Leicester City fail to deliver knock-out blow against Swansea
Just as they did on the opening day of the season and two weeks ago in the FA Cup third round, the Welshmen were handed a goal head start by City but, unlike those encounters, Nigel Pearson's men were unable to overpower their opponents on this occasion.
Although Swansea have certainly played some attractive football on the two previous occasions, they have lacked a cutting-edge and City have been able to grind them into the ground with their superior strength.
The two previous games were like a flyweight boxer facing a heavyweight.
The lighter man starts in lively fashion, dancing around the ring with vigour and going ahead on the judges' score-cards, while the heavyweight stands rooted in the centre of the ring, waiting to unleash his power punches and to deliver the knock-out blow.
City overpowered Swansea in August and earlier this month, but this time their timing was off, their punches missed their target and, although Swansea continued to dance in similar fashion, City were left stumbling around, off the pace.
Not that City did not have the opportunities to test Swansea's chin. Matty Fryatt had a great chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute.
Paul Gallagher, who was starting on the right wing as one of three changes made to the side that drew against Ipswich last week, fizzed in a superb cross that found Fryatt free at the back post, but he was unable to turn the ball, which kicked up wickedly off the rain-sodden surface, into the net.
Substitute Dany N'Guessan, the scourge of the Swans in the previous two games, had a fantastic opportunity to inflict more damage on City's hosts in the 74th minute when the excellent Martyn Waghorn drilled a low ball across the six-yard box and, with Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries stranded, N'Guessan had the goal at his mercy.
After going on off the bench twice this season to fire home winners against the Welshmen, you would have thought his name was burned into the Swansea psyche, but he was named as "Bruno" N'Guessan in the programme and he failed to give them another timely reminder as he squandered the opportunity although, admittedly, it was from an acute angle.
City should also have had a penalty after Waghorn wriggled his way into the penalty area and went down under the challenge of Angel Rangel, but referee Fred Graham waved away the appeals and booked Lloyd Dyer for his protests.
Even so, City cannot expect to keep mounting successful comebacks and must start games in the same manner in which they are ending them.
It was the third time Swansea had scored the opening goal and the third game running that City have had to battle back from a goal down.
Pearson dropped Steve Howard, Richie Wellens and full-back Robbie Neilson, and brought in Yann Kermorgant to partner Fryatt in a more withdrawn role, moved Matt Oakley into the centre of midfield, where he is more effective, to allow Gallagher to operate on the right flank, and restored Jack Hobbs to the heart of the defence, moving Michael Morrison to right back.
Morrison certainly had a torrid time early on against the pace and trickery of winger Nathan Dyer. After being nutmegged by the diminutive wide-man, Morrison was then booked after a late lunge on Dyer and it looked as if he would be in for a difficult afternoon.
He must have been massively relieved when Swansea boss Paulo Sousa switched Dyer to the right flank and put him directly up against young Ryan McGivern.
The decision paid off in the 32nd minute when Dyer out-paced McGivern to a through-ball from Darren Pratley and pulled the ball back for Gorka Pintado, who was virtually unmarked, to score his first goal of the season.
For all their passing football, the hosts never really troubled Chris Weale again, although Pintado miskicked just before half-time with the goal at his mercy, and it was City who looked the more dangerous in the second half.
However, for once they could not retrieve the situation, despite the best efforts of Waghorn and Howard, who troubled the Swansea defence during the final 20 minutes.
Gallagher had a cross-shot that de Vries did well to push over the bar and Weale went up for a last-minute corner, and even got his head on the ball, but the Swans survived.
This is not the time to be too crestfallen about this defeat, and, although there is no doubt City were below par on Saturday, they have to regroup now ahead of a tricky period.
They face a difficult run of fixtures, with an away tie this week at either Cardiff or Bristol City, followed by the tricky trip to Barnsley, the visit of league leaders Newcastle and then another tough test on the road at in-form Blackpool, where former manager Ian Holloway will be waiting.
Now is not the time to sit slumped on the stool, City have to come out fighting from the first bell.
Yann Kermorgant
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