Steve Cooper must learn from one glaring mistake that cost his side the victory against Crystal Palace.
Leicester City were on course to get their first win of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi giving them a healthy two-goal lead.
However, Steve Cooper’s side ultimately fell at the final hurdle as Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes, which Jean-Phillipe Mateta converted.
It was quite the performance from Leicester City, however they simply ran out of steam in the dying minutes, and ultimately it cost them their first win of the Premier League season.
In all fairness, Cooper did set his team up well to grab a 2-0 lead, however there was one massive error of judgement from the Foxes boss that he must learn from after it cost his side the victory at Selhurst Park.
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Steve Cooper must learn to not set his Leicester City side out to sit back
Ultimately the pressure and the onslaught of Crystal Palace attacks were too much for Leicester City’s defence, who had worked tirelessly up until that point.
Whilst they were always going to be on the back foot for the final minutes of the game, it could have been easier to deal with if they weren’t set up to withstand the pressure and sit back, whilst allowing the attacks from the home side.
It was a disappointing way to let a two-goal lead slip, but there must be questions as to whether Leicester City would have been in that situation had Cooper told his side to continue to take the game to Crystal Palace in the second half.
Leicester City changes killed their chances vs Crystal Palace
When suggesting that Leicester City unnecessarily went over-defensive in the latter stages of the second half at Selhurst Park, you just need to point towards their very one-dimensional changes that led to the onslaught of pressure from the hosts.
Wilfred Ndidi, who was having a brilliant game in attacking-midfield for Leicester City as he racked up two assists, was replaced in the 76th minute by Hamza Choudhury, who came on for his first ever Premier League appearance of the 2024/25 campaign.
Conor Coady also joined the fray in place of striker Jordan Ayew, meaning that Leicester City at times had 11 men behind the ball as they looked to squeeze out Crystal Palace.
Ultimately, they fell short as a result of the one-dimensional play towards the end of the game, and when Cooper is holding a lead against a similar-quality side in future, hopefully he will look to hit the side on the break, or still continue to show any sort of attacking prominence.