Leicester City

"If we don't attack down the wings, we look a little bit blunt. If the wingers aren't firing, we seem to not know what to do."

The When You're Smiling podcast team discuss what Leicester City have got on their to-do list before their return from the international break and who needs to feature over the next six games.

Listen to the latest episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds.

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Gateshead have signed Leicester City forward Kian Pennant on a one-month loan deal.

The 21-year-old has been a regular in the Foxes' age-group sides and has played in the EFL Trophy, but this is the first loan move of his career.

The Heed have also signed Cheltenham Town defender Ibrahim Bakare on a loan deal running until early January 2026.

Bakare has made 35 senior appearances for Cheltenham since joining in the summer of 2024.

"I think this is going to be the tightest Championship for a long, long time and it is the team that breaks out, the team that goes on that run and gives themselves a little bit of distance between the others.

"For me, Leicester need a nine and a centre-half... but the rest of the team seem really strong, much stronger than any other team."

Former Leicester City coach and caretaker manager Mike Stowell joins Jack Rafferty as they reflect on the season so far and how the side can move forward.

Listen to the latest episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds.

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Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew scored the 33rd goal of his international career to help take Ghana to the brink of qualifying for next year's World Cup.

The Black Stars' captain scored the fourth goal in a 5-0 thrashing of Central African Republic in Bangui on Wednesday.

The result leaves Ghana needing just one point from their final group game at home to Comoros on Sunday to secure their place in the 2026 tournament, while defeat would push them into a play-off place.

Ayew has scored seven goals in Ghana's qualifying campaign, in which they have lost just one game, going down 1-0 in Comoros in their second outing.

Molly Stephens
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Well, what a way to get your first win since August - and what a player Leicester have in Jordan James.

I spoke to many Leicester fans before the game at Swansea and the overwhelming judgement of Marti Cifuentes' side was that they can't score goals, and can't finish games off.

Well, there were some stunning goals on show on Saturday.

Leicester looked confident from the get-go and two players in particular demonstrated that in more ways than one.

Firstly, Jordan James. The 21-year-old looks like a transfer coup on loan from Rennes. He was superb and his wonderful strike into the top corner came just after he sent an effort over the bar, and he rifled the ball low off the post in the second half to very nearly score another.

The Wales international, who had already scored earlier in the week against Welsh opposition (Wrexham), did so again, in front of the watching Wales head coach Craig Bellamy, who'll be delighted to see James' commanding performances with matches against England and Belgium on the horizon.

Another 21-year-old, Abdul Fatawu, scored another goal of the day contender and then had the audacity to attempt a David Beckham-style effort from the halfway line, only to hit the crossbar. For me, it was just another glimpse of the confidence that Leicester showed throughout their performance.

Fatawu has been called up by Ghana and Cifuentes will be hoping he and James both come back unscathed.

"There was a clear and loud message sent by the manager and the players have really responded.

"It was a really good response and a great way to go into the international break. It's huge psychologically. In the end it could have been by a much wider margin. I don't think they deserved to win by two goals but it would have been nice.

"It's the best way going into the international break, it always feels an easier time. You can build on this."

On this week's When You're Smiling podcast, Conor O'Grady and former Leicester City forward Matty Fryatt reflect on the Foxes' win at Swansea to break a run of four straight draws.

They also react to boss Marti Cifuentes' post-match comments.

Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City on Sounds.

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Alan Sheehan reckons Swansea City will face perhaps the best side in the Championship this season when they host Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Leicester have made a solid start to the season following their relegation from the Premier League in 2024-25, losing only one of their first eight league games.

But having beaten Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Birmingham – and losing at Preston – in their first four second-tier fixtures, Marti Cifuentes' team have played out four successive league draws.

Leicester are sixth in the early-season table, but former Foxes player Sheehan reckons his old club will be in the mix for automatic promotion come next spring.

"I'd be surprised if they're not up there," he said.

"They're a team that were in the Premier League last year and have players that have got a lot of Premier League experience.

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"I've watched a bit of them. They're another team that could probably have more points – they are slightly simmering in areas - but a team that you have to be very organised against because they've got a lot of quality all over pitch."

Having ended a three-game Championship winless streak by beating Blackburn in midweek, Swansea are now chasing a first home victory in four attempts.

Since beating Sheffield United in their first home league game of the season, Swansea have drawn with Watford, Hull City and Millwall on their own patch.

"Hull was obviously incredibly disappointing, you're [winning after] 97 minutes in the first game back after the break and concede from a set-piece," Sheehan said.

"Millwall was disappointing to concede on the stroke of half-time and then a set-piece worldie against Watford.

"The draws can feel like losses, but also respecting who we're playing against. It's an incredibly difficult game against Leicester. We have to respect them and we'll need our fans right behind us again to give us that extra bit."

Four successive draws have seen Leicester fall five points behind Championship leaders Middlesbrough as they prepare to face Swansea City in South Wales.

The Swans are also proving to be draw specialists themselves with each of their past three home games in the league ending in stalemates.

• Swansea City have won just one of their past nine league meetings against Leicester City (D1 L7).

• The Foxes have won three of their four away league meetings at Swansea (L1), their last loss coming in the top flight in February 2017 (0-2) when they were reigning champions.

• Swansea City are unbeaten in their past eight home matches in the Championship (W4 D4), keeping four clean sheets in the process. This is the Swans' longest unbeaten home run since a run of 13 between October 2020 and February 2021.

• Leicester City have drawn each of their past four league matches, their longest run of consecutive draws since a run of six between October and November 2004.

• Ricardo Pereira's tally of two goals in five Championship matches this season is just one shy of the three goals he managed in 39 matches in his last campaign in the competition (2023-24).

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Susan Whelan has left her role as Leicester City chief executive after 15 years with the club.

In her time in the job, Leicester rose from England's second tier to win a previously unfathomable Premier League title in 2015-16 before going on to also claim the FA Cup for the first time in 2021.

While she was involved in a decade of unprecedented success at the Foxes, which included bringing Champions League football to the King Power Stadium, the club has most recently suffered two relegations in three years.

The threat of points deductions for alleged breaches of spending rules have also hung over the club in recent years.

While Leicester successfully argued against being punished on their return to the Premier League last season, the most recent case brought against them by the English Football League remains unresolved.

Those relegations, the tightening of budgets and on-field struggles have seen sections of Leicester's support turn against both Whelan and director of football Jon Rudkin.

Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has taken over from Whelan on an interim basis.

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

The absence of an established number nine is causing Leicester some problems as Marti Cifuentes wrestles over the starting XI for each game and our end product is looking toothless.

His substitutions have been excellent to date - one of his obvious strengths since joining - but unfortunately this is what cost us against Wrexham on Tuesday.

James Jordan and Harry Winks were solid in the middle of the park; a complementary pairing that saw the former produce a lovely, well-worked goal in the first half.

The substitutions saw Jordan pushed up into the number 10 position, which didn't work against West Bromwich Albion on Friday and fell short again four days later (with Oliver Skipp brought on to pair with Winks).

There is a clear game plan with most opponents we face: sit deep, isolate the wingers and try and hit us on the break. Wrexham were no different and their substitutions - including the use of an old Leicester favourite in Matty James - certainly helped them push on in the closing stages to force the equaliser.

The return of Aaron Ramsey from suspension this weekend could see us create more chances, but we need to see more speed and urgency in our play.

Slow distribution from the goalkeeper, coupled with a disproportionate amount of possession among the back four, is infuriating for fans who seem to sense the urgency more than the players.

We are playing some nice football in parts with the lion's share of possession, but there are no points for that in this game. 'Gerrit forward!'

Listen to more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die., external

"The boos at the end were very striking to me...

"I'm on the fans' side - I thought it was a poor performance. Harry Winks aside, I couldn't find many positives. That was abject, to me. Not enough threat, desire, pace on the ball - they were strolling through a game. They should have been out of sight."

On this week's When You're Smiling podcast, Jack Rafferty and former Leicester City goalkeeping coach and caretaker boss Mike Stowell reflect on the Foxes' fourth consecutive draw, 1-1 at home to Wrexham.

They also react to Marti Cifuentes' post-match comments.

Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City on Sounds.

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Leicester City and Wrexham will lock horns for the first time in more than 43 years as the Red Dragons head for the King Power on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

After picking up their second point from four home games with Saturday's 1-1 draw against Derby, Phil Parkinson's men are seeking to re-write their own record books by winning a third straight away game and registering their first ever win over the Foxes.

Marti Cifuentes' men salvaged a point at West Brom on Friday night to make it three straight draws and five games unbeaten in the Championship but have collected seven points and are unbeaten in their three homes games so far and have conceded only once.

• This will be the first meeting in any competition between Leicester City and Wrexham since a goalless draw in the second tier in April 1982.

• Wrexham have never won in six previous league meetings with Leicester (D3 L3); the Foxes have only faced Crewe (10), Loughborough (10), and Scunthorpe (8) more times without ever losing in the Football League, while the Red Dragons have only faced Crystal Palace (16) more without ever winning.

• Leicester have kept four clean sheets in their past five home league games, as many as their previous 30 beforehand.

• Wrexham have won four of their past five away league games (L1), and could win three in a row on the road in the second tier for the first time in their history.

• Wrexham's Josh Windass has scored four goals in his past three away league appearances, and could score in four in a row for the very first time in the EFL.

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Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes spoke to BBC Radio Leicester after his side drew 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

"It's mixed feelings. We had good control, good dominance in the first half – and it was a very good first half, but unfortunately we went down.

"Definitely we could have been more clinical in the last third to create clear chances, but I thought the team did a lot of good things.

"In the second half, of course the closer you get to the end the more emotional you become and a it gets a little bit more uncontrolled, but I think at the end we got what we deserved.

"The things I value a lot - the personality, the effort those guys are showing in every game - shows that this thing of 'Foxes never quit' is there, and we need to maintain that. But at the same time, we hope for even more quality in the last third to create more chances.

"We need to make sure that we are better than just chasing a draw in the last minute."

West Bromwich Albion will look to avoid a second consecutive loss at the Hawthorns when they host Leicester City on Friday night (20:00 BST).

The Baggies have proven to be a difficult customer on home ground over recent years but fell to Derby County in their last home match before conceding defeat again on the road against league leaders Middlesbrough.

But for Leicester, winning in West Bromwich hasn't been so difficult and they will be hungry for three points after two successive draws sees them one point outside the automatic promotion spots.

• West Bromwich Albion have lost each of their last five league matches against Leicester City, a run that stretches back to March 2018.

• Leicester have won their last six away league games against West Brom, with each win coming under a different manager (Pearson, Ranieri, Shakespeare, Puel, Rodgers, Maresca).

• West Brom lost their last home league game 1-0 against Derby, last losing consecutive league matches at the Hawthorns in October 2022.

• No Championship side have won more points from losing positions this season so far than Leicester (4), coming from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday and draw with Oxford.

• Leicester have had the highest proportion of their total shots hit the target in the Championship this season (43%), ranking 12th for overall shots (77) but second for shots on target (33).

"[The Foxes] have not lost in 15 years at The Hawthorns.

"Friday night, under the floodlights. It probably would be a full house. Two Premier [League] sort of teams going head to head who are expected to go up. I think it's got the recipe to be a really good game."

On this week's When You're Smiling podcast, Jack Rafferty and former Leicester City goalkeeper coach and caretaker boss Mike Stowell preview the Friday night showdown at West Bromwich Albion. They also react to Marti Cifuentes comments this week after Louis Page signed his first professional contract for the club.

Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City on Sounds.

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Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes has been speaking to the media before his side's trip to West Bromwich Albion on Friday night (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines:

• There are no additional injuries following their 0-0 draw against Coventry last Saturday.

• On academy graduate Louis Page, who signed his first professional contract after making his first-team debut this season against Huddersfield Town: "I'm a big believer in Louis' talent, I think he will be important and I'm very happy on the steps he's been taking since I've been here."

• Fellow graduate Luke Thomas also signed a new deal, with Cifuentes saying that the 24-year-old is "one of the best performers" in the squad.

• On Ryan Mason's West Bromwich Albion: "They are a good team with a good manager. It's a strong club in the Championship and especially at home, it's difficult to get points there. I'm sure if we keep on improving areas of the game - I was quite happy on the last performance despite the result - I think we could get something."

• On Stephy Mavididi and his missed chance against Coventry: "When a player has the quality he's got, there's always big expectations around him him. He knew it was a big chance but the thing I value is the most is he's trying. He's trying again and again.

• "He had a very good season two years ago in the Championship so probably everyone expects him to be at the same level if not better. It's not easy for him, the last season was not the best for him."

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

"We are creating an identity for ourselves. It's still early on in the season but I think you can see the patterns we are trying to create and it's creating chances so hopefully next game it can all come together," Foxes midfielder Jordan James tells BBC Radio Leicester after their 0-0 draw against Coventry City on Saturday.

Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Leicester City winger Matt Piper to discuss a goalless M69 derby on the weekend and the positives the Foxes can take from a match lacking teeth.

Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds.