Leicester City’s miserable season took another turn for the worse tonight as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men were humbled at home by rampant Brentford.
Foxes fans were streaming out of the King Power Stadium long before half-time after watching an abject defensive display from their side.
Brentford carved open the home defence at will, particularly during a one-sided first-half with Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard all scoring to effectively kill the game before the break.
The Mikkel Damsgaard assist, to the finish from Yoane Wissa! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DCBwdlBs3P
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 21, 2025
Leicester managed to stem the tide in the second period although there was still time for substitute Fabio Carvalho to add a late fourth as Brentford eased to their fourth successive away win in the Premier League.
Flekken denies Leicester twice
There was no sign of the capitulation to come as Leicester came flying out of the traps and tested Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken twice inside the first five minutes.
The Dutch stopper parried clear a shot from Woyo Coulibaly before an even better save to deny Jamie Vardy after the veteran Leicester striker had run on to Bilal El Khannouss’s through ball before turning Ethan Pinnock inside out.
Brentford responded well and ought to have had a penalty after seven minutes when Coulibaly tripped Kevin Schade inside the area. Referee Tony Harrington waved away the protests with VAR bizarrely backing his call.
Schade threatened again after 12 minutes but Coulibaly did well to block his shot at the far post.
Wissa opens the scoring
Brentford were starting to dominate and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 17 minutes. The ball broke for Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the area and his scooped pass picked out Wissa, who reacted before the Leicester defenders to fire past Mads Hermansen.
Flekken saved again from Vardy before Brentford scored their second after 27 minutes – Mbeumo cutting inside the feeble challenge of Victor Kristiansen and firing a superb left-footed shot into the far corner.
Bryan Mbeumo that is STUNNING! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dUC2zpMyOu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 21, 2025
Chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” from the Leicester fans echoed round the ground and the anger increased shortly after the half-hour mark when Norgaard rose unchallenged to direct Mbeumo’s free-kick into the net.
The goals keep coming for Brentford! 🔥
Christian Norgaard connects with a free kick from Bryan Mbeumo 👊 pic.twitter.com/RBIjjmYdMW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 21, 2025
Leicester’s frustration threatened to boil over with Coulibaly and the haplesss Caleb Okoli both booked for reckless challenges.
And it could have got worse for the home side in first-half injury-time with Keane Lewis-Potter seeing an effort ruled out for handball after he bundled the ball into the net following a fine block from Hermansen.
Second half a non-event with the game won
Van Nistelrooy made two changes at the break, hauling off Coulibaly and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, but it made little difference as Brentford cruised through the second half without ever having to get out of second gear.
They still created the odd chance, though, and Hermansen, who along with Vardy was the only Leicester player to emerge with any credit, produced a brilliant stop to deny Yehor Yarmoliuk after he ghosted onto another tempting Mbeumo cross.
There was little he could do to prevent Brentford capping their win with two minutes to go.
Hermansen saved well from the impressive Mbeumo but Carvalho was on hand to fire into the empty net.
The defeat means Leicester have now lost their last six Premier League games at home without scoring a single goal.
