Leicester 1-0 Leeds: Harvey Barnes scores as Jesse Marsch loses first game in charge

Jesse Marsch's first game as Leeds boss ended in defeat as Harvey Barnes scored the only goal to give Leicester their second Premier League win of the week.

The winger produced Leicester's one moment of attacking quality with a precise angled finish midway through the second half of a game in which they had been largely second best.

It has been an emotional week for Leeds since the departure of Marsch's much-loved predecessor Marcelo Bielsa following a chastening month in which they conceded 20 goals and picked up only one point from a possible 15.

But they produced a lively and energetic display at the King Power Stadium that showcased a change of shape and the hard-pressing, direct football preferred by their American manager.

Better finishing from Jack Harrison, Rodrigo, Junior Firpo or Raphinha would have given Leeds a win they so desperately need to ease their relegation concerns.

Having spurned them, they left themselves vulnerable to a decisive moment like the one Barnes produced.

Victory lifted Leicester to 10th in the table. Leeds remain two points above the bottom three, having played two games more than 18th-placed Burnley.

No points but plenty of positives for Marsch

Whether you have Bielsa, Marsch or any other manager in charge, the old adage remains true: if you don't take your chances when on top, you risk being punished.

It was a recurring failing of Leeds under Bielsa that they failed to make good on the bountiful chances they often produced in games long before they were shipping goals to the tune of 20 in a month.

While Marsch changed a number of things in his first game in charge - a new 4-2-2-2 formation and quicker play through the middle - it was the old problem of conversion that cost Leeds.

Kasper Schmeichel can take some credit for repelling the visitors, producing saves to deny Dan James, Harrison, Rodrigo and, in the best of all from close range, Raphinha.

Caglar Soyuncu was also on hand to brilliantly block Junior's goalbound shot from inside the box.

This all set up Leicester, who until then had offered very little barring the occasional threat of the returning Jamie Vardy getting in on goal with long balls over the top.

Barnes is a player building his reputation weekly and, after sharing a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, he slotted a low shot across goal and past the diving Illan Meslier.

Leeds continued to press forward, but their moment had passed and Leicester were able to see the game out to add another three points to those earned at Burnley on Tuesday.

Marsch gathered his players in a huddle in the centre circle at full-time. His message will surely have been to focus on the multiple positives.

No points, but plenty to take forward into a run of crucial games beginning with Aston Villa and Norwich at home next week.

Player of the match

JamesDaniel James

Leicester City

Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel

Squad number7Player nameBarnes

Squad number9Player nameVardy

Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton

Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall

Squad number14Player nameIheanacho

Squad number4Player nameSöyüncü

Squad number37Player nameLookman

Squad number33Player nameThomas

Squad number18Player nameAmartey

Squad number25Player nameNdidi

Squad number20Player nameChoudhury

Squad number8Player nameTielemans

Squad number24Player nameMendy

Leeds United

Squad number20Player nameJames

Squad number2Player nameAyling

Squad number15Player nameDallas

Squad number1Player nameMeslier

Squad number21Player nameStruijk

Squad number22Player nameHarrison

Squad number5Player nameKoch

Squad number10Player nameRaphinha

Squad number3Player nameFirpo

Squad number19Player nameRodrigo

Squad number30Player nameGelhardt

Squad number43Player nameKlich

Squad number4Player nameForshaw

Squad number11Player nameRoberts

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 4-3-3

1Schmeichel

20Choudhury18Amartey4Söyüncü33Thomas

8Tielemans25Ndidi22Dewsbury-Hall

11Albrighton9Vardy7Barnes

Substitutes

Leeds

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Meslier

15Dallas2Ayling21Struijk3Firpo

43Klich5Koch

10Raphinha19Rodrigo22Harrison

20James

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Leicester City 1, Leeds United 0.

Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, Leeds United 0.

Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Daniel Amartey.

Attempt blocked. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raphinha.

Attempt saved. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Marc Albrighton.

Attempt blocked. Ademola Lookman (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Pascal Struijk.

Attempt blocked. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ademola Lookman.

Offside, Leicester City. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tries a through ball, but Kelechi Iheanacho is caught offside.

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Robin Koch (Leeds United).

Attempt missed. Robin Koch (Leeds United) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.

Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Ademola Lookman.

Luke Thomas (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United).

Substitution, Leicester City. Nampalys Mendy replaces Wilfred Ndidi.

Substitution, Leeds United. Tyler Roberts replaces Jack Harrison.

Foul by Daniel Amartey (Leicester City).

Daniel James (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Junior Firpo.

Source Link