Match Report
Leicester City (0) 0-2 (0) Fulham
Premier League Match Day 22 24/25 at King Power Stadium
Saturday 18th January 2025 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)
|
Fulham returned to winning ways with a deserved 2-0 victory at Leicester, providing the perfect response to their nine-match unbeaten run ending on Tuesday.
Second-half goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore capped off a dominant performance at the King Power Stadium to get Marco Silva’s side back on track.
Bernd Leno was pulled into a save within one minute of his 100th Fulham appearance, batting away a Jordan Ayew shot from six yards out, and the forward fired over from distance moments later as he set his sights once more.
Raul Jimenez threatened at the other end as he tried to poke a Harry Wilson header goalwards, but the Mexico international was flagged offside as he tried to get his shot away.
Our keeper was called into action again when Jamie Vardy raced clear and caused problems for Timothy Castagne with a ball across the box, but Leno palmed the ball wide.
The Whites were next to attack when Antonee Robinson’s cross fell to Alex Iwobi, whose half volley had to be blocked. Harry Wilson picked up the pieces and cut in on his favoured left foot, but again there was a blue shirt in the way of the effort.
And a fine one-two passing move between Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson led to an opportunity for the former Arsenal man, but his curling strike was past the post.
With half an hour played, Victor Kristiansen was allowed to break through the Fulham defence after the referee missed a foul on Castagne, but the Denmark international was wayward with his finish.
Iwobi almost caught out Jakub Stolarczyk, forcing the keeper to push a cross-shot onto the woodwork, and Calvin Bassey drilled one wide moments later after some patient play in the final third.
Fulham continued to look more likely as Sasa Lukic went on a driving run and Smith Rowe played in Iwobi. After Wout Faes slid in to clear, Robinson cracked a volley into the side netting.
After searching throughout the first-half for a goal, the deadlock was broken minutes into the second. Wilson scooped the ball into the danger area, and Smith Rowe bravely headed home in the middle.
We were close to a second when Wilson whipped in a corner from the right and it was met by Raul, whose header squirmed wide of the far post.
| Match Stats |
Leicester City |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(0) 0 |
2 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
- |
Smith-Rowe 48 |
|
- |
Traore 68 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
8 |
17 |
| On target |
4 |
2 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
12% |
| Possession |
38% |
62% |
| Passes |
360 |
583 |
| Passes Success |
76% |
86% |
| Corners |
5 |
2 |
| Tackles |
10 |
21 |
| Tackles Success |
70% |
62% |
| Saves |
0 |
5 |
| Fouls |
8 |
8 |
| Offsides |
2 |
2 |
| Yellows |
3 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Leno had to stay alert, turning an angled drive from Stephy Mavididi wide and then getting down well to smother a Harry Winks shot.
The lead was doubled on 68 minutes when Wilson supplied substitute Adama with an excellent ball, which was matched by an exquisite first-time finish.
Rodrigo Muniz had a good chance to add to the scoreline but flashed his shot wide when Sasa Lukic slid him in, while Vardy was thwarted by Leno when Leicester searched for a consolation.
On a chilly afternoon in the East Midlands, the two goals were enough to secure a comfortable three points and send the noisy away following home happy.
Player of the match: Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson created the most chances of any player in the first half but it was his involvement in both Fulham goals after the break that helped win the game for his team. The first came from him playing on the right, the second after his switch to the left.
Wilson's clever touch to divert Jimenez's cross back into the danger zone was key to the opener, while he had the awareness to pick out Traore for the second. He was the last to leave the field, conducting the crowd as he departed. It was an impressive display.
"I think he's performing at a very good level," said Silva of Wilson in the press conference after the game.
"On the ball, off the ball, he's been one of the examples. The way he's working hard really off the ball too and being able to score or be able to assist is everything that we expected from a forward player at the level that we are playing.
"Congratulations to him. He should keep this level because at this level he's going to keep helping us for sure."
Fulham head coach Marco Silva speaking in the press conference:
"Of course, we all know what our job means and if you ask me if I have sympathy, of course I have. Ruud, I think, doesn't need it because he's a professional that knows really well the job that he has right now.
"But if you ask me, of course, yes, he's here to take decisions like I'm here to take decisions as well and we don't take decisions related with the reactions that we expect or not. For sure, he took a decision that he wanted and he expected it to be the best for the team in that moment. That's it."
Leicester City: Stolarczyk, Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Winks (Skipp 64), Soumare, Ayew (Buonanotte 71), El Khannouss (McAteer 64), Mavididi (Daka 71), Vardy
Unused substitutes: Coady, Okoli, De Cordova-Reid, Iversen, Thomas
Yellow Card: Vestergaard (44,f), McAteer (88,f), Faes (94,f)
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic (Diop 91), Berge, Wilson (King 91), Smith Rowe (Cairney 80), Iwobi (Traore 45), Jimenez (Muniz 71.
Unused substitutes: Reed, Andreas Pereira, Benda, Sessegnon
Goals:
Smith-Rowe 48 (SMITH ROWE GIVES FULHAM THE LEAD!
Wilson pokes the ball back into the danger area and it's Smith Rowe who races into the box and bundles it into the back of the net!
A check for offside is cleared. Fulham lead! What a way to mark your 100th Premier League appearance. )
Traore 68 (TRAORE DOUBLES FULHAM'S LEAD!
Wilson lifts a cross into the box and it's met perfectly from Traore at the back post, as he guides his first-time effort into the back of the net with the side of his foot!
Boos ring round the King Power.)
Yellow Card: Lukic (54,f)
Referee:
Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)
Attendance: 31,500
Fulham are next in action at 19.00 next Sunday, 26th January, when they face Manchester United at Craven Cottage.