Leicester City manager Gary Rowett acknowledges that his side now requires a stroke of luck to remain in the Championship. A devastating 1-0 loss to Portsmouth at Fratton Park has left the Foxes facing the very real possibility of relegation as early as Tuesday night.
Following the defeat, Rowett challenged his squad to play for pride and maintain their professional standards during the final three fixtures of the season. The club could see its demotion to League One confirmed during their upcoming clash against Hull City.
While Rowett previously suggested that losing to Portsmouth would effectively end the season, he refrained from making that definitive claim at full-time. However, he did confess to being at a loss for words.
A Plea for Professionalism
When questioned about his remaining faith in the team, Rowett emphasized that belief must be mirrored in results. He noted that he told his players they must now hope for favorable outcomes elsewhere, though he admitted he dislikes relying on factors outside of his control.
The manager stressed that even if relegation were already certain, personal pride should drive the players to win every remaining game. He insisted that the team must do everything possible to secure a victory on Tuesday, regardless of the bleak outlook.
Lacking More Than Just Fight
The match on the south coast followed a familiar, frustrating pattern. Leicester struggled for quality for the first hour, gave up a goal from a set-piece, and failed to capitalize on late scoring opportunities.
Rowett pushed back against claims that his players lacked “fight,” suggesting that such labels are often used too broadly. Instead, he pointed to a lack of composure and toughness during critical moments. He specifically cited the team’s failure to defend the set-piece and a missing sense of urgency when chasing the game late in the second half.
According to Rowett, the primary issue remains a lack of clinical finishing. He pointed out that despite having significantly more shots on target than their opponents over the last five matches, the team continues to find itself on the losing side because they cannot convert their chances.