Simpson: We Kept Going

Three first half goals at Old Trafford for the home side left the Foxes with a mountain to climb, and despite Marcin Wasilewski’s late header not proving enough to rescue a point, Simpson was encouraged that heads didn’t drop. 

Indeed Wasilewski’s goal could prove to be important in the race to avoid relegation, as goal difference comes into play in a tight bottom half of the table. 

Robin Van Persie opened the scoring for United, before Radamel Falcao doubled that lead and Wes Morgan’s unfortunate own goal made it 3-0 just before the break. 

Reflecting on the match, Simpson told Foxes Player: “It was a tough game. We came into the game with high hopes off the back of last week (a 2-1 win at Tottenham). Everyone knows that coming to Old Trafford, no matter what form they’re in or what team they put out there, it’s tough. 

“For the first 25 minutes I thought our organisation and discipline was good. The first goal was disappointing, as were the couple of goals after that for us. We’ve been defending well recently and you can’t give goals like that away to players like this. 

“Van Persie’s half volley on his right peg was a great finish. It’s disappointing though because we spoke about that before the game – their strikers pulling off on the shoulders and midfielders clipping the balls in behind. There was a suspicion of offside, but credit to him, he’s still got to go and finish it and he did.” 

But it was almost a different story in the second half, as City pressed hard for a comeback to match their remarkable 5-3 home win over the Red Devils back in September last year. 

However, it just wasn’t to be, and Simpson added: “In the second half we kept going, and it was tough because it’s easy to come in at half time with your heads down and give up. Credit to the lads, they kept going and Wasyl (Marcin Wasilewski) got his goal, which was well deserved because he’s been doing well. 

“It (the comeback) was possible. We’ve done it already this season, but maybe if Wasyl’s goal had come earlier on in the second half it could have made their fans and players sit back a bit and get nervous. 

“It came with 10 minutes to go and we kept going, but sometimes it can be a little too late. We didn’t want to concede any more goals because goal difference is going to be important. So it was good for that.”