Leicester City

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Leicester City boss Gary Rowett said he was looking for players he can trust after their dismal loss to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday - but who fits the bill?

The When You're Smiling team have been weighing up what players should make the cut for the starting XI and one of the biggest topics has been who to play up front in a team lacking a stand-out striker.

Ghana striker Jordan Ayew has more goals [5] to his name than his counterpart Patson Daka [4] this season, but the team think the Zambian would be the better choice to help in the relegation scrap.

"I just can't understand at all why he [Ayew] is getting picked," Lox from the Blue Tinted Glasses fan channel told BBC Radio Leicester.

"I would play Daka over him every day of the week. We've got two strikers, neither of them have scored too many goals but one of them runs, he puts pressure on the defenders, on the goalkeeper.

"I would start him [Daka] in every game until the end of the season. I don't want to see [Ayew] in a Leicester shirt ever again, personally."

Another player the team think would be a must on the team sheet is midfielder Jordan James, who scored the opening goal in the 3-1 defeat by Rangers.

"He's one of the only players that cares - and he's on loan [from French side Stade Rennais]," Lox said.

"That passion and commitment that he has for a team that only have him on loan is incredible and you just wish his team-mates shared that."

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Leicester failed to build on their home win over Bristol City and are back to second-bottom of the Championship after they allowed a 1-0 lead to slip to lose 3-1 at home to QPR on Saturday.

Former Foxes winger and BBC Radio Leicester summariser Matt Piper said it had been "just so disappointing".

"There was a little bit of excitement before the game. I thought we'd get a similar performance to Tuesday night - one of the best of the season," he said.

"I felt really confident, the hope has come back into my consciousness since Gary Rowett has come in, but this was back to as bad as I've seen it.

"They started brightly, there was some excitement in the stands, but from 25 minutes onwards it just all drained away.

"As soon as QPR scored, as we've seen pretty much all season, there's not enough characters in the group. As soon as adversity strikes they just crumble. Then it became passive, lacklustre, a game where they had no energy, no belief, and QPR had all of that, and in the end deserved all three points."

Piper added: "I don't think I've ever used the term Jekyll and Hyde so much as I have this season. There's not enough desire in the group and they have shown it again.

"Until they give us evidence otherwise, we've been seeing the players don't want it, for the majority of the season."

You can listen to more from Piper and Rowett in the latest When You're Smiling podcast above or on the club's BBC Sounds page.

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Leicester manager Gary Rowett spoke to BBC Radio Leicester following their 3-1 home defeat by QPR.

"It was like Christmas morning if you're QPR," he said.

"We've given them three goals. I'm not taking anything away from their performance, they've worked incredibly hard to stop us getting into good areas.

"We started quite brightly and got in good areas, played through the lines well culminating in a goal from JJ [Jordan James], a lovely pass through the lines and JJ takes it on the back foot and runs, really positive - maybe we have to do that more often.

"The goal we conceded just before half-time was a stupid goal to concede. A player's given time on the ball 60 yards away, sticks a ball over the top, we don't track the runner and he nicks it round Jakub [Stolarczyk] and scores.

"I could talk about a million things in the game but we need to be better trying to break a team down, and if you conceded three goals in that manner, you're not winning any game in the Championship."

Getting Leicester City players to realise their potential will be key in the Foxes' relegation battle, says manager Gary Rowett.

The 52-year-old oversaw his first win as Leicester boss in as they beat Bristol City 2-0 on Tuesday.

It was enough to lift the East Midlands club out of the drop zone with nine matches remaining.

When asked by BBC Radio Leicester about what it would take for the Foxes avoid a second successive relegation, after dropping out of the Premier League last term, Rowett replied: "By playing to our potential.

"Any team achieves something good and feel proud about themselves when they justify their potential. How you do that is play together as a team, you value different part of the games.

"If you embrace that, we know we have good players, we know that we have players that can perform better than we have done.

"I thought Tuesday was a glimpse of that, but I still don't think it's the best version of ourselves yet. And that is obviously what we are trying to achieve.

You can listen to all that Gary Rowett had to say to BBC Radio Leicester in the latest When You're Smiling podcast above or on the club's BBC Sounds page.

Leicester City will be aiming to avoid a drop back in the relegation zone when they host Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The side could be back in the bottom three if Oxford win in the lunchtime kick-off but boss Gary Rowett will be keen to back up his first win in charge with another to ensure the side remain safe.

Meanwhile, a four league match losing streak has got QPR dangerously close to joining the relegation scrap, with the side just nine points clear of the bottom three.

• Leicester have lost four of their last eight home league games against QPR (W3 D1), including the Hoops' most recent trip to the King Power in March 2024.

• QPR are looking for a league double over Leicester for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign when they won the Championship title under Neil Warnock.

• Leicester have lost their last five home league games against London teams by an aggregate score of 12-0, last winning in December 2024 in a 3-1 win against West Ham.

• QPR have won just two of their last 21 away league games that have kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday (D7 L12), wins against Wrexham in September and Bristol City in October this season.

• Leicester manager Gary Rowett has won just two of his last 12 league games against QPR (D5 L5) and is winless in three (D1 L2).

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Leicester City prospects Nathan Opoku and Kevon Gray have signed new deals with the Championship club.

Ghanaian forward Opoku, 24, is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Foxes since joining the club in January 2023 from Syracuse University in the United States.

He is on loan at Newport County in League Two this season, playing under decorated former Leicester defender Christian Fuchs, having previously had a spell in Belgium with OH Leuven.

Foxes academy defender Gray, 19, has been named on the bench a number of times for Leicester this season but is yet to make his senior debut for the East Midlands side.

Gray's new deal will run until 2029, while Opoku's contract has been extended until the summer of 2027.

Leicester City will continue to treat every match like a final until Championship safety is guaranteed, says goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

The Foxes beat Bristol City 2-0 on Tuesday to end a 10-match winless league run and move out of the relegation zone.

First-half goals from Ben Nelson and Abdul Fatawu had the Foxes on their way to delivering a first victory under manager Gary Rowett, while a second-half penalty save from Stolarczyk ensured Leicester ended a four-game losing run at home with their first league clean sheet for 31 league games.

"The whole team worked really hard today for the clean sheet and we earned it," Stolarczyk told BBC Radio Leicester.

"Obviously we had the penalty and the lucky save, shall I say. Apart from that I'm not sure I had any saves to make, and you could see the desire to put bodies on the line from the whole back four.

"It will give us all confidence - the back four, myself and the whole team - going into the next finals.

"Saturday will be treated like another final and we have keep that going until we become safe."

Leicester are at home agains on Saturday when they host Queens Park Rangers.

You can listen to more from Stolarczyk, as well as Foxes manager Rowett, on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast on BBC Sounds.

Leicester City manager Gary Rowett spoke to BBC Radio Leicester following Tuesday night's 2-0 win against Bristol City.

"It's nice to feel the stadium buzzing and I'm pleased with the players' performance. I could feel the players' energy coming back into the dressing room afterwards," he said.

"They worked incredibly hard and I think we've been unfortunate not to have had the first win yet.

"We got the set-piece for the first goal, with Ben [Nelson] getting on the end it. And he did that for me last year in a crucial game towards the end of the season [at Oxford]. I think he should do that more.

"The second goal comes from 18 passes and we move the ball well, are nice and composed and we get a nice cross. You do wonder with his wrong foot if he [Fatawu] will get the power and accuracy, but he does exactly that. He is a magical player and he showed that tonight with that finish.

"To go 2-0 up put us in a nice comfortable position and I was keen to see how we would handle that.

"To get the clean sheet is really nice. That gives us confidence and I can't actually believe it's been that long [30 league games without clean sheet] since we had one. We have to value clean sheets and have to value the defensive discipline. And we have done in the games since we came in."

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Leicester City striker Patson Daka says they have to use the energy of their fans as they battle to secure their safety in the Championship this season.

The Foxes are awaiting the result of their appeal against a six-point deduction for for breaching English Football League financial rules.

They currently lie 22nd in the table, one point inside the relegation places ahead of Tuesday's game against Bristol City at the King Power Stadium (19:45 GMT).

"The fans really push us, to be honest," Daka told BBC Leicester. "Even when you don't feel like pushing yourself more, you can find that extra energy within you because of the fans.

"We are there for each other, we know that its only us, we have to keep pushing ourselves and help your friend. We don't have to play individually."

The 27-year-old Zambia international scored his fourth goal of the season on Saturday against Ipswich, and is enjoying his extended run in the side as they battle to stay in the division.

"It's been good, and it's always about trying to give my best every time I'm given the opportunity, and I'm trying to give back to the team the trust they have given me," Daka added.

"Hopefully I can score more goals in the remaining games, and help the team. That's my job - I need to do more, and do it consistently."

Leicester City were moving out of the bottom three on Saturday before rivals West Bromwich Albion scored a late equaliser at Sheffield United to stay above them.

"The results of the other teams don't really concern us," Daka said. "They can lose all their games, but if we don't win our games as well then nothing is going to change.

"We are just focusing on ourselves, make sure we win our games and the rest will solve itself."

Leicester City are back at home on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) hoping for a first Championship win in 11 attempts.

The Foxes have drawn three of their opening four games under new head coach Gary Rowett.

Bristol City will be happier away from home after suffering an eighth home defeat of the season to leaders Coventry City on Saturday and now have as many points on the road as they do at Ashton Gate (25).

• Leicester have won three of their past five league games against Bristol City, though are winless in the past two meetings (D1 L1).

• Bristol City have won just two of their past 20 away league games against Leicester (D7 L11), though these victories have come across their past five visits.

• Leicester have lost each of their past four home league games - they have never lost five in a row outside of the top-flight before.

• Bristol City have won two of their past three away league games, and are looking to win consecutively on the road for the first time since November 2024.

• Bristol City's Scott Twine has been involved in 10 goals in 14 away starts in the Championship this season, scoring five and assisting five.

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Leicester City head coach Gary Rowett believes his side are improving after earning a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in the Championship on Saturday.

Patson Daka gave the Foxes the lead before Sindre Walle Egeli equalised in the second period.

The point is enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but Leicester remain without a win from their past 10 league games.

"First and foremost we knew we had three away games out of the first four fixtures against really in-form teams. To come here and do what we've done is testament to the players trying to buy into the structure and what we're trying to do," said Rowett.

"We maybe should have done better early on with Harry Winks' shot and Stephy (Mavididi). I liked the look of us in the first-half and to go a goal ahead with a well worked set-piece we were pleased at half-time."

Leicester remain in the relegation zone on goal difference but Rowett is pleased with how they stood up to Ipswich's second-half onslaught.

"They play with an incredible energy and we were under pressure in the second-half. We were backed up and didn't use the ball well enough but maybe that's because of the run we're in.

"I'm disappointed to concede but I can't complain that Ipswich didn't deserve something for their efforts."

Leicester are at home to Bristol City on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

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Leicester City will be no pushovers when they visit Portman Road in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 GMT), according to Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna.

The Foxes have slipped into the relegation zone after having six points deducted for breaching financial regulations, and on the back of a nine-game winless run, but McKenna says they still have plenty of quality.

"We felt it earlier in the season... you look at their starting 11 and they're as strong as anyone in the division," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"If you look at their Premier League experience and international caps and things like that they may even be the strongest team, but in the end it doesn't really matter, we know they have good players and an experienced manager - but we feel we're a good team with good players and it's up to us to show that."

Ipswich will still be without defender Ashley Young and forward Jaden Philogene although McKenna says the latter is nearing a return from a six-week absence with a knee injury.

"Jaden has made some pretty good progress this week, stepping up his ball work, but he hasn't trained with the group yet so isn't ready to be involved," he added.

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Joint-top scorer Jordan James is fit enough to start for Leicester City but needs to be managed carefully, according to head coach Gary Rowett.

The midfielder returned as a late substitute in last weekend's Championship defeat by Norwich City having been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.

"He's in a situation where he could be fit enough from the start of a game but the challenge is if he plays 90 minutes is he then okay to go again on Tuesday without much training or game time?" Rowett told BBC Radio Leicester.

The Foxes are on a nine-game winless run in the Championship as they prepare to visit Ipswich Town on Saturday [15:00 GMT] and are one point adrift of safety in the relegation zone.

Caleb Okoli suffered a head injury against Norwich but is expected to be available for the trip to Portman Road while fellow defender Jamal Lascelles, who appeared as a substitute in the same game, is also ready to start said Rowett.

"We've got players coming back but it's how fit are they? When you've got a three-game week coming up it's how you use those players," he added.

"If you pick them in the first game they may not be fit for the second game so it's how you manage them."

Rowett has confirmed goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will be out for a "good few weeks" after straining an ankle in training last week.

Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna became the club's fastest boss to win 100 games in charge when they beat Hull City 1-0 on Tuesday evening.

This was a Premier League fixture last season but while Ipswich are third and will go second with a win on Saturday, Leicester are one point adrift in the relegation zone and on a nine-game winless run in the Championship.

• Ipswich Town have won one of their past 12 league games against Leicester (D4 L7), a 1-0 home win in March 2013.

• Leicester are looking for their first league double over Ipswich since the 2013-14 season when they won the Championship title under Nigel Pearson.

• Ipswich have lost just one of their past 30 league games against teams who are 25+ points below them in the league table (W19 D10), losing 2-1 to Cardiff City in March 2024. At home, they last did so in February 2005 against Watford (W17 D4 since then).

• Leicester are winless in their past nine league games, last enduring a longer run without victory when playing outside the Premier League from February to April 2007 in the Championship (10 games).

• Leicester have gone 29 consecutive league games without a clean sheet – the last side to go 30 games in one season without a shutout was Wolves in 2011-12 in the Premier League (30), and outside the top flight it was Colchester in the Championship in 2007-08 (38).

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Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!