Brewster goal is not enough as James fires City to victory

LEICESTER players took some of the heat off manager Marti Cifuentes by delivering a much-needed 2-1 victory over Derby County.

- By LEIGH CURTIS

When Rhian Brewster quickly levelled after Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s early opener, City appeared in danger of slipping to a third straight defeat which would have brought a miserable year at the King Power Stadium to a disappointing close.

But as they look to make an immediate topflight return after being relegated in May, Jordan James pounced to help them pass a huge test of character.

Stephy Mavididi nearly added a third during the closing stages, but his shot was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Derby goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom.

Hopes were high that Cifuentes would be the man to rejuvenate City following his appointment in July.

But, having beaten a series of high-profile candidates to the position, he entered this fixture under intense scrutiny and pressure after their chequered start to the campaign.

Back-to-back defeats to Watford and his former employers QPR only served to ratchet up the pressure on the Spaniard’s shoulders ahead of a game he knew could colour how he is viewed by large sections of the home support.

Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha used his programme notes to insist there had been “moments” of “progress” and “potential”. However, he also acknowledged these had not been either as often or as consistent as he or the rest of the board would like.

Cifuentes’ reaction when De Cordova-Reid fired Leicester ahead after only six minutes was understandable. Collecting a cross which had floated across the area, Abdul Fatawu recycled possession and cut a delightful ball back which the Jamaica international rifled home.

Unfortunately for the home side's excitable manager, their delight only lasted three minutes when Brewster dragged Derby level with a carbon-copy effort from Callum Elder’s centre for his first goal since August.