Leicester City were dealt a colossal blow to their hopes of lifting the EFL Championship title, as Enzo Maresca’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Bristol City on Good Friday.
With Jamie Vardy squandering a plethora of golden chances for the Foxes, Enis Mehmeti’s strike with fifteen minutes left to play was enough to secure all three points for the Robins at Ashton Gate.
As it happened
Just ten minutes into Friday’s lunchtime clash, Mads Hermansen was forced into a save as he denied Tommy Conway the opener.
The Leicester goalkeeper was called upon again just moments later, making two crucial saves to keep out Bristol City. Conway was able to run behind the defence, and after an initial block from Hermansen, the rebound fell to Scott Twine but the goalkeeper was there again to push his effort away.
Around the half hour mark, Jamie Vardy came close twice in quick succession. His first shot went just wide of goal – and moments later he ran onto a loose Bristol City ball and carried it forwards, before shooting a fraction wide of goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesFive minutes into the second half, Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary made an excellent double save to deny the Foxes the breakthrough. Vardy played the ball through to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who then returned the pass. The striker went one-one-one with the goalkeeper, but O’Leary was able to block his chance. Stephy Mavididi was there for the rebound, but the home side keeper reacted quickly to save.
In the 63rd minute, Vardy was again on target to score, but O’Leary was there to tip the ball round the post.
Just a few moments later, it was the home side who had a chance to break the deadlock as Ross McCrorie drove through Leicester City’s defence but the resulting shot hit the side netting.
With fifteen minutes left to play, Enis Mehmeti put the hosts ahead with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box. Hermansen came off his line with an aim to clear the danger, but his attempted clearance went back to Bristol City, and Mehmeti fired it into the back of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeicester looked as though they had created an immediate response as Kelechi Iheanacho found the back of the net, but it was quickly ruled out for offside.
Bristol City put further distance between themselves and the relegation battle, but it may be a little too late for Liam Manning’s men to mount a push for the playoffs.
The lineups
BCI: O’Leary, Vyner, Dickie, Roberts, Tanner, James, Knight, Pring, Twine, Conway, Mehmeti
LEI: Hermansen, Choudhury, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin, Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, Fatawu, Mavididi, Vardy
