Drinkwater a star in Leicester City run

Article by e-Leicester Correspondent Jonathan Smith

Follow e-Leicester on Twitter!

So, Leicester’s winning streak came to an end but their unbeaten run was extended to eleven games following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Watford. The Foxes came from 2-0 down to salvage a point and could’ve won all three deep into stoppage time. City have won three times and drawn once having been a goal down in league games this season but Saturday was the first time they’d come from two goals down. The last time Leicester came from two goals down to draw in a league match was Boxing day 2010 against Leeds United when Paul Gallagher and Andy King scored to earn a point.

The gap between City and fellow promotion contenders Burnley and QPR remains eleven points although the Clarets have a game in hand. QPR have two games in hand although they play Derby on Monday evening. Leicester can only concentrate on themselves though and know that, with 16 games left to play, promotion is still far from being sealed. Their next game isn’t until a week on Wednesday when they travel to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest. In a division where games tend to come thick and fast Leicester will welcome a longer than usual break from competitive action to allow players to recover fully.

If Danny Drinkwater features against Nottingham Forest it’ll be his 100th appearance for Leicester City. Drinkwater was one of Nigel Pearson’s first signings after rejoining the club for a second spell as manager. He started brightly showing all of the attributes you’d expect a former Manchester United youth product to possess. His composure on the ball and ability to pick a pass made many City supporters excited for the future but his first full season was full of ups and downs. He showed glimpses of what he could do but for some reason his season tapered off. He found himself on the bench for both of the Play-Off Semi-Final games against Watford. This season has been a different story. Drinkwater has played a part in every league game so far this season, playing the full 90 minutes on all but four occasions. His last gasp goal on Saturday was his fourth league goal this season and he also won the Championship player of the month award for December 2013 which highlights his impressive form. Drinkwater has started ten of the last eleven league matches alongside his former Manchester United teammate Matty James, who also scored on Saturday. The pair have formed a superb central midfield partnership which seems to be getting better and better with each passing game. With Andy King and Dean Hammond waiting in the wings, City have great strength in depth in that position but it will take a lot to force James and Drinkwater out of the starting eleven.

Seeing Manchester United fail to win yet another home game makes you think David Moyes might be glancing at the top of the Championship wondering why Drinkwater and James were allowed to leave the club. You can include Ritchie de Laet in that bracket too. All three of them are 25 or under and could all be playing against United in the Premiership next season if things go to plan.

© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football