Watford hold firm to exploit Ranieri’s problems on the road
Claudio Ranieri’s title defence continues to prove flimsier than a wendyhouse, as unpredictable as last season’s stunning triumph. While Ranieri can secure a place in the Champions League knock-out stages on Tuesday, Leicester’s domestic form continues to be a mystery and they still possess the worst away record in the top flight.
Watford survived a period of late pressure to secure another notable result at Vicarage Road and wreck Ranieri’s 50th Premier League game in charge of the champions, following another performance packed with pace and power. It leaves Leicester only two points above the relegation zone and, while any fears of an impending battle against the drop are too premature, there are many problems to ponder.
They have conceded 20 goals in the league already and the form of Riyad Mahrez is bewildering. While Jamie Vardy ended his drought with a goal for England in midweek, at club level he is as starved of quality service as a guest at a downmarket hotel. And Ranieri is surely counting down the days until Kasper Schmeichel returns, with deputy Ron-Robert Zieler lacking presence and authority in goal.
“Our position is not good but, with this spirit, I am calm and confident with my players,” said Ranieri. “It’s a bad period now but we have to react and keep going. We must stay stronger and concentrate from the start of the match.
“We tried to do our best, the second half was intense but we did not create good chances. Their goalkeeper did not make any saves.”
Leicester’s last away win was in April and they are now only the third topflight champions – after Leeds and Blackburn – to start a league season without a victory from their opening six away games. Watford manager Walter Mazzarri had challenged his team to be “angry”, after the club’s heaviest Premier League defeat at Liverpool last time out, and they took only 33 seconds to bare their teeth. After Danny Drinkwater surrendered possession on the half-way line, Watford broke clear through Roberto Pereyra and his cross was flicked on by Troy Deeney to Etienne Capoue, who crashed an unstoppable half-volley into the corner.
With Leicester struggling to get out of their own half, it was no surprise when Watford increased their lead in the 12th minute with Pereyra, the summer signing from Juventus, bending the ball past Zieler from 18 yards.
But then, out of nowhere, came a Leicester lifeline. Vardy was brought down in the penalty area by Miguel Britos and Mahrez sent Heurelho Gomes the wrong way from the spot. It did not spark a comeback, though, and Watford were still dominant in the first half, pressurising Leicester with the same intensity and movement that allowed Ranieri to lift the title last season.
Deeney, a £25million target for the champions in the summer, was a menace and he nearly created a third for Nordin Amrabat shortly before halftime. Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, so influential and solid last season, both endured difficult afternoons as they were constantly pulled out of position by Watford’s pacy attackers.
Leicester did improve in the second half but it was still Watford creating the chances, with Zieler keeping out Pereyra’s close-range header. Ranieri made a double substitution with 22 minutes left, introducing Demarai Gray and Jeff Schlupp, and Leicester finally began to up the pressure. Watford survived a multitude of goalmouth scrambles, and were indebted to some questionable refereeing from Neil Swarbrick, but did enough to ensure they are now unbeaten at home since Aug 27.
Another memorable afternoon for Mazzarri, in the battle of the Italian managers. “I am very happy with the victory and it doesn’t matter that it was against the English champions,” he said. “It was a great response to the Liverpool defeat and my players did what I asked them to.”