Leicester City Fan View: Lack of goals is the biggest worry for Claudio Ranieri

For even the most optimistic of us, there are few ways to sugarcoat another Premier League defeat. In retrospect one of the worst away teams losing to one of the best home teams isn’t a surprise. That does little to console Leicester fans though. Those with a nervous disposition will shudder as the Foxes sit just two points clear of the relegation zone. Burnley’s late winner was controversial, but sadly wasn’t undeserved.

For Claudio Ranieri’s side, it’s the lack of threat that’s most worrying. The Foxes are more than just goal-shy now, just one goal scored in the league since Christmas. For a team whose defense has also been leaky, it’s a dangerous combination. The fixture list doesn’t get any kinder either, Manchester United the next opponents and then an away trip to Swansea that’s looking a little too decisive.

It had felt like a better game again for Leicester, though better is still not good enough right now. While we did little in the way of seriously threatening Tom Heaton’s goal, it was a more composed showing and it did look like we might be able to notch up an away point and a clean sheet, which considering Burnley’s home record, wouldn’t have looked so bad. That’s where we are right now, one goal changes opinion from what we may regard as being ok to it being abysmal. Every point counts though and with teams around us taking one or three, it feels more painful.

Constant rain made for slippery conditions that didn’t make for the most attractive game and possibly forced both sides to be more aerial than first planned. Unfortunately for the Foxes, that felt like another disadvantage. Jamie Vardy made for the lone striker, with a packed out midfield behind. Where high balls are concerned, it’s no secret that without Islam Slimani or Leonardo Ulloa, it’s essentially pointless and offers little service to Vardy. He did have some chances to score though, confidence and decision making sorely lacking and almost certainly related. One particularly frustrating incident saw the striker go down where last season he would have simply rounded Tom Heaton and slotted home.

Luck played a part in this match, Burnley certainly getting the rub of the green. Sometimes when you are down at the bottom, even a simple rebound won’t come out to one of your players and this was the case for Leicester. It was summed up by the decision that saw Burnley lead. Admittedly, it did feel as though any goal would be scored by the home team, but it was a handball. A decision the Foxes contested, but had to face. As cliched as it may be though, you have to make your own luck. In part that comes from making the right decisions both on and off the ball, something we are struggling with this season.

You had to feel that if Leicester were going to get anything out of the game, it would most certainly involved Riyad Mahrez. Returning from Algeria, his first touch and darting runs are a sight for sore eyes. Too often though, not enough options went forward with him and he was unlucky with a chance of his own. If he can hit the heights of his form again, he’ll be instrumental in helping us try to get out of the relegation battle we’re played ourselves into. It is mildly concerning that he appeared to be unwilling to take a corner in the dying moments, though we had goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, in the box for it so that might have played a part.

As in many other games, we owe Schmeichel a debt for having kept the scoreline at 0-0 for so long. We relied on him to be the saviour on several occasions and he dutifully delivered, notching a brilliant save amongst his efforts too. In a season where commitment and passion have been called out a lot, fans surely have no doubt about our goalkeeper. Things could certainly be worse without his commanding presence and I doubt he’d have been shy or retiring about how he feels in the dressing room after that. His coming up, and staying up, at the end reaffirmed his attempts to steer us back in the right direction.

Unfortunately as far as team efforts go, it wasn’t all there again. Having previously championed Demarai Gray to come in and make an impact, it’s frustrating that he didn’t really have one in a game crying out for something. Marc Albrighton tried, but again, his crosses would have benefited from having a target man and too often he was chipping in defensively again. It was a very deep role for Wilifred Ndidi but his first half was particularly pleasing, however while it should have freed up the likes of Danny Drinkwater to push on and help us press on the attack, the latter struggled to find his feet in the game. He wasn’t the only one and there were several who didn’t look as up for it as you might hope.

Debate will always be split, regardless of club, over where the split in blame lies between players and manager. It’s certainly a joint effort and while Ranieri has to be disappointed, it’s curious that even with some changes and tweaks, it still hasn’t clicked again yet. With the transfer window about to close, it’s tough to imagine this result will see him lose his job, but the pressure is there from more than a handful of people now. It’s the first big test for the owners in a while.

On the subject of transfer deadline day, Leicester choosing just minutes after a defeat to announce the loan signing of an Udinese loan player, Molla Wague, was probably never going to be that well received. Considering it was an hour so before the window shut, perhaps we should be grateful to add a centre-back to the squad, considering our rather pressing requirement for one or two. It makes it a very quiet window though, started with Ndidi whose deal was done before it’s opening. It appears if we are to reinforce our back-line it will done by utilising squad players or re-positioning others.

Leicester need to stop the rot, and quickly. With the fallout of the Leonardo Ulloa saga on-going and unlikely to end happy anytime soon, something needs to change. Restoring confidence and positivity are absolutely essential.