Fulham will fancy their chances of coming away from Filbert Street with something this weekend as the struggling Foxes look to rebuilt momentum following a disappointing defeat at Middlesbrough on Monday that has Peter Taylor sweating over his job.
The Whites will travel to the Midlands in good heart despite losing to Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Saturday – having more than matched Arsene Wenger’s side for long periods of a competitive London derby. Steve Marlet could make his full debut following his big-money move from Lyon having recovered from the knee injury he sustained during international duty at the start of the month. Marlet seems set to partner Louis Saha up front, but their compatriot Alain Goma is unavailable as he recovers from a hip problem.
Fulham will also be looking for a much-needed win, as their free-flowing passing game is certainly turning heads at the moment, but failing to gain them enough points at the same time.
Leicester are more in need of a win than they have been in some time. Their first of the campaign, against Derby last weekend, came as an enormous relief to beleaguered boss Peter Taylor, but the 2-1 let down away to Middlesbrough two days later seemingly put his job right back on the line. They have fired just 20 efforts on target this season – one of the Premiership’s lower tallies, made worse by the fact that they have played a game more than a number of other sides.
Fulham have already given both Manchester United and Arsenal all sorts of problems this season, but on each occasion they have not succeeded in converting their silky skills into Premiership points. The joint-second lowest shooting accuracy in the top flight – just 34% – goes some way towards explaining why.
Reports of the Cottagers having demonstrated a superb level of quality distribution have not been exaggerated. A good ratio of four in every five passes have been finding their intended target, meaning Fulham are currently the joint-third most accurate side in the top flight, and if they can continue to spray the ball around with such composure, it seems only a matter of time before results begin to pick up.
Leicester themselves would love such a fine distribution rate, but with a passing accuracy level of just 72% they are struggling to put the ball where they want it with alarming regularity. To demonstrate the malaise that seems to be affecting the side at the moment, even the usually-dependable Muzzy Izzet has been finding it hard so far, with just 73% of his attempted passes finding a blue shirt.
As a result of this poor level of distribution, it is hardly surprising that frustration appears to be creeping into the Foxes’ game. With 121 fouls conceded already, in just five top-flight matches, Leicester have committed the second-highest number of offences in the division, and the likes of Dennis Wise and Robbie Savage will have to pull themselves together if they are to help pull the club out of its current crisis.
