City Fall To Brentford Reverse

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City Fall To Brentford Reverse

Leicester City were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

2024-11-30T16:56+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

30 Nov, 2024

from Gtech Community Stadium

City Fall To Brentford Reverse

Leicester City were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2024-11-30T16:56+00:00

City Fall To Brentford Reverse

Leicester City were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2024-11-30T16:56+00:00

City Fall To Brentford Reverse

Leicester City were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2024-11-30T16:56+00:00

City Fall To Brentford Reverse

Leicester City were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2024-11-30T16:56+00:00

Although Facundo Buonanotte opened the scoring for the Foxes, overseen by First Team Coach Ben Dawson, Yoane Wissa's near-immediate equaliser turned the tide, with Kevin Schade hitting a hat-trick to condemn the visitors to defeat. The presence of City’s incoming new Manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, was naturally a subplot in west London ahead of kick-off. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Netherlands legend has penned a contract until June 2027 and is set to formally take over in the East Midlands on Sunday. In the company of Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in the stands, this was van Nistelrooy’s first look at his new squad following Friday’s appointment. Having faced the Foxes twice as Manchester United’s interim manager, the Dutchman will already be familiar with the players he’ll soon be able to call his own. Dawson, meanwhile, was the man in the dugout, leading City into a testing Premier League outing, aided by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes. Without the likes of Ricardo Pereira and Harry Winks, due to injury, there were four changes from last weekend’s 2-1 home reverse to Chelsea. Notably, Conor Coady and Luke Thomas were each in for their first Premier League starts of the campaign, while Buonanotte returned after serving a one-game suspension.

Chairman Khun Top was joined by new Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy in the stands.

The visitors found their first opening inside five minutes, as Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s mis-kick gave Buonanotte a sight of goal. The Argentina international, among City’s brightest lights this term, lashed a low drive straight at Flekken at the near post. Mads Hermansen, over at the opposite end, was put to the test early doors too. Schade’s looping header was an attempt to capitalise on the goalkeeper coming off his line. The Dane, though, had it covered, stretching an arm to push it over the crossbar. Mikkel Damsgaard’s half-volley found his own team-mate, Ethan Pinnock, in its way as well. Not so much a storm, but it had been a little choppy to start, with the Bees holding the ball well and pushing forwards. Twenty-one minutes in, Leicester were ahead, mind you. Tidy play between Boubakary Soumaré and Jordan Ayew on the halfway line gave the latter the freedom to get Jamie Vardy running down the left channel. City’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer had Pinnock in his way, but the 37-year-old spun the Jamaica centre-back inside out. He then spotted Buonanotte in space in the middle, sliding the ball across for a simple finish from the youngster on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. That’s now four goals in Leicester blue for the twinkle-toed forward this season. City have only failed to get on the scoresheet once in the league in 2024/25, although keeping them out at the other end has proven more challenging.

Facundo Buonanotte's fourth goal of the season put City in front early on.

Thomas Franks’ Bees have won five of their home league games this term and also don’t usually find goals hard to come by. In the space of four minutes, City’s lead was gone, the guests falling 2-1 behind in ruthless fashion. Schade's cross was first dispatched by Wissa, with the chasing Caleb Okoli clattering into Hermansen and eventually being withdrawn as a result. Leicester were temporarily a man down for Brentford’s second and Schade seized upon the space which opened up, stroking the ball into the bottom corner from close range. Jannik Vestergaard, one of three Denmark internationals in City’s squad, would soon be required to take Okoli’s place. A position of promise had fizzled away for the Foxes. It had been a rough spell, with Dawson’s side needing to settle and build again. Just as half-time loomed, the difficulty of that task increased. Deep into a lengthy added-time period, Damsgaard's forward ball cut through, gifting Schade the chance to hit a third for the hosts into the far bottom corner. Into the second period, Brentford continued their hunt for more goals. After Bryan Mbeumo’s cross was nodded over by Damsgaard, it was four for Brentford just before the hour. Another raking through ball, this time from Nathan Collins, did the damage. Neither Wout Faes nor James Justin could get a toe on it, but Schade could – completing his hat-trick with a confident finish past the onrushing Hermansen.

It turned into a frustrating afternoon for the Foxes in the capital.

While Fábio Carvalho was denied by Hermansen, substitute Stephy Mavididi was likewise frustrated by Flekken. Oliver Skipp, another player introduced from the bench, was also required to hook the ball clear in a moment of concern, but this was not an enjoyable outing for City. A new dawn, nevertheless, will break on Sunday as van Nistelrooy assumes full First Team responsibilities. Earlier this week, the former PSV Eindhoven manager spoke with excitement about the prospect of starting his first full-time Premier League managerial role. A double-header of home games will be his first assignments, starting on Tuesday, when West Ham United visit King Power Stadium. Brighton & Hove Albion will be next, the following Sunday.

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