Leicester City Previews: ‘Nothing but the Huth’: The return of the FA Cup

Peterborough vs Leicester City

27/01/18

Kick-off: 12:30pm

Preview:

The FA Cup is back this weekend, with lower league teams still looking to upset the odds and take a scalp of their own. However, it’s usually around this time where the Premier League team, I suppose, start to take this competition that bit more serious, and you’ll find that most teams who’re expected to progress, will.

Although saying that, we were a tad fortunate against Fleetwood weren’t we?!

The first leg was the worst performance I’ve seen from us this season and it’s 90 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. The second leg replay however, we showed our qualities to progress to face Peterborough United.

London Road as it was known prior to the name change, was a ground I visited back in 2009 when we were the runaway leaders of League One, and if it wasn’t for the Craig Mackail-Smith up front, we would’ve increased the gap. A 2-0 defeat on the day was upsetting to say the least for me.

This game will hopefully create better memories for the Foxes faithful, with goals expected. This could be a good game for the neutral too, with BT Sport broadcasting it.

Stats:

This will be Peterborough boss Grant McCann’s 100th game in charge of the Posh, entering this game with a win percentage of just over 44%, which you would have to say is rather quite good. Going from playing in Posh’s centre midfield, to going into caretaker management following the dismissal of Darren Ferguson, to then taking charge full-time, credit has to go to the guy for changing the fortunes of that team.

The home side entered the fourth round having beaten Championship side Aston Villa at Villa Park, whereas Leicester had to have two bites of the cherry to get past League One side Fleetwood Town.

These two have never actually met in the FA Cup, so this will be the first time- a time to make history perhaps…

The last time these two sides faced each other was back in February 2013, where the Posh ran out 2-1 winners in front of their own fans. Leicester’s latest victory at the ‘ABAX’ came back in 2010, winning by the same scoreline (2-1) – Andy King the match-winner on that occasion.

Overall, Peterborough have a marginally better record, having won seven of 17 against the Foxes, losing six and drawing four. However, most of those games have been when both sides have been playing in the same league and roughly had the same sort of team without serious financial backing. Things are different now of course…

Prediction:

On paper, this has Leicester win written all over it. However funnily enough, even I’m not naïve to think it will be an easy game. That’s the difference, though. It will be a difficult task for us to win, especially away from home against a side who have only lost four of their last 22 matches in all competitions, but we should and do have the quality needed to win comfortably.

Claude Puel looks to have a full strength squad to choose from heading into this game, with the only absentee being captain Wes Morgan who’s out with a hamstring injury. Robert Huth and Danny Simpson both trained this week, which will be great news for City fans, and both look set to travel with the squad on Saturday. New French youngster Fousseni Diabate could also get his first taste of first-team action, as Puel may start a few fringe players for game time’s sake.

Peterborough will look to frustrate us from the get go and stop us from playing our football, which is what you would expect of lower league opposition. Yet, Peterborough do have a threat going forward, and will have confidence, especially off the back of a 3-0 home league win against Oldham Athletic.

That being said, Leicester will have enough both in the starting XI and the bench to get past the home side, and will be in the hat for the fifth round draw.

Score Prediction:

Peterborough 1-3 Leicester City