SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 1 hr 59 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 3, 2019 at 12pm UK
 
LL

2-1

Deeney (5'), Gray (92')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Vardy (75')

Focus on Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge of Leicester

:Headline: Focus on Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge of Leicester: ID:352170: from db_amp
An injury-time strike from Watford's Andre Gray ensured Rodgers' return to the Premier League ended in defeat.

Brendan Rodgers' return to the Premier League ended in bitter disappointment as he lost his first game in charge of Leicester 2-1 at Watford.

Andre Gray scored an injury-time winner for the Hornets after Jamie Vardy had cancelled out Troy Deeney's early opener.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a more detailed look at Rodgers.

Back in the big time

It is 1,247 days since Rodgers last managed in the Premier League and he probably cannot help but smile at the irony of it. It was a 1-1 draw at Everton that cost him his Liverpool job in October 2015 and his return to the big time comes on the same day as a Merseryside derby at Goodison Park. Liverpool have yet to win any silverware since his departure, while he filled his boots at Celtic, winning seven trophies at Parkhead. Vicarage Road was also a fitting place for his first game in charge as his management career began with the Hornets in 2008 when he guided them to Championship safety before leaving for Reading.

Reception

Rodgers went on to the pitch to applaud the Leicester fans after the final whistle. (Steve Paston/PA)

The Watford fans were in no hurry to forget Rodgers' defection to the Royals a decade ago as they resoundingly booed his name when it was read out before the game, before informing their former manager that they thought 'Javi Gracia, he's better than you'. His reception from the travelling fans was warmer as they also chanted his name in more positive terms, but the lasting sound will be the chorus of boos he received from three sides of the ground as he went on to the pitch at the end of the game to applaud Leicester's fans.

Team selection/Tactics

Vardy was again the fulcrum of Leicester's attack, scoring the equaliser but ending up on the losing side. (Steve Paston/PA)

Rodgers did not take too much time to put his marker down on how he wants Leicester to play as he deployed a 3-4-3 formation that became 5-4-1 out of possession. Wes Morgan came into a three-man defence, with Demarai Gray the man to miss out from the midweek win over Brighton. Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell pushed up into wing-back roles, with Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi sitting in the midfield. Harvey Barnes and James Maddison supported Vardy in attack. They played a possession-based game, hoping to find Barnes and Maddison in space but failed to do so. In the end, it was a classic Leicester-style goal as a gap was found in the opposition defence that found Vardy who coolly slotted home the equaliser.

amp_article__352170 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-03 16:55:54:
html db last update - 2021-03-03 21:04:36 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .