Leicester City

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Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury scored twice for Bangladesh as they drew 2-2 with Nepal in an international friendly in Dhaka.

The 28-year-old equalised just after half-time with a spectacular bicycle kick, before giving his side the lead from the penalty spot with his second goal in the space of five minutes.

Nepal equalised in stoppage time to leave Bangladesh without a win in their past five internationals.

Choudhury now has four goals in six senior international appearances and is set to be involved again when Bangladesh host India in an Asian Cup qualifier next Tuesday.

Former Leicester City striker Steve Howard says that Foxes forward Bobby De Cordova-Reid has given boss Marti Cifuentes "a headache" when it comes to team selection.

The Jamaica international scored his first league goal of the season to level the score against Norwich City on Saturday, before Jordan James netted the winner for the Foxes in added time.

"He's an experienced lad, talks really well, you need people like that in your side when you're going through your barren spells and when your confidence is a bit low," Howard told BBC Radio Leicester.

"He's now given Cifuentes a bit of headache, which is great.

"He's now thinking 'well, I've produced for 15 to 20 minutes like you've asked me to. I've scored a goal, the team needs to score goals because it's obviously struggling in that department. Put me on and I'll show you what to do'."

Leicester have scored 18 goals so far this season, the third lowest in the top 12.

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

Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes spoke to BBC Radio Leicester following Saturday's 2-1 win at Norwich.

"It was very important for the whole group because it has not been easy days or easy weeks," he said.

"The guys showed character, and we finished the game as the better team.

"The way we finished the last game (a late draw with Middlesbrough in midweek) had a big impact mentally, so to be able to respond from a mental point of view was extremely strong.

"From day one I've said it doesn't matter how much quality you have got, you need to be together, need to show commitment and this attitude because it is not the easiest league in the world.

"I think the guys are getting there. Cultural changes are the ones that time more time, so we are trying to get there. It will be up and down, for sure, but now we can reflect on what we have done well over the last couple of games and we need to keep working in this way and analyse what we can improve on."

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Norwich resume their quest for a first point at Carrow Road this season as Leicester visit on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Canaries have lost all seven matches in all competitions infront of their own fans under Liam Manning, failing to score in the past three of them, but did stop the rot after six straight Championship defeats with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night.

Norwich are winless in their past 10, earning just three points, and lie third-bottom, four points from safety, and nine points and nine places adrift of the 13th-placed Foxes.

Marti Cifuentes' side are in the doldrums too, winless in their past five, a run extended by Middlesbrough's last-gasp equaliser at the King Power on Tuesday night, which did at least end Leicester's three match losing streak.

• Norwich City have lost each of their past four league games against Leicester City, since a 1-0 win at Carrow Road in February 2020.

• Leicester City failed to win any of their first five away league meetings with Norwich City this century (D2 L3), but have won on three of four trips to face the Canaries since (L1).

• Norwich City are winless in their past 10 games in the Championship (D3 L7); their longest losing streak in the second tier of English football since November 2007 (11 games without a win).

• Leicester City have won just one of their past 10 league games (D6 L3), their fewest over a 10-game spell outside of the top-flight since April 2013 under Nigel Pearson (also 1).

• Josh Sargent has either scored (5) or assisted (2) 54% of Norwich City's goals in the Championship this season (7/13); the highest percentage by any striker for a team in the current campaign.

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Leicester City head coach Marti Cifuentes was left "frustrated" after his side gave up a 96th-minute equaliser to draw at home to 10-man Middlesbrough.

Jordan Ayew's penalty in first-half injury time had them on course for only a second win in 10 league games until they were pegged back with the last attack of the match.

The draw ended a run of three successive defeats and while not what they wanted as they remain down in 13th in the table, Cifuentes was happy with many aspects of the Foxes' display.

"I'm very frustrated," the Spaniard told BBC Radio Leicester.

"It's a very cruel end, especially in a game where the guys showed a great attitude, great commitment, great work ethic. It's a tough one to take.

"We were very close to the three points. We were playing against a team that is in a good dynamic and is doing well at the start of the season and there are definitely things we need to improve. But in terms of energy and how the attitude was from the players, it was top.

"It's important to have this foundation in this league and if we can add the things that we can add, we can just get better."

"I think we will be a little freer in the way that we approach Middlesbrough, because they have been doing so well this season, but make no mistake it is a huge game and then we have Norwich after that - who are really struggling.

"These next two games are huge for Marti Cifuentes."

Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Foxes defender Matt Piper and Lox from fan channel Blue Tinted Glasses as they reflect on the 2-0 defeat by Blackburn and look forward to what to expect when Leicester face Middlesbrough on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

Leicester will be seeking to get their promotion hopes back on track on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) when they welcome Middlesbrough to the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have now lost their past three games in the league, and have registered just one win in five - they are 14th in the Championship.

Meanwhile, automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough suffered a blow last time out, when Watford put three past them in just Boro's second loss of the season.

• Leicester went on a 14-game unbeaten run in the league against Middlesbrough between 2003 and 2017 (W6 D8), but Boro did the double over them in the 2023-24 campaign when the teams last met.

• Middlesbrough beat Leicester 2-1 in their most recent visit to the King Power Stadium in February 2024, but have not won consecutive league visits to the Foxes since 2000-01 and 2001-02 in the Premier League.

• Leicester are winless in their past six midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) league games (D1 L5), since winning 3-1 at home to West Ham United in December 2024.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their past 20 away league games against opponents that were relegated from the Premier League the season prior, beating Norwich in November 2022 and Leicester in February 2024 (D8 L10).

• Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes has lost all three of his league meetings with Middlesbrough - but has won both of his two meetings with Boro boss Rob Edwards, doing the double over his Luton side with QPR last season (2-1 both home and away), after the second of which Edwards stepped down from his role with the Hatters.

Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes spoke to BBC Radio Leicester following Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers.

"It was definitely a poor performance, there is no hiding from that," he said.

"There is more in this group of players, I'm sure, and we now need a reaction. I understand that we cannot keep waiting. I expect much more from them.

"When a club like Leicester is in the Championship, the expectation is that they are always at the top. And at the moment we are not achieving those standards.

"It's very hard as a manager to come into a place that I knew would be a difficult situation. But I do believe in my strength and quality as a manager, and do believe in the club project.

"I'm aware as well that this would not be easy and that it would not be quick. But we do have to get better, there are no excuses or hiding. We need to raise our standards."

Leicester City will look to end their three-match winless streak when they host a struggling Blackburn Rovers side on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Foxes lost both of their past two matches to drop out of the top six and into 10th place, two points short of sixth placed Charlton Athletic and 11 under pacemakers Coventry City.

Meanwhile, Blackburn's last game provided them with a much needed win over relegated side Southampton to escape the bottom three.

However, Rovers are just one point above the relegation line and will want to increase the distance to keep their spirits high.

• Leicester City have lost just one of their last 10 home league games against Blackburn Rovers (W5 D4), though that sole defeat did come the last time this exact fixture was played in May 2024 (0-2).

• After winning their last away league game against Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers will be looking to beat the Foxes in successive away matches for the first time since January 1991.

• Leicester have drawn each of their last three home league games and not since March 2009 in League One have the Foxes seen four consecutive home matches finish in stalemate.

• Blackburn have lost each of their last two away league games without scoring, but they haven't lost three in succession on the road whilst failing to score each time in any since October 2022.

• Leicester have conceded just one goal from set pieces in the Championship so far this season (excluding penalties), fewer than any other side.

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Leicester's form has turned on a sixpence from a resilient one defeat in eight, to a concerning one win in eight, thanks to the defeats at Hull and Millwall.

Already the topic of blame is circulating within the fanbase and, naturally, this always seems to turn to the obvious - to sack the manager or not.

Leicester would do well to learn from their managerial errors of recent years, with Marti Cifuentes being their fifth permanent manager since 2023.

Change doesn't necessarily bring better, it can actually bring the opposite if done too often. Marti had a good transfer window, given his (lack of) resources but he needs more time and further windows.

On the field, Leicester are clearly lacking a number nine. Whilst goals haven't necessarily dried up, especially when compared to the record-breaking drought of last year, it is concerning fans that the team is struggling to create chances frequently during matches.

We have scored some wonder goals so far this season, but it would be foolish to think that these can continue or that they can be relied upon to get us out of a sticky spot. Individual errors have also been costly at the back.

We need to play with more potency and venom and firm up our underbelly, which has softened in recent years and some of these issues can only be addressed during the transfer window.

Two important home matches await in the coming week against Blackburn and Middlesbrough, and Leicester need to put some Ws on the board to keep pace with the leading pack if promotion is a realistic achievement this season.

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"There was walking, trudging back to the halfway line. They didn't have that belief."

Join Matty Fryatt and listen to post-match reaction from Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes after their 1-0 defeat to Millwall on Saturday.

Listen to the full episode of When you're Smiling and more on BBC Sounds.

"Millwall often thrive when there's a big team coming to the Den."

Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by Dan Sexton from That Millwall Podcast to learn more about the Foxes' opposition and look ahead to their trip to the Den on Saturday (15:00 BST).

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

"At the minute for Leicester, if a striker misses a good chance, it is the end of the world because they're not going to get another one that game."

Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt and Ric Flair from the Big Strong Leicester Boys Podcast join Owynn Palmer-Atkin to reflect on Tuesday's defeat at Hull, and discuss the Foxes' lack of firepower in the attacking areas, as they look ahead to Saturday's game at Millwall.

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

Millwall will look for a fourth successive league win as they welcome Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

A strong start to the season for the Lions sees them in the third spot on the table and while they wouldn't be able to break into the top two, they will certainly be looking to apply some pressure on those above.

Whereas Leicester City have had an underwhelming season so far, falling out of the top six following their loss to Hull City in the week, and will be aiming not to fall further behind.

• Millwall have won four of their last five home league games against Leicester City (L1), keeping three clean sheets across that run.

• Leicester City have won three of their last four league games against Millwall (L1), though did lose the most recent encounter 1-0 in April 2024.

• Millwall have won each of their last three league games and will be looking to win four in succession for the first time since November 2024 (run of four 1-0 wins).

• Leicester have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season (D5 L2); their last campaign in the Championship in 2023-24 saw them win 10 of their opening 11 matches en route to winning the title.

• Millwall have 20 points from their opening 11 league games this season (W6 D2 L3); it's the earliest they've reached that total in the second tier since 1995-96 (also 11 games).