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so resolute, they could have been chasing the game much earlier.

It all went to illustrate how important it is for David Wagner’s team to play on the front foot – best form of defence being attack, and all that.

Too many players had off days – I don’t count Christopher Schindler, who was excellent, Aaron Mooy, who didn’t get enough support from colleagues around, or goalkeeper Jonas Lossl – so there are plenty with something to prove against Leicester. one of the most physical and aggressive strikers in English football.

He is also one of the best in the air, but after a few early batterings, Schindler stood up to everything West Ham and Carroll could throw at Town and, without that big deflection for the opening goal, you have to wonder if they could have held out for a fourth successive clean sheet.

While it will be of little consolation, Town were undone by a freak goal and a set piece, so in general play they were pretty resolute. XI were performing, Wagner sent on three men to make their Premier League debuts for the club.

Scott Malone replaced Chris Lowe, Abdelhamid Sabiri took over from Elias Kachunga and, seven minutes from time, Laurent Depoitre ‘high fived’ with the departing Phil Billing.

That means Town sent on £8m worth of back-up – one a member of the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Year last season, one a most highly-rated Moroccan from German football and the other a Belgian international striker.

That shows how far Town have moved on since winning promotion and it also underlines to those with a starting shirt – perform badly and you’ll be sitting it out in the next game.