This Week In History: Big Wins In Different Circumstances For City

Heritage
22 Mar 2020
2 Minutes
The past seven days across the Club's recent history saw Leicester City secure notable victories on their way to landmark successes.

On Saturday 22 March, 2003, the Foxes, unbeaten in 10 games in the old First Division, now the Championship, headed to Highfield Road to face Coventry City.

Micky Adams' men knew they could go within three points of league leaders Portsmouth with a victory from their first trip to Coventry in three years.

However, it was the Sky Blues who applied the early pressure with Billy McKinlay needing to head Bosnia and Herzegovina international Muhamed Konjić's effort off the line.

Muzzy Izzet, on the other hand, nodded an attempt of his own onto Morten Hyldgaard's crossbar before a stunning long-range effort from McKinlay put the Foxes ahead.

Forward James Scowcroft doubled Leicester's lead before Matt Jansen halved it again, but City would hold on for three points to edge them closer to promotion as runners-up.

Thirteen years later, the Foxes were chasing the biggest prize of all in the English game as they arrived at Crystal Palace on Saturday 19 March, 2016.

Claudio Ranieri, who was applauded by the home fans at Selhurst Park before kick-off, was overseeing one of the most remarkable sporting achievements in modern times.

Each matchday was becoming more and more fraught with nerves as City got closer to winning a first top-flight title in their entire history, despite unfavourable pre-season odds.

This trip to Palace was no different, with just a solitary goal from Riyad Mahrez settling the encounter, but it ended with a release of raw emotion from the Blue Army.

At full-time in the capital, City's travelling contingent of fans remained in their seats for as long as they we allowed, roaring: 'We're going to win league!'

Following earlier successes against Watford and Newcastle United, this was now three wins in a row, and Leicester would not lose another game all season.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 16 March, 2019, Brendan Rodgers secured his maiden away win after being announced as City's manager in February with a dramatic victory at Burnley.

Foxes centre-back Harry Maguire was dismissed after just four minutes for a challenge on Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, but a brilliant James Maddison free-kick put them ahead.

Dwight McNeil levelled for the Clarets before the interval and, just when the match seemed destined to end in a share of the spoils, up stepped Wes Morgan to win it with seconds to spare.

Leicester's captain, brought on in place of Maguire, rose highest to latch onto a last-ditch cross from on-loan Belgium international Youri Tielemans, much to the delight of the travelling Foxes faithful.

Rodgers' men would go on to lose just two matches in seven outings at the end of the 2018/19 campaign and they currently sit third in the Premier League standings this term.