Leicester City’s relegation troubles deepened on Wednesday following another disappointing result.
The Foxes suffered their sixth consecutive Premier League defeat with a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace, leaving Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side languishing in second-to-last place.
Van Nistelrooy’s post-match comments, acknowledging Leicester’s poor performance, hit the mark. The team looked ineffective in attack and vulnerable in defence, continuing a worrying trend in their form.
In their last six league outings, Leicester have managed to score just twice while conceding a staggering 16 goals, underlining the issues plaguing both ends of the pitch.
Even Jamie Vardy, typically a reliable source of goals, struggled to make an impact. The usually clinical striker uncharacteristically wasted several promising opportunities against Palace, encapsulating Leicester’s broader struggles.
Jamie Vardy reacts to Leicester City’s defeat vs Crystal Palace:
For some Leicester fans, the writing is already on the wall. After this latest setback, many have resigned themselves to the reality of relegation, with survival appearing increasingly unlikely unless their performances improve dramatically.
While the team’s dismal run of results offers little optimism, Vardy believes their performances are heading in the right direction, even if the points have yet to follow.
“We’ve not been with the gaffer that long and we’re getting better and better with how he wants us to play. We need to do it for the full 90 and everything clicks,” Vardy said via BBC Sport.
“There’s always confidence but we’ve not been able to get those results. Football is a results business. We’ve not got the result we wanted tonight but it’s a quick turnaround.”
Vardy’s remarks reflect a team still adjusting to van Nistelrooy’s methods. However, with the season nearing its climax, the time for adaptation is running out. Leicester need results—and fast—if they are to avoid the drop.
Leicester must address their attacking issues:
Following the recent addition of Woyo Coulibaly, attention may now shift to bolstering the defensive line, given the frailties evident in recent matches.
However, another pressing concern is the need for a striker to support and eventually succeed Jamie Vardy.
At 38, Vardy remains a talismanic figure but can no longer carry the burden alone. His missed opportunities against Palace highlighted the necessity of having an alternative option in attack.
In an ideal scenario, he could be rested or rotated, but van Nistelrooy currently lacks viable alternatives.
Leicester are reportedly exploring the possibility of cancelling Odsonne Edouard from his loan, while Tom Cannon’s return from Stoke City offers another option. Still, these measures may not be enough to solve their goal-scoring woes.
The Foxes need a reliable forward who can shoulder some of the attacking responsibility and serve as a long-term replacement for Vardy. Without reinforcements, Leicester’s survival hopes will continue to hang by a thread.
