Wout Faes fires late winner as Leicester sink 10-man Sheffield Wednesday

The Guardian

5 days ago

Martí Cifuentes has cleared his first hurdle as Leicester manager. The former QPR coach took the time to do a lap of the King Power Stadium while his players warmed up, introducing himself to the home supporters. A late header from his substitute Wout Faes ensured that those fans went home happy – but for much of a testing opening game against Henrik Pedersen's Sheffield Wednesday, who have had to face plenty of obstacles before a ball was even kicked this season, that looked an unlikely outcome.
For Wednesday, it was an achievement to even be here. Placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League because of late payments, they have just 15 senior first-teamers on the books and cancelled their final pre-season fixture against Burnley after the players refused to play. They and the staff were paid their outstanding July wages on Friday after solidarity payments from the Premier League came in.
The sold-out away section was left sparsely populated at kick-off, the vast majority of Wednesday supporters staying outside for the first five minutes in protest against the Thai owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who is yet to receive an offer for the club that matches his valuation. A banner reading 'SWFC for sale – enough is enough' was left on the empty seats. Leicester's supporters rose to applaud as the travelling fans made their way into the ground.
Nathaniel Chalobah almost gave the arriving Wednesday fans something to cheer about straight away, chesting the ball down at a corner and sending a bobbling shot across goal that came off the foot of the post.
The away end, so quiet for those first five minutes, erupted midway through the first half when Chalobah gave the visitors a deserved lead. The former England international met Jan Valery's cut-back and his low shot was deflected into the roof of the net by Oliver Skipp. Chalobah and his teammates set off towards the far side of the stadium, where the noise – a mixture of joy and defiance, of pent-up frustration being let out – only grew as they approached.
The discontent among the home supporters too was evident from the outset. Charged by the Premier League for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules in the 2023-24 campaign, relegated Leicester are still waiting to find out if they will be handed a points deduction this season. Important members of the first team, including the first-choice goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, have been sold to raise funds.
In terms of quality on the ball, Leicester were a cut above. Bilal El Khannouss, who impressed in the Premier League last season and who could still leave before the window shuts, was a constant threat, while the winger Abdul Fatawu was making his first competitive appearance since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament last November. The introduction of Harry Winks at the break added a sense of control in midfield, where Wednesday were struggling to cope after Chalobah was withdrawn injured.
El Khannouss created the equaliser with a low free-kick that made its way through to Jannik Vestergaard, who had time to take a couple of touches before firing past Pierce Charles in the Wednesday goal. The momentum was then on Leicester's side, Stephy Mavididi almost giving them the lead when, after evading a couple of defenders, his shot was blocked at close quarters by Pierce Charles.
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Winks's sharpness to the ball and in possession were what Leicester were lacking in the first half. With just under 15 minutes to go, he was caught after beating Barry Bannan to the ball. The 35-year-old Wednesday captain, who has just signed a new contract after training with the team after his previous one expired in June, could have no arguments about a second yellow card that reduced his already ailing team to 10 men.
In the end, the visitors could hold out no longer. Amid a flurry of late Leicester chances, El Khannouss's corner was butted in by Faes to complete a turnaround that denied Wednesday a draw after their supporters, wearing black and gold until they are sold, had made their own point in the first five minutes.