Wout Faes: Leicester City 'not panicking' after lead at top slashed

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Wout Faes celebrates his goal for Leicester against LeedsImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wout Faes scored Leicester only goal at Leeds, but also conceded a late own goal in the match

Leicester City defender Wout Faes says the Championship leaders are not panicking after their advantage at the summit was slashed.

Defeat by second-placed Leeds United last week reduced the gap between the two sides to just six points.

Seven days earlier, they had been 12 points clear at the top and seemingly cruising to the title and promotion.

"I'd prefer to have the six points than have to chase the six points," Faes told BBC East Midlands Today.

"We've lost a few games in a row before and I don't think we have to panic or anything.

"We just have to continue in the way we are playing.

"In those games we have lost in the last few weeks, if you analyse them and look into the games, we have played good but not taken our chances. But that is football.

"We have to just keep focusing game by game."

Against Middlesbrough earlier in the month, the Foxes dominated possession and chances but failed to battle back from going two goals down in the first half.

Then at Leeds, Leicester had been 1-0 up when a number of chances were missed to double the lead - the worst of which was Patson Daka's one-on-one effort with the goalkeeper that the Zambian put wide.

Leicester had been 10 minutes away from restoring a 12-point cushion at the summit, but their nearest rivals went on to score three late goals to complete a stunning turnaround that has reignited the automatic promotion race.

Faes on 'weird' late goals

It was the sixth time this season that late goals have cost Leicester, with fellow high-flyers Ipswich twice snatching draws, while Sheffield Wednesday did the same and both Coventry and Middlesbrough earned dramatic wins.

More than a third of the goals scored against Leicester in the league this season have come after the 75th minute.

Faes says the Foxes have spoken openly among themselves about the late goals that have cost them, and points out that a number of victories had been snatched earlier in the season with late goals.

"It's weird," said Faes, who was rested on Tuesday as Leicester beat Premier League side Bournemouth to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"I saw a comparison to the points we have won in the last 10 minutes and lost in the last 10 minutes, and it's a lot that we have won in the first part of the season and a lot we have lost in the second part.

"It's difficult to give an explanation. Even us, we have spoken about it and we can't give a clear explanation.

"Sometimes it's the game they play, sometimes we should have been a bit more realistic as well and sometimes it is a bit unlucky - I remember a few deflections.

"I wouldn't call it fatigue, but I don't have another explanation as well."

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