Scrap in the sun is no cure for City’s Europe hangover
LEICESTER City suffered a hangover from their European exit to lose 2-1 to Everton in a rare home setback.
Three days after a flat performance saw them miss out on a place in the Europa Conference League final in a defeat to Roma, City could not muster the intensity and quality to overcome a relegation-battling Toffees side and regain a place in the top half.
Familiar failings cost them as Mason Holgate scored the winner from a corner, the 23rd time in all competitions that City have conceded from a set-piece and the third in three games. Then, in the second half, their pressure and domination did not lead to a glut of chances, but rather two good moments for Harvey Barnes, with one effort terrifically saved by Jordan Pickford and the other put wide.
City had come from behind once during a frantic first 15 minutes, when Vitalii Mykolenko superbly volleyed in his first Everton goal before Patson Daka struck for the first time since February after capitalising on a defensive mix-up.
But City did not make their dominance of the ball count in the second period and boos greeted the final whistle when a second home defeat in 17 King Power outings was confirmed, Everton getting their first points on the road under Frank Lampard.
City remain in 14th in the table, having now gone seven games without victory, their longest run without a win in Brendan Rodgers’ three years in charge.
To freshen up his team but also to cope with new injuries to James
City did not make their dominance of the ball count in the second period and boos greeted the final whistle
EVERTON BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES WITH VICTORY AT KING POWER
Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, and James Justin, and to try to correct some of their recent failings, Rodgers made six changes to his team from the one that lost in Rome.
Daniel Amartey, Timothy Castagne, Papy Mendy, Ayoze Perez, Kelechi Iheanacho and Daka were all introduced to a line-up that saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deployed in a surprise left wingback role.
On the evidence of the first five minutes, it looked like working as Iheanacho slipped in Daka and the Zambian, much more effective with a strike partner, steered a shot past Pickford. However, Yerry Mina slid in behind him to clear before it crossed the line.
Moments later, Iheanacho got in behind from a long Jonny Evans pass, but was denied by Pickford before the offside flag went up. But from Everton’s first foray forward, they scored. Alex Iwobi beat Ayoze Perez in a 50-50 on the right and then lofted a pass to the back post, where Mykolenko was waiting 20 yards from goal. The Ukrainian sized it up then delivered a dipping volley into the far corner.
However, this is an Everton defence that is fragile and City were able to make an immediate response. But only after nearly conceding, with the frantic start to the game continuing.
City title-winner Demarai Gray, who received an odd mix of boos and applause throughout, raced down the left for Everton and crossed for Abdoulaye Doucoure, whose scuffed shot nearly wrongfooted Kasper Schmeichel, the Dane just saving the ball to tip it onto the post.
His quick-thinking and good delivery saw the ball pinged straight up the pitch to Iheanacho, who touched inside then went long to find Daka, the ball deflecting and looping up into the air.
Daka put himself about and caused Mina and Seamus Coleman to clatter into each other, allowing him to race through. Despite a goalless run of 13 games, he showed good composure and finished past Pickford.
The game calmed down and there were few chances at either end for the next 15 minutes, Amartey going closest with a 30-yard strike that whistled just over.
But if City concede a corner, a goal is never far away. Gray’s ball in was met by Richarlison for a free header, the Brazilian heading down and forcing a save from Schmeichel. The ball was not par
ried to safety, but into an area where Holgate to nod it into the net.
City again fought to provide an immediate response, but couldn’t, and as the game moved towards the interval, the Everton fans grew louder and the City supporters quieter. It felt like a Goodison Park match.
Barnes was introduced at the break, but it took a while for City to use their possession well enough to create chances. The first came from an unlikely source, with Mendy nearly netting his first City goal, curling a shot to the top corner that needed Pickford to pull off a sublime stop.
Then came Barnes’ big three chances, and that none of them went in killed City’s momentum. The first opportunity saw Daka head an Iheanacho cross back into the box, Barnes turning the ball goalwards but with Pickford flying across his goal to keep it out.
Next, the winger tried his luck from range, this time the England goalkeeper diving low to his left to paw it away. With 15 minutes to go, Castagne whipped in a teasing cross and Barnes jumped highest. Pickford didn’t get to the header, but it bounced just wide of the post.
The Everton number one mopped up everything else that came his way thereafter and City did not force any late chances for an equaliser.
They stay well in the bottom half. They have the fixtures to yet thrust themselves back into the top 10, but they have just had a run of games against four bottom-half clubs and have only taken two points.
Failure to beat an already-relegated Norwich on Wednesday really would be a problem.