Leicester v Watford, Saturday 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1
On Tuesday night, Leicester’s draw with West Brom could easily be seen as two points dropped by the unlikely league leaders. However as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City all conspired to lose in a jaw-dropping Wednesday night of action, it would appear it is a point gained for Claudio Ranieri’s men.
With 10 games remaining the Foxes are three points clear of their nearest rivals, and could stretch that lead with a win against Watford on Saturday afternoon, after Arsenal play Tottenham earlier in the day.
The call is for calm heads in the Leicester camp, although they’d be wise using their noggins more often at the back if they’re to keep out Watford’s deadly duo of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.
As the infographic shows, 18 per cent of Premier League goals that are scored are headers, and while Leicester have one of the tightest defences in the league – conceding an average of just 1.1 goals a game – they seem more susceptible to headers than anyone else.
Almost a third of goals Leicester have conceded this season have come from headers, and while Watford have only scored two headers all season, the Hornets can take advantage of a possible weakness in the air against the Foxes.
But despite those question marks over Leicester’s defensive strength in the air, they should still have enough to see off Watford.
Watford have failed to score in six of their last eight games, but both teams have scored in 71 per cent of Leicester’s away trips as they continue to leak goals. It’s that both sides find the back of the net at Vicarage Road, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Watford’s goal was a header. Having said that, Leicester’s record on the road when both teams have scored is won five, drawn four, lost one, so even if Kasper Schmiechel is picking the ball out of his net it mightn’t stop Leicester leaving with all three points.
It’s that the Foxes win the game with both teams finding the onion bag, a punt that would have clicked in nine of Leicester’s 16 wins this season. Ranieri’s men can take another step towards league glory, although don’t be surprised if Watford nod one in along the way.