McAteer – he’s still got more than enough to nail this division.
Updated
Maresca says the aim is for his team to get better every day, and doesn’t quite confirm that Vardy, captain today, will remain so, noting that in Albrighton, Ricardo and the injured Connor Coady, he has players who don’t “need the bracelet” to lead.
Meanwhile and as it always threatened to, Sweden v USA has gone to extra time after a goalless 90. Join Sarah Rendell to see what happens next.
We’re watching tape of Simms, who I think has a bit of something, and the physical presence to be a problem even when not at his best. Moreover, he has a manager who knows a thing or two about playing centre-forward, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he does.
We’re here to share joy, so how about this?! Souls of Mischief have performed a totally new, 10-year anniversary version of 93 ‘til Infinity – and it’s devastatingly brilliant.
Mark Robins says the new signings he’s not included need time to get up to speed in terms of fitness and tactics; those in the side have, in the main, played through pre-season. Hamer, starting despite the interest, is “a brilliant player for us” and he hopes he stays in the building to have the team built around him.
And finally for this minor picture section, casual ridiculous athleticism from Wilfred Ndidi.
And what do our sartorialists think of Leicester’s new training kit? The Guardian says: rude.
Sensational in every aspect.
Coventry, meanwhile will – according to Google – be playing 4-4-3. I’m not sure about that – Simms is no ring-winger – so let’s see how they line up.
Updated
As for our teams, with his, Maresca makes clear that no one is getting anything for nowt. Timothy Castagne, Dennis Praet and Kelechi Iheanacho might all have expected to start today but all are on the bench, likewise James Justin who was so badly missed after jiggering his cruciate in November.
Before we dig into the teams in detail, at the KP today – for the last time for a while – will be Mr CM Connor, a Foxes fan and season-ticket holder of some 70 years’ standing. As we’ve all learnt, often painfully, players and owners are transient but supporters – Mr CM Connor and ilk – are there forever, bearing witness and defining their clubs with their stories. So godspeed, get well soon and hurry back.
Updated
M69 fun. League football is back, baby, and it’s as gloriously puerile as ever.
Also going on … and it’s t-e-n-s-e.
Let's have some teams!
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Ricardo, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi. Subs: Justin, Castagne, Souttar, Choudhury, Praet, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Daka.
Coventry City (3-5-2): Wilson; Thomas, McFadzean, Latibeaudierre; Eccles, Sheaf, Hamer, Palmer, Dasilva; Simms, Gooden. Subs: Collins, Binks, Kelly, Sakamoto, Wright, Bidwell, Van Ewijk, Howley, Obikwu.
Updated
Preamble
When Arsenal appointed Mikel Arteta, it was easy to snark – especially for those professionally obliged so to do. A barely passable midfielder at the level Arsenal demand, somehow elevated to club mainstay because he sat next to Pep Guardiola for a bit.
Er, yeah. Amazingly, it turns out that getting to sit next to Pep Guardiola for a bit requires moxie and intelligence, and by then sitting next to Pep Guardiola for a bit, further moxie and intelligence is acquired and intensified. So, though Leicester’s appointment of Enzo Maresca represents a risk, it also shows vision and imagination … if it works.
On the one hand, Maresca inherits a squad that had no business getting relegated; on the other, he inherits a squad that did get relegated. Many, though, blame that demotion on Brendan Rodgers or the board so, despite having lost Youri Tielemans, Harvey Barnes and James Maddison, they begin the season as strong favourites for promotion – with good reason.
Coventry, though, are tough opponents, having come within a sudden death penalty shoot-out of promotion last season. Their story, though, is far more heroic than that, Mark Robins returning the club to the Championship despite the traumatic, vicious and incompetent Sisu stewardship – before, earlier this year, it was finally and blessedly sold to local businessman, Doug King.
Whether Robins can inspire another promotion push remains to be seen; Viktor Gyökeres has moved to Sporting, Leeds are pushing hard for Gus Hamer, and Callum O’Hare is out for another month or so. But Ellis Simms looks a smart acquisition and Haji Wright an interesting one which, along with the general positivity suffusing the club and Robins’ ability to harness it, might be enough for another serious run. This should be good.
Kick-off: 12pm BST
