Leicester City’s desires to quickly go back to the Premier League faced a new problem on Friday with a 1-0 defeat at Bristol City in English football’s second-tier Championship.
City’s Anis Mehmeti put in the only goal of the match 17 minutes before the end at Ashton Gate with a left-footed shot into the top of the net.
Leicester have been leading the league for most of the season, but have only won one of their last six Championship games and have fallen behind Leeds at the top of the table.
Jamie Vardy came the closest to scoring for the Foxes but the former England striker, who was a standout player in Leicester’s remarkable Premier League victory eight years ago, was twice denied by outstanding saves from Max O’Leary.
Only the top two teams at the end of the regular season are assured promotion to the lucrative Premier League, and the other spot in the top division is determined by a series of playoff games involving the teams finishing third to sixth.
Leicester are still second, tied on points with leaders Leeds, but just one point ahead of Ipswich.
Leeds go to Watford, while Ipswich visit Blackburn later on Friday (today).
Meanwhile, Leicester crashed to a third consecutive Championship defeat as they went down to struggling QPR, 2-1, while Ipswich boosted their promotion bid with a 2-0 win at Plymouth in early March.
Enzo Maresca’s league leaders lost to goals from Ilias Chair and Sinclair Armstrong – with his first touch after coming on – either side of half-time.
AFP
