Gray cloud lifts as the Foxes get win they craved
THE fragility of life has been the focus of thoughts for Leicester City this week. Training has come secondary to talking.
That sense of somberness will take a long time to shift but back on the pitch, back where normality could briefly blossom, the ferocity of football took its grip.
For 90 minutes, that luminous yellow ball felt like the most important thing in the world.
It was there in the way Leicester appealed loudly for a first-half penalty that Lee Probert erroneously failed to award.
It was there in the way the whole team, Kasper Schmeichel included, ran to celebrate Demarai Gray’s excellent goal in the 55th minute.
Claude Puel said in advance the result would be inconsequential. He was showing his humanity.
But be sure Leicester’s players wanted a result here. They were desperate to win this one.
Credit to them that they shook the cloud of grief from their minds and delivered a performance that was in parts defiant, composed and creative.
Gray’s goal came from the third category. Marc Albrighton freed Ben Chilwell down the left and Gray met the cross on the half-volley to sweep past Neil Etheridge.
It was the perfect way to honour Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Moments later, in the 60th minute to coincide with the Leicester chairman’s age, away supporters sung ‘When You’re Smiling,’ the club anthem. It had certainly been a goal to please the soul.
Cardiff were game participants. They were no patsies. Clearly Neil Warnock would not allow sympathy for opponents to affect the necessities of his own team.
They pressured at various points, but Leicester stood firm. At the final whistle the players looked to the skies, roared with joy, and gathered for a collective gasp of emotion.
Wes Morgan had articulated his feelings before the game. ‘The lads have been devastated,’ he said. ‘But the chairman would want us to get out there and try our best.
‘He was a wonderful man. We’ve had to hold in our feelings and gather ourselves for this game. In a weird sense, when we are out on the pitch it is a bit of a distraction.’
Leicester’s players had been applauded into the stadium by Cardiff fans and then again when they went to the corner to finish their warm-up.
The minute’s silence was observed without a single sound as the entirety of Leicester’s squad and coaching staff stood around the semi-circle. Morgan then led the largest and most impassioned huddle a football field has surely ever seen.
‘Champions of England, you made us sing that,’ was the chant from the away end, where almost everybody was wearing the free T-shirt given out at the turnstiles in tribute to the man they call The Boss.
Then a competitive football match broke out. Harry Maguire was forced off through injury, his right knee jamming into the turf, and tribalism in the stands returned.
Victor Camarasa struck the bar with a thunderous free-kick and on the stroke of half-time referee Probert made his fundamental error.
Etheridge only parried Ricardo Pereira’s shot and the loose ball fell to Jamie Vardy, who struck a finish that was deflected onto the bar and over by Sol Bamba’s outstretched arm. It was a brilliant save, just unlawful.
Nearly all of Leicester’s outfield players claimed penalty instantly but Probert gave a corner. It was a bad mistake, although Vardy may have been offside.
Cardiff had the first chance of the second half when Josh Murphy ran through but saw his effort saved by Schmeichel.
Soon after Leicester scored and Gray removed his shirt to reveal the message: For Khun Vichai.
Immediately Probert bowed his head. He had clearly expected such a scene and showed Gray the yellow card once celebrations were over.
Vardy could have added gloss to the score when put clear by Wilfred Ndidi but Etheridge spread his body well.
It did not matter. Leicester had the victory for Vichai.
Cardiff (4-3-3): Etheridge 7; Manga 6, Morrison 6.5, Bamba 6, Bennett 7; Camarasa 7, Gunnarsson 6, Arter 6 (Ward 80min); Reid 6 (Hoilett 65, 5), Paterson 6, Murphy 7 (Madine 85). Booked: Arter. Subs (not used): Smithies, Cunningham, Damour, Harris. LeiCeSter (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 7.5; Ricardo 7, Morgan 7.5, Maguire 6 (Evans 27, 7), Chilwell 8; Ndidi 7, Mendy 7.5; Albrighton 7.5, Maddison 7 (Iborra 83), Gray 7.5 (Simpson 71, 6.5); Vardy 7. Booked: Ricardo. Subs (not used): Ward, Iheanacho, Diabate, Fuchs. referee: Lee Probert 6.