It has been a tough start to the Premier League season for Steve Cooper at Leicester City.
Steve Cooper took over a Leicester City squad rattled by the departure of promotion-winning manager Enzo Maresca to Chelsea.
A poor opening day performance somehow ended with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Leicester have also drawn against Crystal Palace and Everton to take their tally to three points from a possible 18 so far.
Cooper is still winless in the Premier League as Leicester manager and the Foxes find themselves 17th in the table and only outside of the relegation places on goal difference.
It was a valiant effort against Arsenal on Saturday as the Gunners needed two second-half stoppage time goals to win 4-2 but that defeat handed Leicester an unwanted record.
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Leicester City go six Premier League games without a win
As well as against Arsenal, Leicester have also lost to Fulham and Aston Villa since returning to the Premier League.
In fact, Leicester’s only win in 90 minutes came against Tranmere Rovers in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with Cooper’s side progressing from the last round via penalties after a 0-0 draw with League Two Walsall in normal time.
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Leicester’s failure to win any of their opening six league games means they are now part of unwanted history alongside Southampton and Ipswich Town as this season is the first in 20 years that the three newly-promoted clubs have all failed to win any of their first six Premier League games.
The three sides that had a similarly poor start to the campaign in the 2004/05 season were Norwich City, West Brom and Crystal Palace.
Two of those sides were ultimately relegated, but West Brom managed to survive by one point.
Steve Cooper must steer Leicester City to wins over Southampton and Ipswich
Leicester’s three points so far leave them a point behind Ipswich and two points ahead of 19th place Southampton.
Crucially, Leicester face both of their fellow newly-promoted sides in the next four games and it is absolutely vital that they beat both.
Leicester already squandered the opportunity to get one over on a relegation rival as they drew 1-1 at home against Everton a week prior to defeat against Arsenal and they cannot afford to let the chance to beat Southampton and Ipswich pass them by.
Given they also face Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest in the next four matches, it looks set to be a season-defining few weeks for Cooper and his Leicester side.