Matchday Live Talking Points: Schmeichel's Class, Maddison's Panenka & Rodgers' Selection
The former defensive trio were all a part of LCFC Radio's matchday offering as the Foxes initially drew 1-1 at St. James' Park before eventually winning 4-2 on penalties.
During an hour of post-match analysis, available after every City fixture, Elliott, Walsh and Taggart picked out several discussion topics from the encounter...
Schmeichel shows his class
Gerry Taggart said: “Overall, over the 90 minutes, a draw was just about a fair result. Newcastle made a game of it in the second half, but credit to Leicester City with their penalties, especially that man in yellow, Kasper Schmeichel. He made two fantastic saves and that is why the Foxes mark on into the next round. It was all down to the penalty shootout and, in the end, Schmeichel has shown his class with those two saves.”
Maddison's Panenka impresses
Steve Walsh said: “To hit a penalty like that, it takes someone who’s got a bit of bottle and a lot of skill. We certainly wouldn’t have done it ourselves in our day and it takes an incredible amount of skill to be able to get it right. It was a piece of brilliance and the rest of the penalties were really good as well. Kasper Schmeichel came to the rescue after doing it several times for both Leicester City and Denmark in the past.”
A deserved result
Matt Elliott said: “We’re thinking ‘hit it hard and true’ and then he comes up with a Panenka! It just kissed the bar, but what confidence he’s got in himself! The ability to do that as well is impressive. Maybe it was overshadowed by Kasper’s penalty saves, but we all know how good he is in those situations. He’s excelled himself there and got Leicester City into the next round, which was just about a deserved result as well.”
Hamza's stock rises
Steve Walsh said: “It was a very open second half. We had to take Hamza Choudhury off to protect him after his yellow card and, with Wilfred Ndidi injured, I think that shows how much of a key player Hamza has become at the Club. Newcastle changed their game plan, it looked like they’d gone into a 4-3-3 in the latter stages. They pushed more men forward and made a game of it and, like Gerry said, I think a draw was a fair account of the game.”
Comfortable City
Matt Elliott said: “Newcastle were breaking on occasion in the first half, but it increased after half-time. [Yoshinori] Muto was making good runs and breaking the offside trap, so they looked semi-dangerous on occasions. It was good play from Newcastle for their goal and it was an intentional ploy from them. It was part of their tactics and Leicester had to deal with it. Apart from that, there were a few minor scares, but generally, City were comfortable.”
Strong line-up reassuring
Steve Walsh said: “It was encouraging to see that Brendan [Rodgers] played a strong team and he’s said he intends to do that in both cup competitions. It is a tie (Luton away in the third round) where Leicester will fancy themselves to win, but it’s going to be a tricky one. It’s a tight ground, a difficult place to go, but we should have enough to get the win and continue our run in the competition, that’s for sure.”
Confidence flowing
Matt Elliott said: “At this moment in time, why not be positive? Give it your very best shot and see where it takes you. That’s the approach and attitude which the squad will have this season under Brendan Rodgers. I don’t think they’re going to start shouting the odds, saying where they’re going to finish in the league and stuff like that, but they are going to give it a real good crack in every competition this season.”