Match report
Time to leave you with our match report. Thanks for joining me, and enjoy the football this weekend.
Here’s Enzo Maresca, who could scarcely be more sanguine. “It was a good game, we competed well – we knew they would counterattack, and we could concede some chances. We had chances too, at the end – I wouldn’t say the defeat was fair. “
“We are not the only team built to try and get promoted, [Leeds] are the same. At the end, they started to defend with five, six [players] – their front players are very quick and dangerous. We play to win always, but when we lose we can learn something. The race is long, we are in a good position.”
Here’s Daniel Farke! He’s a happy chap, and talking at great speed, but here are some highlights. “Today it was important to play brave, to press high but also show discipline, and let them have the ball where it’s not a threat. It was a complex performance, Leicester played well but I think we deserved to win.”
“We have to be rock-solid in defence in this league, and we are going in the right way. Win away at Leicester with a clean sheet, that sends a message, but we need to send another message in a few days. It’s just three points, the Championship is relentless so I’m not totally over the moon.”
Here’s the top of the table. If Ipswich win their two games in hand, they will climb above Leicester.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 15 | 20 | 39 |
| 2 | Ipswich | 13 | 14 | 34 |
| 3 | Leeds | 15 | 10 | 28 |
| 4 | Southampton | 14 | -1 | 24 |
| 5 | West Brom | 14 | 8 | 23 |
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On that subject: clearly Leicester will be frustrated tonight but they clearly have enough quality to overcome most teams at this level; Leeds probably needed it more tonight, and they executed their gameplan very well. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see both teams back in the top flight next season.
“I could never figure out how my Everton boys survived last year ahead of Leicester, who to me looked like a completely superior team,” writes Brad Wilson. “Leicester still look like a Premier League team. My best mate is a Leeds fan, so I am on their side today, but Leicester, as you note, still look awfully good.”
Glen Kamara: “Tough, tough game, still getting our breath back. We’re happy to get the victory, happy for Georgi to get the goal, he deserves it. We’re improving game by game, and showing everyone what we can do.”
Georginio Rutter: “I’m happy for me, the team, the fans – they are amazing fans – [and] if we can play like this, we can get back to the Premier League.” He’s very keen to give Kamara his player-of-the-match award and get out of there.
An update on the medical issue at Leicester’s U21 game earlier – thankfully, the staff member affected has been checked over and has gone home to recover.
We are pleased to report that, following examination by on-site medics, the staff member has been released from observation to recover at home.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 3, 2023
The Club expresses its thanks to Newcastle United, to the match officials and to on-duty medical staff for their cooperation,… https://t.co/pyoHhCvvrH
Full time! Leicester 0-1 Leeds
It’s all over, and Leeds have ended Leicester’s nine-game winning run – and hauled themselves into the automatic promotion race – with a counter-attacking masterclass. Georginio Rutter got the only goal from a corner, before Ilhan Meslier’s superb late save denied Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a late, late leveller.
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95 mins: Anthony’s clumsy challenge hands Leicester a free kick 25 yard out, wide on the left. The big lads are up from the back, James Justin curls it in … and over everyone. That’s probably that.
94 mins: Big save from Meslier! The MBMers’ curse almost strikes, with Leicester finally finding a killer ball from Fatawu – but Dewsbury-Hall’s header is clawed out of the top corner by Ilhan Meslier! Leicester aren’t quite done yet …
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93 mins: Dan James and Archie Gray are replaced by Jaidon Anthony and Luke Ayling. Leeds seeing out these six minutes with little fuss.
“Plenty of time with 20 minutes to go?” asks Richard Hirst. “Plenty of time ends at half-time, surely.” In my defence, at that moment it felt like Leicester were going to build up sufficient steam, but Leeds have stopped that from happening.
89 mins: Summerville, who was a constant menace to the Leicester defence, is replaced by Wilfried Gnonto. Not a bad last-minute sub to have on your bench. Six minutes of injury time.
87 mins: Summerville and Choudhury renew acquaintances over on the far touchline, and the pair square up after the Leicester man wraps an arm around his opponent. It’s six of one, half-a-dozen of the other, and both players are booked.
86 mins: The corner is cleared away – Leicester haven’t done enough with their set-pieces – and Summerville turns on the afterburners. He’s stopped by a superb Choudhury tackle, but more precious seconds have ticked by.
85 mins: Iheanacho finally gets a yard of space in the area, but his fierce shot is blocked by Rodon, who has been everywhere Leeds have needed him to be.
83 mins: Winks is penalised for a heavy challenge on Rutter, much to the home crowd’s frustration. Leeds make their first changes, with Patrick Bamford on for Piroe and Ilia Gruev replacing Rutter, who is applauded off by the away fans.
82 mins: Pereira, who has shifted into midfield with Choudhury dropping deep, leads another foray upfield but there is no way through the white wall formed by Rodon and Struijk in central defence.
80 mins: Justin goes over easily under pressure from Ampadu, and Leeds break downfield. Rutter tries the same trick to win a free-kick from Vestergaard and is also waved to his feet by the referee …
78 mins: Dan James’ interception goes out for a corner, which Joe Rodon heads clear of Mavididi. The Spurs loanee is there again to deal with the second set-piece, under pressure from Faes.
76 mins: Leicester are also the Championship’s highest scorers in the last 15 minutes – so don’t go switching over to Big Brother just yet.
75 mins: Leeds free-kick, swung across goal by James but deflected behind for a goal kick. Leicester’s xG is 0.15, frighteningly low considering that Fatawu hit the bar in the first half.
74 mins: A big chance on the break for Leeds as Dan James motors downfield, but his slightly telegraphed shot towards the bottom corner is held by Hermansen.
73 mins: Leicester are so nice to watch going forward, it’s hard to believe they’re behind – but they haven’t even mustered a shot on target. A slick passing move ends with Iheanacho’s shot being closed down, before a Mavididi backheel sets Dewsbury-Hall away. Leeds clear, and deal with the corner – they’ve defended very well tonight.
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71 mins: Mavididi involved again, forcing Gray back and digging out a cross to Fatawu, whose volley is ferocious but always rising well over the bar.
70 mins: It’s cleared but Leicester win the ball back – only for Dewsbury-Hall’s ambitious pass out to Mavididi to be intercepted. Frustration for the home fans, but there’s still plenty of time …
69 mins: Leicester have definitely upped the tempo now, and Mavididi almost connects with a give-and-go pass from Dewsbury-Hall. On the other side, Fatawu wins a corner …
68 mins: Fatawu and Mavididi get their first real involvement of the half, but Leeds are doubling up on both wide players behind the ball, making life very difficult for them.
66 mins: Hamza Choudhury is coming on for Casadei, adding a bit of steel to a midfield that’s been overrun in the second half.
65 mins: Rutter’s goal is his third of the season – it’s good to see him settling in, after struggling under unrealistic expectations in the Premier League. Ampadu is back on and chasing Wout Faes around, which is another positive for Leeds.
63 mins: Ampadu has gone down in a heap after tussling with Iheanacho for the ball – if it’s a serious injury, that would be a big blow for Leeds. He’s played every minute in the league so far.
60 mins: Leeds have dominated since half-time, but I was about to say that Leicester’s defence (who had only conceded eight goals all season) was handling everything thrown at them. Not any more! Iheanacho is on for Vardy; Leicester have barely been in the Leeds half since the restart.
GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Leeds (Rutter 58')
Well! This time, James floats in a lovely, out-swinging delivery and Byram has a free header at the near post. Hermansen somehow keeps it out but the rebound lands at Rutter’s feet, and he fires Leeds in front!
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56 mins: Summerville again causes problems, almost playing in Rutter only for Justin to intervene. From the corner, Dan James’ shot is charged down. Another corner, James trots over to take it …
54 mins: Iheanacho is warming up and looks set to come on for Vardy, who hasn’t really got into the game.
52 mins: Oof! Another sight of goal at Piroe, teed up by James, and this time his shot is on target – but palmed away by Hermansen, and with enough force to evade Archie Gray, lurking on the edge of the six-yard box.
51 mins: Both teams have 100% records when scoring first this season – although Leicester have 11 wins to Leeds’ five.
50 mins: The corner deliveries from both sides have been sub-par, and James’ undercooked effort is headed comfortably away by Vardy.
49 mins: James Justin heads away a deep cross towards Gray, and Ricardo Pereira tidies up. That’s an exceptional full-back pairing to have in the second division – and Pereira is on hand again to clear Piroe’s cross behind.
47 mins: Leicester give the ball away in midfield – not for the first time – and Summerville clips it through to Piroe, whose cross ends up at the feet of Hermansen after flicking Vestergaard’s hand. A third Leeds penalty appeal denied, although it is comfortably the least hearty of the three.
Second half
Here we go again. Can either side make the breakthrough? We’re about to find out.
Some worrying news from Leicester Under-21s’ PL2 game against Newcastle – the match has been abandoned due to a medical emergency involving a member of Leicester’s staff. If there is any further news, we’ll provide an update.
We can confirm that this evening’s PL2 fixture between Leicester City Under-21s and Newcastle United Under-21s at Seagrave was abandoned due to a medical emergency involving a member of LCFC staff.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 3, 2023
The staff member has been transferred to hospital and we await further updates…
The FA Cup first round kicks off this weekend and there could be magic in the air tonight – non-league Horsham are currently level at 2-2 against Barnsley at Oakwell. Elsewhere, party poopers Walsall have fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 at Sheppey United.
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Half time: Leicester 0-0 Leeds
Summerville attempts to run on to Pereira’s mishit clearance, but is flagged offside. And that’s half time! Plenty of pace, skill and creativity on show but no goals yet – Abdul Fatawu’s bar-busting strike the closest either side have come.
44 mins: Ampadu has a go from 25 yards, and while his low strike has Hermansen moving, it ends up going wide of the far post, and the wary steward stationed behind it. One minute o’ stoppage time …
42 mins: At the other end Wout Faes, a defender I personally wouldn’t trust to collect a parcel, almost allows Rutter in as he tries to let the ball trickle in. The Leeds forward gets a toe to the ball, but sends it straight to Hermansen.
41 mins: Fatawu has been the best attacking player on the pitch, and kickstarts another Leicester move with a fine pass out to Mavididi. The ball is eventually worked back to Fatawu, who fires a shot high and wide.
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40 mins: Joel Piroe sends a hopeful header wide, the first goalmouth action since that quick exchange of chances.
37 mins: Farke is eventually booked, and the away fans bellow out a chorus of “you’re not fit to referee”. For my money, either of those penalties would have been very soft; Pereira’s arm on the shoulder might have even been outside the area.
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35 mins: Within seconds, Summerville is bearing down on the Leicester goal but Wout Faes and Ricardo Pereira hare back to deny him. Pereira puts an arm on Summerville’s shoulder, but the referee says no penalty – and on the touchline, Farke is livid!
34 mins: Off the bar! Oh my. This is a sensational strike from Fatawu, cutting in from the right and bending a shot from an ambitious angle towards the far corner. Meslier quickly realises he can’t get near it – but the ball doesn’t dip quite enough and clatters the crossbar! And now Leeds break …
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32 mins: Dewsbury-Hall appears to get brought down by Archie Gray down the left, but the referee waves play on, much to the player’s incredulity. Leicester, starting to edge this now, keep pushing …
30 mins: Half an hour in, and the best chance is still the one that fell to Piroe after a couple of minutes. Mavididi looks to change that with another dazzling run past Gray, and Meslier is relieved to see his cut-back ricochet into his arms.
29 mins: Fatawu runs out of space to shoot on the edge of the area, and when Leeds break, Piroe has James and Rutter for company – but sends his shot well wide.
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“When will someone realise that Dan James could be an elite full back?” asks Pep Guardi Hugh Molloy. “He’s quick, great defensive attitude and has intelligent positioning – what he doesn’t have is any kind of end product.”
It’ll be interesting to see how he dovetails with Archie Gray down the right tonight – although so far, Leeds have mainly attacked from their left side.
26 mins: Fatawu again drops deep to lead a charge upfield, and is again tripped up by Sam Byram – who gets a booking and a disappointed look from the ref.
24 mins: Big box-to-box effort from Abdul Fatawu, racing back to clear a cross into touch. The corner is aimed for the far post, and punched clear by Hermansen.
22 mins: Casadei does better at the other end, a perfectly-timed flick freeing up space for Fatawu. His deep cross is turned back into danger by Mavididi, but Vardy’s flick bounces away from Casadei, who had advanced into the six-yard box.
20 mins: Another high-tempo Leeds attack breaks down and Fatawu can move downfield with the ball – or not, as Sam Byram hauls him down. No yellow card, and Byram is a bit lucky there.
18 mins: From a throw-in, Rutter spins and gets beyond Cesare Casadei, who chases him into the penalty area. The Leeds man goes down in a heap, but the referee waves play on. Replays suggest he got it right, even if a lack of contact was more luck than judgement from Casadei.
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16 mins: It doesn’t last long, with Summerville running at the Leicester defence and playing a one-two with Rutter. The striker has other ideas, instead turning to shoot – but his effort trickles through to Mads Hermansen in the Foxes goal.
14 mins: A brief lull after a full-throttle start.
12 mins: Leicester break down the left and Mavididi shimmies to make space before whipping a low cross right through the penalty area. Jamie Vardy, the only blue shirt in the vicinity, is on his heels and can’t connect with it.
10 mins: Ampadu has made a lively start in midfield, sweeping a long ball left for Byram, whose cross is cut out by Pereira. Another Leeds corner fails to find a white shirt.
8 mins: Fatawu lifts a dangerous cross towards the far post, where Mavididi has got beyond Archie Gray – luckily for Leeds, Dan James is back to flick the ball behind, and they deal with the corner.
7 mins: It’s been a gung-ho start from Leeds, keeping Leicester pinned in their own half – but now the hosts are able to work the ball around midfield for the first time.
5 mins: Kamara and Byram exchange passes down the left and while the latter’s cross is blocked, Leeds win a corner. Jamie Vardy clears with a thudding near-post header.
3 mins: Leeds are pushing forward in numbers, trying to press Leicester’s defence into mistakes – and it almost works again with Rutter getting clear of Faes before running out of room in the area.
2 mins: Big early chance for Leeds! It comes from Hermansen’s poor pass out, which is picked up by Rutter and passed to Piroe. He turns and shoots, close to the penalty spot, but fires just wide of the far post!
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Peep!
Dean Whitestone – there’s a referee’s name if ever I heard one – gets us started. The away fans belt out “Marching on Together”. Let’s go!
“I’m a lifelong NastyLeeds fan, and I had the great pleasure many years ago – Boxing Day 1975 to be precise – to attend a Leeds - Leicester match illuminated by the great Duncan ‘40 a day, jump over a mini’ McKenzie,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “He scored twice that day, including a toe poke into the top right corner and a poacher’s finish that teammate Sniffer Clarke would have been proud of.”
“Leeds had poached Clarke from Leicester a few years earlier for a then record £110,000! Hoping for a cracker tonight, but mostly just the points please, so we can march on together back to our rightful place in the queue to beat Manchester United. Unless they pass us on their way down ...” Oof!
This is Leicester’s last home game before Remembrance Day, so there will be a minute’s silence – and the Last Post – before we kick off.
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Some pre-game thoughts from Daniel Farke: “Everyone’s looking forward to this game, between two teams in a good position in the table. We always try to play from the front, not park the bus. We will have to defend, dig in and suffer at times – we’re prepared for this.”
With last season’s promoted trio currently all in the Premier League relegation zone – and Leeds, Leicester and Southampton in the Championship’s top four – Jonathan Wilson asks if the gulf between the top flight and second tier is growing.
Today’s Football Daily features a big Premier League preview, FA Cup anger and Mamadou Sakho’s hunger for respect.
Leeds make just one change from the team that thrashed Huddersfield 4-1, with Archie Gray replacing the injured Jamie Shackleton at right-back. Joe Rodon is fit to start at centre-back.
Two changes in the Leicester defence, with Wout Faes replacing Conor Coady in the middle and Ricardo Pereira in for Hamza Choudhury at right-back.
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Team news
Leicester (4-3-3): Hermansen; Ricardo Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Casadei, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi.
Subs: Coady, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Souttar, Choudhury, Daka, McAteer, Marcal-Madivadua, Stolarczyk.
Leeds (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Kamara, Ampadu; James, Piroe, Summerville; Rutter.
Subs: Ayling, Firpo, Cooper, Bamford, Anthony, Poveda-Ocampo, Darlow, Gnonto, Gruev.
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
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The teams have landed …
Our Friday night team news is in! 🚨#LEILEE pic.twitter.com/31NbeOK6Kz
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 3, 2023
📋 Your #LUFC Starting XI... pic.twitter.com/bGHhLUBYwf
— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 3, 2023
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Preamble
This was a Premier League fixture last season and might well be again next term, judging by both of these exiled sides’ starts to life back in the second tier. Leicester went down through sheer apathy, but have rediscovered their groove in some style. Enzo Maresca’s league leaders have more points from 14 games (39) than they managed all last season (34) – and even before Bonfire Night, an immediate return to the top flight is starting to look a certainty.
Things have been less straightforward for Leeds, with early inconsistency to be expected after their squad was picked apart in the summer. A recent upturn in results sees them kick off tonight in third place, albeit 14 points behind the Foxes and nine adrift of second-placed Ipswich. In Daniel Farke, they have a manager who knows how to get out of this division – and a win here will put them firmly in the race for automatic promotion.
To varying degrees, both clubs are also enjoying some welcome stability after a turbulent 12 months. When the sides met here last October, Brendan Rodgers and Jesse Marsch were the respective managers; at Elland Road in April, it was Dean Smith and Javi Gracía. Both clubs now appear to have the right men in the dugout for what should be a less stressful, more entertaining contest tonight.
