44 TOP 3 READY TO STUMBLE

ENZO Maresca insists he is not surprised the Championship top three have stumbled badly as the finishing line draws nearer.

Maresca’s Leicester side appeared nailed on for the title in the first half of the campaign.

But an alarming run of six defeats in the last ten league games has left them clinging on to second spot.

The Foxes are not alone in losing their way with Ipswich and Leeds also experiencing an alarming wobble.

After back-to-back losses to relegationthreatened Millwall and Plymouth, Leicester face a West Brom side desperate to boost their own play-off ambitions.

Shock

And Maresca insists that helps explain why there have been so many shock results involving the leading

group.

The City boss said: “It’s not random that in the last two games we have lost, Leeds got just one point, Ipswich got just two points.

“Everyone is playing for something. It will be tough.

“We know they are very intense off the ball.

“They have played all season with a line of four. Their structure doesn’t modify the way they work off the ball.

“Fortunately we play at home and we have the boost from our fans.

“When they help us like they did against Norwich and Birmingham, it’s like we have one extra player.”

Maresca could be forced to face West Brom without Jamie Vardy, Ricardo Pereira and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

All three have injury doubts hanging over them and Maresca admits the absence of one or more will come as a huge blow as his side attempts to get their promotion challenge back on track.

He said: “Kiernan has been unwell for a few days this week. “It’s very significant. “For Jamie and

Ricky, it’s more a physical problem.”