Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Next Match | Saturday 18 April Sat 18 Apr

POR

(A)

00 D

17 H

00 M

48 S

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Leicester City fell to a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

2025-08-16T17:15+01:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

16 Aug, 2025

Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Leicester City fell to a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-16T17:15+01:00

Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Leicester City fell to a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-16T17:15+01:00

Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Leicester City fell to a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-16T17:15+01:00

Defeat In Preston For The Foxes

Leicester City fell to a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-16T17:15+01:00

Alfie Devine’s seventh-minute strike put the hosts in front, before 16-year-old Jeremy Monga levelled the scores – becoming the Club’s and the Championship's youngest-ever goalscorer.

However, a late finish from Milutin Osmajić sealed victory for the Lilywhites, handing City their first league defeat of the 25/26 season on the road in Lancashire.

Next up, the Foxes travel to The Valley to face newly-promoted Charlton Athletic, next Saturday, before returning to King Power Stadium to take on third-tier champions Birmingham City on 29 August.

A tough start

City found themselves under pressure early and went into the break a goal down after a difficult first half. Preston made the breakthrough in the seventh minute, with Devine latching onto a long ball down the right channel.

Jakub Stolarczyk raced out to meet him, but the home side’s No.24 managed to carry it around the goalkeeper and convert from a tight angle outside the box.

There were moments where City threatened, especially when Caleb Okoli’s header was blocked by Michael Smith, but it was North End who carved out the clearer chances. Osmajić scuffed Devine’s cut-back when well placed in the box, before Smith headed Pol Valentín’s inviting cross narrowly wide, ensuring the Foxes remained just one behind at the interval.

Withstanding pressure

The second half began with more Preston pressure. Ben Whiteman curled a free-kick narrowly past the post, while soon after, Thierry Small surged down the left and delivered a fizzing ball into Osmajić, who could only fire wide in a congested Leicester penalty area.

City were holding firm, with Stolarczyk called into action when Smith’s header met Whiteman’s dangerous delivery. The Foxes’ goalkeeper was equal to it, keeping the score at 1-0 and giving the visitors hope.

Manager Martí Cifuentes would need to look to his substitutes to get back into the contest in Lancashire, with all five permitted switches being made throughout the second half.

Monga’s moment & a late setback

Changes from the bench did shift the momentum after the restart. Patson Daka entered at half-time, while Wout Faes and Monga joined the action before the hour. Academy graduates Hamza Choudhury and Kasey McAteer were also introduced even later on during a tight encounter.

It was Monga - who became our youngest starter on Wednesday – who gave the away end something to cheer in the 67th minute. First, a burst of skill down the flank allowed him to tee up James Justin to find Abdul Fatawu, who tested ex-Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iversen from close range. Minutes later, Monga went one better, skipping beyond Valentín and rifling the ball into the bottom corner. At just 16 years and 37 days, he became not only Leicester’s youngest scorer – taking a record previously held by Dave Buchanan (16 years, 192 days) – but also the youngest-ever goalscorer in the Championship.

Jordan Ayew hit the post too and yet, with five minutes left, Preston struck again. Small’s driven cross from the left found Osmajić, who finished clinically to restore the Lilywhites’ lead. Deep into the closing stages, Stolarczyk had to produce an excellent stop to deny Osmajić a second, keeping the scoreline at 2-1. It's a day of frustration for Cifuentes and City, who have a third consecutive away game to navigate before our return to Leicester at the end of the month.

LATEST HEADLINES

Vote Now: LCFC End Of Season Awards Our supporters can now vote in a number of categories for our annual Leicester City End of Season Awards.

2 Hours 59 Mins Ago

Abdul Fatawu Nominated For EFL Goal Of The Season Abdul Fatawu’s stunning 65-yard strike in our 3-1 win over Ipswich Town in December has been shortlisted for EFL Goal of the Season.

3 Hours 29 Mins Ago

From The Archives - Arthur Chandler’s Shirt Crests Our all-time record goalscorer, Arthur Chandler, began his professional career at Queens Park Rangers in September 1920.

8 Hours 49 Mins Ago

Rowett: James & Ramsey Assessed Pre-Pompey Gary Rowett revealed that Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey are being monitored prior to our trip to Portsmouth.

16 Apr, 2026