{"id":488428,"date":"2026-03-21T23:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T23:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/488428\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T23:54:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T23:54:10","slug":"leicester-city-player-ratings-v-watford-with-8-10-trio-and-key-daka-asset-despite-big-misses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/488428\/","title":{"rendered":"Leicester City player ratings v Watford with 8\/10 trio and key Daka asset despite big misses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>How we scored the players as Patson Daka&#8217;s missed penalty proved costly, with City missing out on the three points they needed to get out of the relegation places<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"leicestermercury\" class=\"PremiumArticleBadge_premium-badge-image__ceBDv\" data-testid=\"premium-byline-leicestermercury\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leicestermercury.co.uk\/assets\/leicestermercury\/images\/premium-byline-leicestermercury.svg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jordan Blackwell<\/p>\n<p>17:23, 21 Mar 2026Updated 20:07, 21 Mar 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Patson Daka's penalty hit the post during the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Leicester City at Vicarage Road\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_Watford-v-Leicester-City-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Patson Daka's penalty hit the post during the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Leicester City at Vicarage Road\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Patson Daka&#8217;s penalty hit the post during the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Leicester City at Vicarage Road(Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Patson Daka\u2019s saved penalty cost Leicester City a chance to jump out of the relegation zone as they drew 0-0 with Watford.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Daka stepped up for the golden opportunity at the end of the first half but his effort was tipped onto the post, and <a aria-label=\"CityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leicestermercury.co.uk\/all-about\/leicester-city-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">City<\/a> were made to rue the miss, Gary Rowett\u2019s men unable to find the net despite a valiant push in the second half.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While a fourth away draw and another clean sheet under their new manager is not a poor result, City need to start winning games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Albeit, their point did lift them a place to 22nd, and to just one point from safety, with Oxford and Portsmouth both defeated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/leicestercitylive\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Latest Leicester City news, analysis and more via our LCFC Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For the first time since taking charge, Rowett opted to break up his centre-back partnership, with Ben Nelson dropped for Jamaal Lascelles to come in. Four changes were made in total from the loss to QPR, with Ricardo Pereira, Harry Winks and Daka also coming in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">City looked much more well structured following those changes and they gave up very little in the first half at Vicarage Road, Watford taking just one shot across the 45 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The task for City was to break down the Hornets, and it took 40 minutes before they got in behind. But in doing so, they earned themselves a golden opportunity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ricardo\u2019s interception and Oliver Skipp\u2019s prod set Abdul Fatawu free, and his burst of acceleration saw him round Formose Mendy, who then clumsily tripped the winger in the box.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Up stepped Daka for his first penalty of the season, and it wasn\u2019t taken with conviction, the spot-kick neither powerful nor far enough into the corner, with Egil Selvik able to get down and tip it onto the post.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It\u2019s the third straight penalty City have failed to convert this season, meaning they\u2019ve now missed more often than they\u2019ve scored from 12 yards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">City started the second half as they finished the first, on top, and Stephy Mavididi saw a shot saved by Selvik.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And they ramped up the pressure when they made changes on the hour. Selvik again saved when closing the angle well to deny substitute Divine Mukasa after a ricochet fell the loanee\u2019s way, and then Daka placed a back-post diving header wide when he should have perhaps hit the target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But both sides were chasing a winner and Jakub Stolarczyk needed strong wrists to keep out Nestory Irankunda\u2019s vicious drive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the final stages, City looked the more likely to get a late goal, and indeed they had the best in the final moments, coming with the last kick. Fatawu beat his man and crossed, with substitute Nelson hooking a shot goalwards, only to see it land in Selvik\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jakub Stolarczyk: Excellent. His defence protected him in the first half, but he earned his clean sheet in the second, tipping away a corner under pressure, keeping his wrists strong to deny Irankunda, and rushing out to prevent a one-on-one. 8<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ricardo Pereira: There were plenty of nice moments. City looked a better threat when he picked up the ball in the half-spaces, and there was a cool back-heel in the build-up to the penalty. But there were also cheap giveaways and defensively he was beaten a few times in the second half. 6<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Caleb Okoli: Defensively, he could barely be faulted. He won every header he needed to, including an excellent diving one from a dangerous free-kick, and stepped in to intercept and start attacks. But his passing, whether playing short or looking long for Fatawu, was often inaccurate. 7<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jamaal Lascelles: Whether he left the majority of the defensive work to his team-mates, or whether his positioning was so good he didn\u2019t need to get too heavily involved, it all looked pretty comfortable for Lascelles. There were a couple of moments of brief miscommunication in the first period, but nothing that couldn\u2019t be rectified quickly. 7<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Luke Thomas: Irankunda threatened to get past him regularly but when he did, Thomas seemed to have close the space enough that the winger then couldn\u2019t muster much in the way of danger. He defended the back post well too and was good on the ball. 8<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Harry Winks: He was probably not as involved as City would like him to be, with his involvements little touches here and there, rather than a controlling midfield display. But his tackles and intricate passes were helpful. 7<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Oliver Skipp: There was a promising run from deep early but we didn\u2019t see many more of those. He gradually got more into the game, touching the ball on nicely to Fatawu for the penalty, and did his duties well enough. 6<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Abdul Fatawu: By far City\u2019s biggest attacking threat. He produced brilliant pieces of skill and bursts of acceleration not only to win the penalty but to get into threatening positions regularly. 8<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jordan James: He wasn\u2019t really involved early on, and when the ball did start coming his way, he tried to do too much, going for the extra take-on rather than trying to find a team-mate. He also risked a red card with a rash challenge just after the penalty miss. 5<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stephy Mavididi: With Fatawu getting joy on the right, the ball didn\u2019t much come his way, and he was usually wasteful when it did in the first half. But, like James, he was growing into the game at the point he was taken off. 5<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Patson Daka: The penalty wasn\u2019t dreadful, but neither was it taken with much conviction. He missed his only other major chance too, the diving header, when he should really have done better. It would ordinarily look bad for a striker who fails to convert two big opportunities but Daka\u2019s all-around game wasn\u2019t bad. He was definitely more effective than Ayew was last weekend, providing much more energy at the top of the pitch. 5<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Divine Mukasa: He made an immediate impact, getting on the end of a ricochet and seeing a shot saved, while he used the ball well too. He wasn\u2019t as involved in the very final stages though. 6<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bobby De Cordova-Reid: Put in a great cross for the Daka header that should have been converted, and sped up City\u2019s attacking play with quick offloads. 6<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ben Nelson: He made back-to-back tackles with his first involvement in the game and nearly grabbed a goal at the death. It can be difficult for a centre-back to come into a game, but he did well. 6<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Joe Aribo: He wasn\u2019t involved all that much, and seemed to be bypassed when City went forward. 5<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jordan Ayew: Booed onto the pitch, he didn\u2019t have enough time to win around the fans. N\/A<\/p>\n<p>The latest Leicester City headlines sent straight to your phone<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get the latest Leicester City news sent straight to your phone by joining our Foxes WhatsApp community. Just <a aria-label=\"click hereLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/E3c609SVxDYJiY5Cr0sJgq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">click here<\/a> and select \u2018Join Community\u2019 to get started.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">No one will be able to see your personal information in the community and you will only receive messages from the LeicestershireLive sports team. We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest City stories. All you need to participate in this free service is to have WhatsApp on your phone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and then &#8216;Exit Group&#8217;. It&#8217;s as simple as that. You can read our <a aria-label=\"Privacy Notice HERE.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Notice HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Who impressed you this afternoon? Who underwhelmed? <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leicestermercury.co.uk\/sport\/football\/match-reports\/leicester-city-player-ratings-v-10879336#comments-wrapper\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Click HERE to have your say.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How we scored the players as Patson Daka&#8217;s missed penalty proved costly, with City missing out on the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":488429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[59,11727,8934,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-488428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-gb","tag-leicester-city-fc","tag-premium","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/488429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=488428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=488428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}