2015/16 Season Review: August

Gameday 1: 

Leicester City 4 Sunderland 2 

Saturday 8 August, 2015 

Barclays Premier League 

Goals: Vardy 11, Mahrez 18, pen 24, Albrighton 66; Defoe 61, Fletcher 71 

Attendance: 32,242 

Match Report: 

Leicester City stormed to superb opening day Barclays Premier League victory over Sunderland at a sun-drenched King Power Stadium on Saturday. 

In 13 sensational first-half minutes, the Foxes found themselves 3-0 up thanks to a Jamie Vardy’s header and a double from Riyad Mahrez. 

Striker Jermain Defoe pulled one back for the Black Cats in the second half before City’s three-goal cushion was restored just five minutes later thanks to the excellent Marc Albrighton. 

Substitute Steven Fletcher did score a second for Dick Advocaat’s men, but Leicester remained resilient in the late stages to ensure they took all three points from their first fixture of the 2015/16 Premier League season. 

Manager Reaction: 

“I think I know the Leicester fans very well. They are [passionate] supporters and I told my players ‘when you go on the pitch and you hear the song from Kasabian, that means they want warriors.’ I want to see them as warriors for the fans. 

“Kasabian are a fantastic rock band from Leicester and I think the guitar man, Serge, is Italian. It’s good and I think they (the fans) love fighters. We are fighters. 

“I’m very pleased with the performance of the players. I wanted fighters and warriors and this is important for me because there will be matches where you draw or lose because this is football. You have to fight, and they did fight.

“Maybe we surprised them at the beginning. We pressed a lot from the front and the two strikers and the wingers were very, very fast to play between them. It was very good.” 

League Position: 2 

Gameday 2: 

West Ham United 1 Leicester City 2 

Saturday 15 August, 2015 

Barclays Premier League 

Goals: Payet 55; Okazaki 27, Mahrez 37 

Attendance: 34,857 

Match Report: 

Leicester City moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League table with a fantastic 2-1 victory over a tough West Ham United side at Upton Park on Saturday afternoon. 

The brilliant Shinji Okazaki made the initial breakthrough for City when he latched onto a Jamie Vardy pass to head beyond Hammers ‘keeper Adrian at the second attempt. 

Ten minutes later it was the in-form Riyad Mahrez that drilled a first time shot in to give City a deserved second, but he owed much to an excellent run and cutback from Marc Albrighton on the left wing. 

The lively Dimitri Payet pulled one back for the home side soon after half time with an emphatic finish from just inside the box, but their task was made harder with a red card for goalkeeper Adrian in second half stoppage time, and City held out for another deserved win. 

Manager Reaction: 

“I think it was a fantastic first half. We played fast and very well together. The second half was normal and with West Ham at home they wanted to [come back and] draw the match. 

“They pushed us a lot but we were very well organised, closed the space and conceded just a few chances to them. 

“One was a goal and another Kasper [Schmeichel] made a fantastic save from. I want to say that my players were very concentrated on this match after the good result at home. 

“I told them that this is West Ham’s first match at home after winning at Arsenal and they’ll want to show their best performance [at home]. We prepared well and that was important for us.” 

League Position: 2 

Gameday 3: 

Leicester City 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 

Saturday 22 August, 2015 

Barclays Premier League 

Goals: Mahrez 82; Alli 81 

Attendance: 31,971 

Match Report: 

Leicester City continued their unbeaten start to the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season with a battling draw against Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium on Saturday. 

After a goalless first half, the visiting side took the lead through substitute Dele Alli, who nodded in at the back post with 81 minutes on the clock. 

But City replied immediately, as Riyad Mahrez curled in a fine effort to take his tally to four goals in just three 2015/16 games for his side. 

Skipper Wes Morgan could have won it late on for City, but an excellent save from Hugo Lloris ensured both teams shared the spoils in what turned out to be a highly-competitive fixture. 

Manager Reaction: 

“I’m very happy because our performance was very good tactically. We always want to run and put teams under pressure, but it was difficult because the weather was against us. 

“I was very satisfied with the way we reacted to conceding. Against good teams, one mistake can lead to a goal and we were disappointed when Tottenham scored. We needed to respond. 

“Our fans were fantastic, they supported the players and in 25 seconds Riyad scored again. 

“The performance was very good. Tactically we did a very good job, I’m very satisfied with the way the team followed my instructions.” 

League Position: 2 

Gameday 4: 

Bury 1 Leicester City 4 

Tuesday 25 August, 2015 

Capital One Cup 

Goals: Mayor 50; Dodoo 25, 86, 90, Kramarić 40 

Attendance: 4,914 

Match Report: 

Leicester City eased to a Capital One Cup Second Round victory over Bury at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night in a match that saw youngster Joe Dodoo grab a hat-trick on his first outing for the Club. 

It was a dream start to his Leicester City debut for Academy graduate, as on 25 minutes he rattled a thunderous right footed shot in off the crossbar. 

That gave City a 1-0 lead, before Andrej Kramarić doubled his side’s advantage before the break with an equally impressive finish. 

Bury winger Danny Mayor pulled one back for the hosts five minutes after the break but two more goals from Dodoo in the last five minutes crowned both a 4-1 win for the Foxes and a brilliant treble for the debutante. 

Manager Reaction: 

“I’m very happy because we played well in the first half and we scored twice. In the second half after their (Bury’s) goal it was battle and we showed great spirit, supported by our fans, who were very good for us. It’s like we play every game at home, that’s important for us. 

“Everybody worked very hard in training sessions and I have to choose one line up but everyone works hard. 

“Tonight was a match for these players and they showed a good attitude, good spirit and I’m very pleased with everybody. 

“I was sure with the performance because when I choose a team, I believe in them. Together we are a good group and they’re united. That’s important for me.” 

Gameday 5: 

Bournemouth 1 Leicester City 1 

Saturday 29 August, 2015 

Barclays Premier League 

Goals: Wilson 24, Vardy pen 86 

Attendance: 11,102 

Match Report: 

Leicester City's unbeaten start to the Barclays Premier League season continued on Saturday with a battling 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. 

A stunning overhead kick from Callum Wilson had opened the scoring for Bournemouth midway through the first half after Charlie Daniels’ cross bounced loose inside the City box. 

It turned into a game of few chances and it took the Foxes until the 86th minute to draw level from the penalty spot. Jamie Vardy was the man brought down by Steve Cook before showing the composure to get up and find the top corner from 12 yards. 

The point leaves Claudio Ranieri's unbeaten Foxes in third place behind Manchester City and Crystal Palace in the table heading into the international break. 

Manager Reaction: 

“I’m very pleased because Bournemouth are a very well organised team. I watched the first three matches they played. I spoke with my players beforehand and I explained how they are good and play like a team – very well organised. 

“We started very well. I was very excited for the first minutes and when we conceded a goal we slowed down the tempo and lost some of our spirit, personality and character. 

“We lost the first half, but in the second half my team showed good character, spirit and personality. They wanted to draw and then to win. 

“It was very important not to lose the match. I’m very happy and now we can go have some rest and the international players go away but must re-start with the same mentality when they come back.” 

League Position: 3 

Top Scorer: Riyad Mahrez (four goals) 

High Point: Alongside a superb start to the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League campaign, young winger Joe Dodoo became only the third player in the Club’s history to score a hat-trick on his full debut, with Jeffrey Schlupp and Archie Gardiner the other two. 

Low Point: Despite winning three of their five games in all competitions over August, the Foxes were yet to record a clean sheet, but that certainly didn’t dampen spirits as Leicester City ended the month in third position in the Premier League.