Chelsea 1-0 Leicester: Three Foxes Talking Points | OneFootball

The main talking point around Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team selection was whether he would bring back Ricardo Pereira, fit again after a long lay-off following surgery on his hamstring. With the Portuguese player’s top-flight experience, and James Justin’s unconvincing performances this season, I expected the change at right back even though I agree with the assessment that one player is unlikely to make much difference to the Foxes’ survival prospects.

One intriguing possibility was that the Leicester boss would, as Enzo Maresca did, use Pereira as an inverted right back. The fact that, as Jordan Blackwell has pointed out, the Dutchman used this tactic when head coach at PSV added extra credence to this claim.

In the event, all Pereira got was a seat on the bench. But there was a major change in formation with van Nistelrooy opting, for the first time, for a back three with Conor Coady, Wout Faes and, surprisingly, Luke Thomas in the centre with Victor Kristensen and James Justin the wing backs. Patson Daka also got a rare start in a front three with Bilal El Knaunouus and Jamie Vardy.

An improved performance but….

With Wolves picking up a point against Everton on Saturday night, putting them six points ahead of the Foxes, a result against Chelsea, however unlikely, was even more important. Once again, though – in what has been a familiar theme this season – another defeat without scoring - that’s no goals in the last five league games - was the outcome. It should be said, though, that this was a substantially improved performance by Leicester.

The new formation worked well in the first half with the back five looking solid. Only an excellent penalty save by Mads Hermansen, though, kept the scores level. The closest the Foxes came to scoring was a Justin cross that was deflected on to the top of the crossbar by a Chelsea defender.

The second half followed a familiar trajectory with Chelsea having the bulk of the possession without creating a great deal. Just once, the Foxes back line stood off and it was fatal with Marc Cucurella’s shot eluding Hermansen and nestling in the right hand corner of the net. Leicester responded but a Vardy shot from a wide angle tipped over the bar was their only real chance.

Despite the defeat, the failure of Wolves and Ipswich to win means that hope of a great escape hasn’t entirely vanished. Yes, the next five games – against the two Manchester clubs, Newcastle, Brighton and Liverpool – are tough. However, as FoL has previously reported, the run-in looks promising with games against Wolves, Southampton and Ipswich offering some hope of picking up points. It is still unlikely that the Foxes will avoid relegation but hope springs eternal.