Leicester City have avoided relegation following a draw at Sunderland, completing the greatest escape in Premier League history. The Foxes were rooted to the bottom of the table in April with only seven games remaining, but after picking up eighteen points from seven games they knew their Premier League status could be secured with a win at Sunderland.
A 0-0 draw was good enough for Leicester with the results elsewhere going in their favour; Hull failing to get a result at Tottenham and Newcastle losing at Queens Park Rangers. The last relegation spot will now be decided on the last game of the season with Hull, Newcastle and Sunderland fighting for survival.
Many people had written Leicester City off in March following a run of nine games without a league win, but a remarkable turn of form saw the Foxes win six out of seven games as they finally began to gather the results which reflected their strong performances.
This transformation has surely put manager Nigel Pearson in contention for Manager of the Season alongside title-winning Chelsea boss José Mourinho and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman who have also had very impressive campaigns. Nigel Pearson may deserve the award for his excellent rescuing of a team which looked down and out just two months before the end of the season.
Though the fans, players and everyone involved with the club never lost hope, Leicester’s survival looked a very difficult task in the early months of the year. Nigel Pearson has made a few great signings throughout the season that have contributed massively to helping the Foxes succeed in this fantastic achievement.
The signing of Esteban Cambiasso, Leonardo Ulloa and Marc Albrighton at the beginning of the season has proved to be excellent business as their involvement in the team has been pivotal to the turn of form in the latter stages. Not to mention the loan signing of Robert Huth in January who has been the rock of the defence since his arrival. The fans will be desperately hoping Huth will sign on a permanent deal ready for another season in the top flight.
No other team has recovered from the position Leicester were faced with in March in the league’s long history, which is why this triumph will go down as the greatest escape in Premier League history.
It is no less than the Foxes deserve as, despite being bottom of the table for such a large amount of the season, the players were putting in some good performances and their efforts were not being rewarded with the results. The Leicester players were giving even the league’s elite a tough game each week, earning respectable results against each of the top teams. They were in contention for winning every game they played in, losing by no more than two goals in any of their matches.
For now at least, Leicester can celebrate what has been an outstanding success of a season back in the Premier League following their ten year absence. The celebrations will be evident in the final game of the season against relegated Queens Park Rangers, as the fans can absorb the positive atmosphere for the final time of this campaign.
The players will see the appreciation from the fans as they complete their lap of honour around the pitch after the game, as well as the club’s owners, who will be applauded by everyone for their investments and commitment to the club over the last couple of years. Their generosity has not gone unnoticed this season and they have ensured Leicester City can become a successful football club.
While preparations for the club’s second season in the Premier League gradually get underway as fans are hoping Cambiasso can be persuaded to sign a new contract and Huth will sign for the club permanently, this is now the time for celebration and reflection on a great season.
The next season looks to be an exciting one, because if the Foxes can carry their recent fighting form over into the beginning of the upcoming Premier League campaign, they could surprise many yet again with a stronger position in the league table.
