Are Leicester City To Become Record Breakers

Article by e-Leicester Correspondent Jonathan Smith

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It’s starting to look like it could be a record breaking season for Leicester City. Having defeated Leeds United last weekend with a late goal, the Foxes went in search of a seventh consecutive league win with Middlesbrough the visitors to the King Power Stadium. They didn’t disappoint. Second half goals from Jamie Vardy and Ritchie de Laet wrapped up the three points and extended City’s lead at the top of the Championship to eight points. It’s the fifth time in the club’s history that a seven league game winning streak has been achieved but it‘s been just over 20 years since the last one. A win on Tuesday night against Birmingham City would set a new club record of eight consecutive league wins. The club record for longest run without defeat in the league stands at 23 games which came during the League One winning campaign. It’s difficult to see that being bettered in the near future. The standard of football in the third tier is poor compared with what’s on show in the Championship or the Premiership, where Leicester might find themselves next season.

Another impressive statistic from Leicester’s season is the number of penalties they’ve won; fourteen in all competitions so far. It hasn’t gone unnoticed with supporters of other Championship clubs passing comment on Twitter; suggesting that City have almost cheated their way to the top of the league. It would be hard to agree with that idea if you have seen replays of all the challenges that have lead to penalties for Leicester this season. The Foxes have earned their spot-kicks by playing positive attacking football. The speed that Lloyd Dyer and Ritchie de Laet possess has caused defenders problems throughout the season, as well as the quick feet and trickery of Anthony Knockaert. The main man though has been Jamie Vardy. His pace and willingness to take on defenders has frightened opponents all season. It’s Vardy’s penetration that was lacking in City teams during the mid-noughties, when Leicester were lucky if they won more than a handful of penalties all season. Supporters became used to watching ageing footballers who were only capable of passing sideways and backwards. Speed was something those players either never had or hadn’t had for many years. It would be interesting to look back at statistics from those seasons, when Leicester were fighting to stay in the Championship, and see how many runs were made into the box with the ball at the feet of a City player. I can’t remember it happening very often. They say you make your own luck and fortune favours the brave. I’d say both of those sayings apply to Leicester this season. Their brave, attacking style of play has created opportunities for penalties to be awarded. If you’re brave enough to take on a defender then occasionally you will get lucky.

If Leicester continue to play with the belief that they currently have then it’s hard to see them missing out on promotion to the Premiership. It’s also likely that they will continue to win penalties if they carry on playing with such an impressive, attacking intent.

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