Although the destiny of the title remains in the hands of the Foxes with twelve games of the league campaign left, the nature of this setback signals the mentality issues which have cost City so dearly in recent seasons have resurfaced with a vengeance.
What is particularly troubling for large sections of the Blue Army is that Enzo Maresca currently appears unwilling, or unable, to take any action that may assist in dispelling these issues.
At Elland Road, Maresca once again found himself outwitted by an opposing manager – in this instance Daniel Farke, whose shrewd and proactive use of personnel available from his bench proved decisive in determining the outcome of this much-awaited contest.
As a consequence, the hosts, despite being outplayed for long spells, were able to conjure a grand finale which significantly enhanced their title ambitions and ensured another uncomfortable weekend for the City fanbase.
Maresca’s starting line-up reflected his faith in players who have generally performed creditably during the past six months and played key roles in the side’s dominance of the league so far.
However, suspicions have grown about the ability of several of those players – and the central defensive duo of Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard in particular – to cope with the challenges presented by stronger opposition.
The capitulation of the defence during the latter stages of this clash did nothing to dispel such anxieties. Indeed, it continued a worrying trend previously witnessed at Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry, as well as in the two encounters with fellow title contenders Ipswich.
When Maresca has a number of other defensive options available – including experienced Conor Coady and young prospect Callum Doyle, both signed on his watch – it beggars’ belief that he refuses to allow them the chance to do the jobs for which they were recruited.
With Vestergaard now facing a two-match ban following his tenth booking of the season, the need for change is one Maresca can no longer avoid.
Yet for the first 80 minutes of the game, the City boss’s team selection and tactics appeared to have been vindicated. The side sought an early goal to silence the potentially intimidating home crowd, and duly found one.
Patson Daka, retained as striker in the absence of the injured Jamie Vardy. forced home keeper Meslier into a fine save with a powerful long-range drive, then flicked on the resultant corner for Faes to find the net with a header at the far post.
The home side responded with the brutality that has so often disfigured their club over generations. Numerous late, off-the-ball challenges on visiting players went shamefully unpunished by referee Pawson, who inflamed the City contingent even further by booking captain Ricardo Pereira for a ball-winning challenge.
