clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Premier League Player Ratings: Leicester City 0-1 Burnley

It just keeps getting worse

Burnley v Leicester City - Premier League Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

It’s never nice to see a game decided like that. Vokes’ goal was a clear handball; intentional or not, he used his hand to control the ball and set himself up for the goal, and Leicester City fans can certainly feel aggrieved in their 1-0 loss at Burnley.

On the other hand, however, we also completely deserved to lose. Regardless of terrible refereeing throughout (we probably couldn’t have complained if a penalty had been given against us), Burnley were the better side throughout and had plenty of good chances. If you don’t score you can’t win, and the Foxes have now score just one goal in the last six(!) league games.

With the transfer window closed, it’s down the manager and his players, but if this issue isn’t fixed I can’t see us getting past Derby, let alone Sevilla or survival.

Kasper Schmeichel - 7

Kept us in the game with a couple of terrific saves. Not much he can do with a goal like that.

Danny Simpson - 7

Not great with the ball, as usual, and could have conceded a penalty, although it would have been harsh. Made some absolutely crucial interceptions and clearances and that saved a couple of goals.

As part of the back four, to concede at the end, it’s hurting. We’ve got to pull together - everyone, us, the fans, everyone to do with the Club - we're hurting, and we’ve got a big game at the weekend

Wes Morgan - 6

Caught out of position a couple of times, but otherwise very good. Burnley kept shooting and he kept throwing himself in front of it.

Robert Huth - 6

His defensive work was solid as ever, but whenever he wins it, the ball is immediately given back, whether by bad passing or an aimless long ball.

Christian Fuchs - 5

Was playing with fire Andre Gray, who beat him a couple of times and could have gone down for decent penalty appeals if he’d wanted. Delivered plenty of crosses, but aimed at whom?

Riyad Mahrez - 7

Mahrez’s play was the bright point of the game, for me. His control on long balls reaching him on the run was inch perfect and ran at goal with purpose like we haven't seen for a while. Couldn’t create a goal, but got close and needed someone to finish it.

Danny Drinkwater - 5

A disappointing performance and probably should have given away a penalty. In a game plan perfectly suited to his passing, he provided few good balls over the top, and the best came from Morgan.

Burnley v Leicester City - Premier League
Ignore the bit at the end, Ashley Barnes’ crying baby face is Man of the Match
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Wilfred Ndidi - 6

He certainly covers a lot of ground and recovers the ball consistently. He wasn’t much good with it this time though. In particular, the ball fell to him two or three times in box and he seemed to have no idea what to do with it.

Marc Albrighton - 5

I’m not sure if I underrated his dribbling or if he’s improved a lot recently, but he can certainly beat a man now. The problem is that every time he got himself any space it was a high cross in towards small forwards and big defenders. If that’s the game plan then you can’t blame him, but surely it wasn't.

Demarai Gray - 6

A disappointingly quiet start, considering the trouble we’ve seen him cause defenders. Did a bit, but needs to learn to go it alone less and play with Mahrez more. The two together could be a nightmare.

Jamie Vardy - 4

The poacher pounced on the perfect trio of a defensive error, a spilled shot by the keeper and a well timed ball over the top for three scoring opportunities that last year’s Vardy would have won the game with. This year’s appeared to look for three penalties and certainly didn’t look like scoring.

Ahmed Musa - 6

Managed to get off two shots, both on target, but rarely seemed to feature in the game otherwise.

Shinji Okazaki - 4

Didn’t have as long as he’s used to to affect the game, but the truth is he didn’t really achieve anything at all.

Again, no third sub because things were going so well.

All in all a weird game. We very nearly kept a clean sheet and had plenty of chances to score, but at the same time, we never looked the better team, never scored and did concede. Best not to think about it, probably. My Man of the Match is Riyad Mahrez. You probably don't think he deserves it, but I challenge you to come up with someone who does.