Middlesbrough 1 Leicester City 0: Foxes get egged
Enzo Maresca’s Foxes suffered their first back-to-back losses away at Middlesbrough. Boro hadn’t beaten Leicester in the previous fourteen meetings and it took something special to do it. Becky Taylor endured an egging but explains why there’s no need to panic just yet.
Away days - a great day out, ruined by the game of football. I thought this statement was out of Leicester fans’ vocabulary now after our league away record this season, but a long trip to Teeside saw us come home empty handed.
It was a day with not much to report on the pitch, but plenty off it. The result seems to have enticed some complete meltdowns across social media, but I am here to call for calm.
There's been plenty of games this season we've come away with points where we probably didn't deserve them. This game, although lackadaisical at times, we still controlled and created enough to 'deserve' something from it.
I understand both sides of the argument regarding 'would you have taken this at the start of the season?'. For me, although I definitely would, it feels like we have got a bit complacent and lazy.
Losing can become a habit just like winning and this game must be the wake-up call to push our standards again.
Parmo and pints
The official away pub for pre-match was named as Stereo Bar which sounded quite the experience; 'dark, dingy and the weirdest place I've ever been' was how a friend described it.
Luckily, the best Wetherspoons that wasn't a Wetherspoons came to the rescue as a fabulous pre-match pub - The Newton Wilson. I actually feel compelled to go online and give them a 5-star review, it was bang on (and bloody cheap!).
One of the very efficient barmen praised us for our choice of parmo loaded chips and he wasn't wrong, elite pre match food. Shout out to the chips and curry in the ground that also looked delicious and needed mentioning.
Eggscellent arm on someone
Honestly, whatever happened in the first half of the game was completely overshadowed by getting egged by the Middlesbrough fans within the first 10 minutes.
Actual eggs thrown, I'm still flabbergasted that it was real life. I can't work out if I completely rate it or think they have lost their minds but it will certainly be an away day moment that's recounted many times over.
Apparently there were multiple egg incidents which are much more comical than the vapes and lighters launched into the away end after the Boro goal.
Their fans were an interestingly over-the-top bunch, but don't worry the police were on it recording the away fans at all times.
Special mention to one footballing moment I do remember from the first 45; Mads pulling off a worldie save that looked a certain goal, it was about the only serious threat other than the obvious.
Ringing the changes
I've praised Maresca for his changes to starting line-ups and substitutions, but I feel it's been downfall in our back-to-back losses.
I did appreciate the idea of Ricky P in the more advanced role - a scathing review of Casadei's recent performances - it felt unbalanced with him there and we were desperately missing Fatawu.
The absence of Ndidi has been pivotal in our recent struggles, not sure I ever thought I'd suggest we miss his creativity!
An ever-present in the side was our best player on the day; Wout Faes. He was very good, and at one point he won the ball and went on a marauding run which I was gutted he didn't fully back himself to go for goal.
Not quite the Iheanacho madness
I'm the first to big up Keldog madness but unfortunately for him and Leicester, he can't buy a goal at the minute. He's getting pelters for his demeanour but I'm baffled by our fans not yet realising this is how he plays, he's been here a long time.
Two big chances fell to him, he did everything right for the second, lifting it over the keeper only to hit the post. We need more from him, but let's hope Tom Cannon could be the fresh idea up front to change our dip in form.
We looked much more direct and able to create chances once Abdul Fatawu finally came on, but he himself missed a big chance. He was so determined to hit his shot down he smashed it into the floor hard in front of him bouncing it miles over the bar.
The money moment
Middlesbrough fans started chanting 'you're not fit to referee' as the ref pulled the play back for the free-kick instead of playing on with them in a promising position.
As Greenwood lined up, I called us, breaking from it to score in the minute I had chosen on the 'time of first goal' game on the coach. Actually, Greenwood just pinged it in the back of the net, still bagging me £93 in the process, but not quite as I'd planned.
I didn't appreciate how good of an effort it was, until seeing a replay; one worthy of winning any game.
Don't panic!
We are returning to the shire with egg on our faces (or coats), but still not too much to worry about. International break to regroup and charge again because winning is much more fun.
I'm off to stock up on eggs ready for the return fixture.
12 Days of Christmas at The Bridge
For the past 10 years, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope has served a 3-course Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings to hundreds of people in Leicester who are experiencing homelessness.
This year, they want to go one better and offer their guests (service users) not just one day of celebrations but 12 days of festive events over the month of December.
If you’re enjoying The Fosse Way, please consider donating to The Bridge’s Christmas appeal:
