Mangy Foxes
worse before the break. Paul Clement is building his Swansea side around some enterprising, instinctive footballers and the interplay between Jack Cork, Fernando Llorente, Sigurdsson and Olsson deserved a goal.
Such is the way of things for Leicester at the moment that the usually impeccable Kasper Schmeichel allowed Olsson to arrow his shot, sure enough, inside his near post.
Two Foxes substitutes added to an improved second-half display and, at the same time, Ndidi began to assert himself more and Demarai Gray looked intent on cementing his advance from Leicester’s FA Cup line-up with some enterprising runs.
Even Riyad Mahrez finally made an appearance after drifting through the opening 45 minutes, pushing the ball into the path of Islam Slimani in the 63rd minute only for Lukasz Fabianski to snuff out the chance with his boot.
Indeed, one-to-11, Swansea were cute enough to hold on – a fair indication that the decision to bring in Clement was, after the disaster of Bob Bradley, an inspired one. Somehow, Ranieri has to continue ringing those changes going forward to safeguard Leicester’s own Premier League future. As this latest defeat of last year’s conquerors of Manchester City showed once again, he can no longer afford to live in the past.
SWANSEA (4-4-2): Booked:
NEXT UP: LEICESTER (4-4-2): Booked: Refere: Goals:
LEICESTER are now well and truly in a relegation battle – and last season’s Premier League champions are just 13-8 to go down. They aren’t currently in the bottom three of the table and as such are not yet in the top three of the betting for the drop.
That unfortunate accolade goes to Sunderland (2-9), Crystal Palace (8-11) and Hull (5-6).
Leicester look completely bereft of confidence and it is hard to see anything changing any time soon.
With that in mind Claudio Ranieri, the mastermind of last season’s incredible title win, is just 7-2 to leave his job before the end of the month.