Premier League Match Report (23/06/20): Leicester 0-0 Brighton
The Premier League's ninety-two remaining games, spread across nine rounds of games are set to play out beginning June 17th 2020, with Project Restart's health and safety conditions meaning the remaining games of the season will be played out behind closed doors. We will be providing match reports from these behind closed doors competitive encounters as the league campaign nears its end-game. All aboard.
Match Report (GW31): Leicester 0-0 Brighton
In the heat of a sweltering Tuesday evening, to kick off Gameweek 31's action Brighton made the trip up north to face Champions League chasing Leicester and on the whole performed well in the first-half of action.
The first big moment in the game, which should have seen the opening goal of the afternoon, was when Aaron Connolly was fouled in the penalty area by right-back James Justin whilst a ball from the right was played into Connolly's path. With VAR taking its time to check the penalty award, it was quite clear that Justin was wrong footed and clumsy - though Neal Maupay wasn't able to add to his last-gasp winner against Arsenal as his poor penalty kick was scooped up with ease by Kasper Schmeichel, meaning the Dane has saved back-to-back penalties in the Premier League, also saving a penalty against Man City (GW27).
A period of substantial delay occurred as Adam Webster's hamstring was injured, whilst the pacey Lamptey fell awkwardly on his head and was spitting blood, with the water break at 20 minutes killing a good 5 minutes of the encounter.
Upon the game resuming, Brighton went close again in the 27th minute when Aaron Connolly picked up a loose ball after a punt down the field. Connolly skipped past Jonny Evans and unleashed a shot that curled over the bar thanks to a slight deflection.
Brighton were largely the better side as the first-half went on, with Leicester's attacking outlets in Maddison and Vardy subdued figures throughout, though Leicester's best chance of the first 45 minutes came in the first minute of added on time from a scramble in the penalty area following a corner saw the ball eventually pin-ball to Caglar Soyuncu, who saw his reactionary header from inside the six yard box go wide right of Mat Ryan's goal.
Putting this kindly, we and everyone watching this game around the world must have been thankful for the whistle to end the half - it's been hard watching.
Sitting ready and primed to type away for a second-half that we wanted to explode into life never came into fruition. The second-half besides a few James Maddison snap-shots was a terrible encounter that fizzled out. The heat and lack of atmosphere and crowd was too much to make this game anything of note. A game of all sizzle and no steak.
Man of the Match: Kasper Schmeichel (LEI)
A game of one singular moment, a penalty save by Kasper Schmeichel, who made a simple save after Neal Maupay dragged his penalty. This mind-numbing encounter will only be remembered for this moment, so why deviate from this with our Man of the Match?
LEI 0-0 BHA - Insight and Analysis:
I'm pretty sure that this was the evening that my soul died. I've reported on every single 0-0 draw since the Premier League has returned and my brain has turned off to wanting to say anything remotely positive about this game. I didn't think you could get much worse than Everton's and Liverpool's goalless draw. Of course, I was wrong.
Both of Leicester's matches have been identical - boring slogs that have had a moment of inspiration - first by Chilwell against Watford and tonight's penalty save. Brighton did well to isolate key talent in Vardy and Maddison, but I'm not sure how much of this is on their defensive shape, or the fact that Brendan Rodgers side just haven't been up to the task as they chase a place in the Champions League?
Overall, both sides will be happy with this point, especially Brighton who are fighting relegation, so it looks like an evening of probing without anything to show for it. A third date that doesn't end in the bedroom. A boxing match without a knockout.
It's just past 8pm and I might be asleep before Spurs and West Ham even kick-off.
Matchday Line-ups:
Venue: King Power Stadium
Home Team:
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
GK: K. Schmeichel
DEF: J. Justin
DEF: C. Soyuncu
DEF: J. Evans
DEF: B. Chillwell
MID: D. Gray (Perez 73')
MID: N. Mendy (Tielemans 69')
MID: W. Ndidi
MID: J. Maddison
FOR: K. Iheanacho (Barnes 69')
FOR: J. Vardy
Substitutes:
Ward, Morgan, Tielemans, Albrighton, Barnes, Pérez, Choudhury, Praet, Fuchs.
Away Team:
Manager: Graham Potter
GK: M. Ryan
DEF: T. Lamptey
DEF: L. Dunk
DEF: A. Webster (Duffy 24')
DEF: D. Burn
MID: Y. Bissouma (Propper 58')
MID: A. Mooy
MID: D. Stephens
MID: A. Mac Alister (March 58')
FOR: A. Connolly (Murray 82')
FOR: N. Maupay (Trossard 58')
Substitutes:
Button, Schelotto, Montoya, Duffy, Propper, Gross, Trossard, March, Murray
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