As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Steve Cooper made an attacking change to his stuttering Leicester City side as they went in search of a first Premier League win of the season at the fifth attempt.
The fourth official’s board went up, showing the numbers 10 and seven, to a smattering of boos from the crowd.
It was not because those Leicester supporters were against introducing Abdul Fatawu — Leicester did liven up against Everton on Saturday after their poorest performance since returning to the top flight in the summer and many in attendance would have liked to see the winger, one of last season’s fan-favourites, on the pitch earlier.
The boos were also not directed at the man leaving the game — Stephy Mavididi had, in the 71st minute, become only the second player to score in his first two Premier League starts for the club, after Mark Robins in 1995, to cancel out Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half opener.
It was the choice of who should make way, with many feeling Jordan Ayew, the now 33-year-old summer signing who was fading in the game’s final stages, should have been taken off.
Four minutes later, as referee Darren England blew his whistle to conclude a challenging game, played out in horrendously wet weather that caused a delayed start to the second half, against a side who had not previously earned a point this season, there were more boos.
There was some supportive applause too, but it was clear Cooper is struggling to win over a section of the fanbase.
A new manager usually gets a honeymoon period, but Cooper’s at King Power Stadium has been short, if he has been granted one at all by some Leicester supporters, who remain disgruntled over the club’s relegation two seasons ago, when he kept East Midlands neighbours Nottingham Forest up at their expense.
It’s early days but there are reminders already of that shocking year.
Leicester have failed to win in their first five games of a top-flight league season for just the seventh time, the most recent being that 2022-23 campaign, when they picked up one point from the initial 15 available. They also conceded the opening goal on Saturday for the fourth time in those five matches this season — so falling behind for a 22nd time in 26 Premier League outings.
“I can understand the fans’ frustration,” Cooper said of the reaction to his late substitution. “I get that, and accept it.
“He (Mavididi) was excellent. We felt chances were going to come from that side, but he had run his race physically. He had run out of steam. Sometimes you make decisions, and after you go, ‘I’m not sure I got that right’, but the rationale was a clear one and it is probably something we would do again.”
It may have been a byproduct of Cooper’s substitutions against Crystal Palace the previous weekend.
Leicester had been 2-0 up early in the second half but, after a controversial goal halved that lead, they appeared to retreat into a defensive shell. Cooper’s changes during the second half, designed to counter Palace’s attacks late on, backfired as one of the substitutes, Conor Coady, conceded the stoppage-time penalty that denied Leicester a first win of the season.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the perception among a section of the supporters was that it was a negative mindset and that Cooper sets the side up in an overly-defensive way.
If that is the case, then it has not been working. Leicester have scored in all five games, but have not kept a clean sheet in any of them. Indeed, they have not managed that in any of their last 16 Premier League home matches, although Cooper has only overseen the past three. Only once in their history have they had a longer run of top-flight games on their own pitch without a clean sheet, dating back to February 1955.
There are fans critical of his selections, especially the continued absence of full-back Ricardo Pereira, who played a prominent role in last season’s promotion as Championship title winners and was even the captain when Jamie Vardy was not on the pitch.
Unlike predecessor Enzo Maresca, Cooper plays with conventional full-backs, one high and wide and one who can operate as a third central defender. They need to be aggressive and athletic.
Cooper feels his best options for these roles are James Justin, who can step into a back three, and Victor Kristiansen. Both are great physically but neither is as good in possession, or as creative, as Pereira. Cooper may feel the latter, who turns 31 next month, cannot play as a third centre-back or lacks the pace of the other two. It is a contentious debate, but a decision the Welshman is paid handsomely to make.
His decision to start that game at Palace with a midfield three of Wilfred Ndidi, Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks was seen as negative, the perception being they were three defensive midfielders and there was no natural attacking No 10. Ndidi produced two assists and Skipp added running power.
But then against Everton, he went for a natural attacking No 10 in Bilal El Khannouss, who was making his full debut after coming on as a substitute against Ast0n Villa last month.
The 20-year-old Moroccan made an encouraging start… until the sky went black, lightning flashed, the thunder rumbled and the heavens opened with a downpour that made simple seeing from one side of the pitch to the other difficult. Leicester centre-back Wout Faes’ trademark curly, bouncy, long hair was left looking like the ears of a sodden spaniel. These were no longer the conditions for El Khannouss, a touch player known for his vision.
Questions are being asked, as they will inevitably be, as Leicester’s wait for a first win goes on. Only victories will appease the disgruntled. Next up in the league? A trip to Arsenal.
Cooper will also be asking questions. He is still getting to know his players and their strengths and weaknesses.
While he goes through that process, a section of the fanbase are doing the same with him.
(Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
