Goals deep into stoppage time really bring out the extremes for a football fan. The crushing disappointment of one going against you, or the absolute exhilaration of your team scoring a last minute winner.
Leicester City have given us both in the last week.
In fact, the contrast between last Wednesday’s performance versus Sheffield Wednesday and Saturday’s game at West Bromwich Albion was vast. Let’s be honest, Wednesday’s display was bad. Somehow we made it to stoppage time still leading the game, but conceded 3 minutes in. We deserved it. It stunk of inevitability. But that didn’t stop the disappointment at seeing the points disappear so close to the final whistle.
Fast forward to Saturday and Enzo bringing in 5 changes to the side that started at West Brom. The display just in the first few minutes seemed more structured and positive than the whole of Wednesday’s performance put together.
Of course, not without frustrations. Iheanacho seemed lost, Mavididi made some good runs in the first half but seemed to lose his way after half time before coming off, other changes seemed to come too late, Ndidi going off made no sense, we still didn’t get to see Tom Cannon… and more. But none of that seemed to matter in the 94th minute when Dewsbury-Hall and Winks broke away from the entire West Bromwich Albion team, heading full steam, towards goal.
No matter how many times you watch it, you still think Winks will miss it. The screaming at KDH to shoot and disbelief he’s passed it, right before that burst of sheer joy.
And who made it? Iheanacho. Of course he did. The player who frustrated us for most of the match is the one to create the magic that provided one of the (if not the actual) best moment of the season so far.
The players’ celebrations showed how much this meant. And whilst we’re past comparing this squad to the one that got relegated last season, God, isn’t it nice to see a bunch of players who really seem to care about this club.
If the joy on Harry Winks and Dewsbury Hall’s faces didn’t light you up as a Leicester City fan, not much will!
Next up Plymouth at home on Saturday. The gap to third place still sits at 8 points, which is a nice cushion, but now sitting only 1 point above Ipswich in 2nd, every point counts. Enzo will be wanting to go through the Christmas period and into 2024 top of the league, we all do. But it’s the Championship and there are no easy games. Plymouth come to King Power Stadium in 16th place (just 2 points above 21st) but nothing should be taken for granted. Morgan Whittaker has been the star for them so far this season with 8 goals and 3 assists, and he’s the man to watch on Saturday.
Score prediction: 2-1. Let us know yours @coolasleicester.
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