Leicester Ratings: Ward's Costly Howler Vs Wolves

CNAES

You need 3 min read

·

Post on Dec 23, 2024

49 visitor like this post

Share

Leicester Ratings: Ward's Costly Howler vs Wolves

Leicester City's frustrating 1-0 defeat to Wolves left a sour taste in the mouths of Foxes fans, and goalkeeper Danny Ward's error was the main talking point. While the overall team performance wasn't disastrous, individual performances were patchy, and the result highlighted areas needing improvement. Let's delve into the player ratings:

Goalkeeper

• Danny Ward (4/10): Ward's costly howler gifted Wolves the winning goal. His misjudgement and subsequent fumble allowed Matheus Cunha to tap in, a moment that will undoubtedly haunt him. While he made a few decent saves, the error overshadowed any positives. This was a performance that will be dissected and analyzed for weeks to come. It's a harsh lesson in the unforgiving nature of the Premier League.

Defenders

• Timothy Castagne (6/10): A relatively solid performance from Castagne down the right flank. He offered decent support going forward and was largely composed defensively. Could have pushed forward more in the second half to create more attacking opportunities.

• Wout Faes (6.5/10): Faes continued to show his growing confidence at the heart of the Leicester defense. He dealt with Wolves' aerial threats effectively and made some important clearances. A dependable presence.

• Çağlar Söyüncü (6/10): A solid if unspectacular performance from Söyüncü. He provided a calm presence in defense but lacked the incisiveness that could have changed the game.

• Luke Thomas (5.5/10): Thomas struggled defensively at times, particularly against Wolves' pace on the counter. His attacking contributions were limited. Needs to improve consistency.

Midfielders

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (7/10): Dewsbury-Hall was one of Leicester's brightest sparks, driving forward with purpose and looking to dictate play. His energy and work rate were commendable. A positive in an otherwise disappointing game.

• Boubakary Soumaré (6/10): Soumaré offered some defensive stability in midfield, breaking up play effectively at times. However, he lacked the creative spark needed to unlock Wolves' defense.

• Youri Tielemans (6.5/10): Tielemans displayed glimpses of his usual class, dictating the tempo of play and trying to find creative passes. However, he wasn't able to impact the game decisively enough.

Forwards

• Harvey Barnes (6/10): Barnes worked tirelessly down the left flank but struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities. His delivery into the box was often lacking.

• Kelechi Iheanacho (5.5/10): Iheanacho lacked the cutting edge needed in the final third. He worked hard but his overall impact on the game was minimal. Needs to be more clinical.

• Jamie Vardy (5/10): Vardy's pace still caused problems for the Wolves defense, but he lacked the composure and quality in front of goal to convert his chances. A frustrating afternoon for the veteran striker.

Substitutes

• (Substitute Ratings): The substitutes made little impact, coming on too late in the game to significantly alter the match's outcome.

Overall

Leicester's defeat was largely down to Ward's individual error. While the team had moments of quality, particularly in midfield, they lacked the cutting edge in the final third and defensive lapses proved costly. The focus now shifts to bouncing back quickly and learning from this setback. The team needs to improve their clinical finishing and reduce individual errors to climb the table. The manager will need to address the defensive vulnerabilities and encourage a more potent attacking display in the coming weeks. This game served as a harsh reminder of the fine margins in the Premier League.