Leicester City

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Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca says his team had to win "ugly" away to Sunderland on Tuesday.

The Foxes ended a run of three league defeats with a tight victory at the Stadium of Light thanks to Jamie Vardy's early goal.

"Very important victory, especially after the three defeats," Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.

"We won the game in an ugly way but, in this moment, it's important winning in this way. It's part of the process to improve as a team.

"In the past three defeats we played much much better, created more chances, but at the end we lost the game.

"First half, we create again many, many chances, at the end we won this game.

"In the second half, we were a little bit tired. We are at the end of the season, day by day I am more in love with the team because they do an unbelievable effort.

"We have many players that in the past few years didn't play a lot and now they are playing so much at the end of the season.

"It's normal that some of them can be tired - but now it's important that we recover energy and go again Saturday."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Former Foxes winger Matt Piper has been discussing the importance of Leicester's match against Sunderland on Tuesday on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.

Piper said: "I think they are [in must-win territory] but more for the fact they have lost three in a row. It just piles on the pressure if you go and lose four in a row, the confidence will be chipped away hugely if we go and get beaten at the Stadium of Light.

"I think it is more for the psychological fact rather than anything else. We need to get three points, we're in a position where it isn't must win to still be able to win the league, but psychologically it could be so damaging so we are in that territory.

"There are still fans that are saying 'we're still three points clear, we've just hit a bit of a blip, don't worry Enzo [Maresca] will sort it, these players will march forwards and we'll pick up points against Sunderland'. Then you have others saying 'the wheels have definitely fallen off, we're not even going to finish in the play-offs and if we do we're going to get beaten in the semi-final' and players are very similar to that.

"Some, in the back of their mind, will be fearing these next three league games and others will be thinking this is our chance to look adversity in the face and get marching after it and make sure we win the game against Sunderland.

"It has made Sunderland a huge, huge game now - they all are. I said it before the QPR game, then we lost it, so now this Sunderland game becomes huge, but even bigger because everyone without doubt will be saying the wheels have 100% fallen off if we go to the Stadium of Light and get beaten."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

It is said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

We have played the same way, with mostly the same players, for three consecutive league games - and have lost all three.

I admit that not being able to hit a barn door with a banjo has also contributed, but maybe some of these players are in their comfort zone knowing that, however they play, Enzo Maresca will stick by them.

Lose to Middlesbrough, lose to Leeds United, all change for the FA Cup, beat Premier League opposition then revert back to losing against Queens Park Rangers.

Don’t tell Enzo that I am critiquing him or his style - I don’t want him spitting his dummy out. But is it time for a plan B? Do we have a plan B?

Let’s get real. Yes, we have won 25 games this season and we have been top since game eight.

But that was then and now our lead is down to three points. We have tough games coming up, and Ipswich Town, Leeds and the chasing pack must be rubbing their hands together.

Chris Forryan can be found at Leicester Till I Die, external

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper says the Foxes must now "pull together and really dig deep" after a third defeat in a row cut their lead at the top of the Championship to just three points.

"You have to be concerned," he told the When You're Smiling podcast. "Three defeats in a row, I don't even think we had that at home under Brendan [Rodgers] in the worst of times.

"We're clearly going through something at the minute which is concerning, the teams behind us keep winning.

"There was that fear of the past two, three weeks of could we get reeled in - and I think that's starting to happen now.

"I have to now put my belief in the manager, the one who took us to the top of the table and had us playing fantastic football all this season, and his mentality.

"Can he create that culture and environment that makes him a little bit more steely as this run-in happens?

"This now is going to be really difficult because when you start getting reeled in there'll be press, the Leeds fans, Ipswich fans will be calling us bottle jobs - and we've seen it before at this football club.

"Being in the top four for however many months and not finishing there for those two seasons, we bottled it a little bit and you are always worried about that.

"I've believed in this manager all season and this group of players. I did think they would get promoted at the start of the season - they had a fantastic start, they've been excellent.

"We've hit a patch now where we need to pull together and really dig deep."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

In a new episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling, Owynn Palmer-Atkin and John Bennett look ahead to the visit of rejuvenated QPR and hear from Foxes boss Enzo Maresca.

The panel discussed how Maresca could adapt to the absence of key centre-back Jannick Vestergaard, who will miss the match through suspension.

"Whoever comes in has got big shoes to fill this weekend," said Palmer-Atkin.

"You heard Enzo talking about how he's got so many options.

"Callum Doyle can play on the left hand side. James Justin can play on the left or the right. Wout Faes has played on the right and in the middle. You've also got Ricardo Perreira, who is an orthodox right-back. Plus, you can throw Hamza Choudary in, who put in what a lot of people are saying was one of his best ever Leicester performances against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

"All of a sudden, you're looking at this as one of the strongest areas of the pitch for Leicester. It's an interesting balance because Conor Coady offers you perhaps slightly more pace in the backline - maybe not the finesse, style on the ball, that Vestergaard has, but he does offer a wealth of experience compared with throwing a young man in there like Ben Nelson.

"Personally, I'd go with Coady."

"Conor Coady played well in midweek," added Bennett. "I'd go with Coady. I know he hasn't had it all his own way this season and surprisingly hasn't been a first choice, but what I like about him is his personality and leadership.

"He's someone who has a good influence on those around him so I would definitely go with Conor Coady."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Enzo Maresca says Leicester "need to pay attention" to Saturday's opponents QPR because they pose a different threat under boss Marti Cifuentes.

Cifuentes replaced Gareth Ainsworth two days after the Foxes won at Loftus Road in October and has managed to guide them out of the relegation zone.

They travel to King Power Stadium on Saturday unbeaten in seven matches.

"They completely changed with the new manager," said Maresca. "They're an attacking team now and try to keep the ball, so we need to pay attention tomorrow."

The Foxes remain top of the table but Leeds United and Ipswich have closed the gap to six points in second and third respectively.

On whether this reality adds any pressure to get results, Maresca explained it was not something that concerned him.

"We have to enjoy the pressure because it’s much better to be where we are than mid-table and playing for nothing," he said.

"Sometimes when you lose points it is upsetting but hopefully soon, we can be more relaxed.

"Now we are in the final rush and all of the games are important. If you drop points, you see teams come close."

The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made, with the ties set to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 16 March.

Owynn Palmer-Atkin
BBC Radio Leicester reporter

It was a night to remember on the south coast for Leicester City as they showed grit, fight and belief to get themselves into the FA Cup quarter finals.

Aside from Abdul Fatawu’s stunning strike, it feels like a backs-to-the-wall performance like that has been a long time coming for Leicester City.

They also proved that they have the ability to go toe-to-toe with Premier League opposition and that will have pleased Enzo Maresca.

But it could well become the perfect antidote to the back-to-back defeats the Foxes have suffered in recent games.

They now have the jubilation and momentum from this win to take into Saturday's game against Queens Park Rangers as they continue their assault towards the Championship title.

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Former Leicester striker Matty Fryatt spoke to the When You're Smiling Podcast after the Foxes' victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup:

"What a win. With the amount of changes, we questioned where the priorities lay, but from everyone who came in, what a performance away to Premier League opposition.

"Bournemouth didn't have the answers. Leicester matched them in intensity and had the better chances. They can be absolutely thrilled to get through - and they deserved to do so.

"Bournemouth press and they make it difficult with numbers to close the box but Leicester coped with that. If Bournemouth did manage to break, there was a recovering defender doing the hard yards.

"They were also a threat on the counter. They didn't just come and park every bus, they played at the right time and sometimes overplayed in the first half. The team was so courageous.

"Other than a few opportunities from the edge of the area, Bournemouth didn't create much. Leicester had the better chances."

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester's bespoke City podcast on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling brings you all the analysis and reaction, including interviews with goalscorer Abful Fatawu and manager Enzo Maresca, after the Foxes' memorable FA Cup fifth-round win over Premier League Bournemouth.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The draw for the quarter finals of the FA Cup will take place on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, before Chelsea's tie with Leeds United, which kicks off at 19:30.

It will be live on ITV4 and you can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

Former England goalkeeper David Seaman, a four-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, will conduct the draw.

The ball numbers will be:

1. Blackburn Rovers or Newcastle United

2. Chelsea or Leeds United

3. Bournemouth or Leicester City

4. Liverpool or Southampton

5. Nottingham Forest or Manchester United

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Brighton & Hove Albion

7. Coventry City

8. Luton Town or Manchester City

BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for this week's FA Cup fifth-round ties. For all eight games he is up against Kaiser Chiefs bassist and Leeds United fan Simon Rix.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth have gone seven games without a win in the Premier League but they were unlucky to be beaten by Manchester City on Saturday.

Despite that run of results, the Cherries have still got a bit of breathing space above the bottom three, and have only reached the quarter-finals twice before in their entire history, so why wouldn't they go strong for this one?

I fancy Andoni Iraola's side here. Leicester have had a brilliant season in the Championship but they have lost their past two games and still have some work to do to secure automatic promotion.

Simon's prediction: 1-2

I am going for heart over head here. For starters, Leeds fans dislike Bournemouth at the moment because they have been nicking our players - Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra have both gone there recently.

It used to be Norwich who did that but now it's Bournemouth - it's fine if it's Manchester City or Liverpool taking your players, but it's not so good when it's teams you think you should be beating.

And I'd also like Leicester to stay in the FA Cup as long as possible, to keep them distracted from their promotion bid.

See the full list of predictions

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

I suppose we should take it as a compliment. Less than two months since Coventry celebrated beating us like they had won the FA Cup, Leeds are booking an open top bus for the same.

To be fair, I can understand the fans of these and other clubs celebrating like they do - I would if I had beaten the best team in the league, and yes Leeds fans, you read that right. Six points says we are still the best team in the league - so far at least.

But remember Arsenal in the 2015-16 season? They celebrated doing the double over us like they had won it themselves, only to finish second, some 10 points behind us.

We are the biggest scalp for teams this season, we have won the Premier League and FA Cup more recently than any team in this division and we have been top of the division unchallenged since gameweek eight.

That is not taking anything away from Leeds, they put away their chances and we did not, so deserved the three points. But at the end of the season if we are second I will be happy, as it is all about promotion.

Anyone seen an open top bus anywhere?

Chris Forryan can be found at Leicester Till I Die, external

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper has been reacting to Foxes boss Enzo Maresca saying he will make "nine, 10 or 11 changes" against Bournemouth in the FA Cup fifth round.

"It will be interesting to see what the manager does. I doubt he'll go full strength," he told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.

"I think he'll give some of the fringe players a bit of an opportunity and see if anyone can open his eyes to giving them a chance in the first XI of any Championship games.

"Did you see my eyes when he said it? What? Nine, 10 or 11? That's a lot of changes. I mean, it clearly shows you what he's aiming for this season. I think we all are [aiming for the same thing], but it would be a good confidence boost if we obviously beat Premier League opposition. We are more than capable of doing that against Bournemouth.

"They [Bournemouth] aren't in good form at the minute, but that seems a lot of changes. It does seem a lot and it's going to affect the rhythm of the team. It's interesting - I wouldn't have expected that many [changes] but the league this season, and getting out of it, is the most important [thing].

"Enzo isn't the type to do a Claude Puel against Newport [County], just sort of asking the kit man to play or the geezer who runs the bottles on. With Puel, it seemed there was no thought of putting that team together [in the FA Cup game against Newport].

"You weren't surprised when we lost on that occasion. Enzo isn't going to do that, there will be thought to it. He will put a team out that he believes can win the game, I truly believe that."

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