Pressure Piles on Predictable Pearson

Nigel Pearson selected the same team that lost 1-0 at Millwall last weekend and got exactly the same result against Cardiff City at the King Power Stadium this afternoon. Leicester started the game fairly brightly, testing the goalkeeper on several occasions and hitting the woodwork twice in the first half. The fact that Leicester had 13 shots on target to Cardiff's 3, tells you everything you need to know about the Foxes lack of clinical finishing in recent games. Cardiff, by contrast, had one clear cut opportunity in the 25th minute when Bellamy found space on the edge of the box and fired home an excellent goal. Bellamy was comfortably the best player on the pitch and not a man to leave in space on the edge of your own six-yard box.

Cardiff were extremely organised and solid in the second half and never really looked like surrendering their lead. In truth, Leicester were predictable, one dimensional and devoid of ideas and creativity. This is becoming a major issue for the Foxes, who have managed just 12 points from the last 10 league games, placing them 15th in the form guide over that period. Teams have worked out that Leicester play 4-4-2 week in and week out and that predictability is enabling teams to get results against the Foxes.

Even the substitutions are becoming obvious. In the last 8 games, Marshall has replaced Knockaert on 4 occasions between the 60th minute and the 77th minute. On two other occasions, Knockaert has replaced Marshall during the second half. It is time for Pearson to try something different, perhaps looking for a way to get both of these creative players into his starting line-up. Knockaert is not effective playing wide in midfield and needs to play in the hole behind the strikers or be given the licence to roam.

Schlupp should certainly be getting on to the pitch ahead of Lingard and Futacs must be wondering what he has to do to get onto the pitch. Vardy can't buy a goal and Waghorn has just returned from an operation to remove his appendix. Yet, Waghorn still got onto the field before Futacs. At one point, Waghorn even checked his wound hadn't been damaged after a foul! Meanwhile, Leicester were playing long balls up to short strikers who got little change out of Cardiff's tall, robust defence.

At no point today did the formation change. Leicester could have gone to three at the back, throwing Morgan up front or replaced Konchesky with Schlupp to get an extra midfielder. Knockaert could have played behind the front two. Futacs could have made an appearance to challenge Cardiff's back line and provide an aerial threat. Instead, the substitutions were simply straight swaps and "fresh legs" as the manager put. Pearson must find a different formula for Boxing Day's trip to Hull - much for the manager to chew over during his Christmas dinner.