Honestly, if you missed the latest clash between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion, you missed one of those weird, gritty Championship matches that reminds you why English football is so beautifully unpredictable. It wasn't just a game; it was a survival battle for two clubs trying to figure out their identities in a post-Vardy, post-Premier League world. The date was January 5, 2026, and the atmosphere at the King Power Stadium was, well, tense would be putting it lightly.
Leicester City vs West Brom is a fixture that usually carries a bit of weight, but this time, the stakes felt different. The Foxes were hovering in 12th, while the Baggies were languishing down in 18th, desperately trying to stop a rot that had seen them lose nine straight away games.
The Night the King Power Held Its Breath
The match started exactly how Martí Cifuentes wanted. Leicester looked sharp. They were moving the ball with a kind of zip we haven't seen consistently this season. Jordan Ayew, who has been a bit of a polarizing figure since joining, silenced some of the doubters in the 18th minute. It was a slick move, the kind of "one-touch, don't-think-just-hit" play that Leicester fans grew up on during the title-winning years. Ayew tucked it away perfectly.
But West Brom, despite their miserable form, didn't just roll over. Under the then-under-fire Ryan Mason, they fought back.
Karlan Grant is a player who can be invisible for 80 minutes and then suddenly produce a moment of pure quality. He did exactly that. About 16 minutes after Ayew’s opener, Grant curled one into the net from the edge of the box. 1-1. Just like that, the optimism in the stands turned into that familiar, nervous murmuring.
Why This Match Was So Chaotic
If you look at the stats, you’d think West Brom dominated. And in the second half, they basically did. They had the ball. They had the chances. Isaac Price hit the post. Jakub Stolarczyk, Leicester’s keeper, had to make save after save—he ended up with an 8.5 rating for a reason.
The Baggies were peppering the goal. It felt like a matter of when, not if, they would score. But football is cruel. Or brilliant, depending on which scarf you’re wearing.
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In the 94th minute, with the clock basically dead, Abdul Fatawu decided he’d had enough of the script. Stephy Mavididi floated a cross in, and Fatawu—who has been one of the few bright sparks for Leicester this season—slammed home a volley.
- Final Score: Leicester City 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
- The Hero: Abdul Fatawu (90+4' winner)
- The Heartbreak: West Brom’s 10th consecutive away loss
The win pushed Leicester up to 12th, while West Brom remained stuck in 18th. It was the final straw for the Baggies board, though; Ryan Mason was sacked shortly after, replaced by Eric Ramsay.
The Leicester City vs West Brom Rivalry: More Than Just Three Points
We need to talk about the history here because it's deeper than most people realize. These two have been playing each other since the late 1800s. While it’s not a "derby" in the traditional sense like the Black Country Derby or the East Midlands Derby, there’s a massive amount of shared history and, frankly, shared trauma between these two fanbases.
Historically, the Baggies actually have the upper hand. In over 80 meetings, West Brom has won 36 times compared to Leicester’s 28. But if you look at the recent era—the "modern" era of the Premier League and the current Championship struggle—the tide has turned.
The Era of the Fox
Before this January 2026 meeting, Leicester had been on a bit of a tear against Albion. Think back to 2021 when the Foxes dismantled them 3-0, or the 4-1 thumping at The Hawthorns in 2018.
For a long time, West Brom was the "bogey team" for Leicester at the King Power. Between 2009 and 2016, Leicester actually failed to beat them at home. It was a weird curse. Fans would go to the stadium expecting a win, only for James Morrison or Matt Phillips to ruin the weekend.
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The Missing Legend
It feels strange to write about Leicester City vs West Brom without mentioning Jamie Vardy. This 2025/26 season is the first since 2011/12 that Vardy hasn't been on the books. He was released in May 2025 after 500 appearances and 200 goals.
Without him, Leicester feels... different. There's less "chaos" in the final third. Martí Cifuentes is trying to implement a more structured, possession-based style, but you can tell the fans still crave that direct, "hit 'em on the break" energy that Vardy embodied.
Tactical Breakdown: What Cifuentes and Mason Got Wrong (and Right)
Let's get into the weeds of the January 5th match.
Leicester's Setup:
Cifuentes went with a 4-2-3-1 that looked more like a 2-4-4 when they had the ball. Ricardo Pereira, now the veteran captain, was drifting into midfield to help Jordan James and Oliver Skipp.
- The Good: Their transitions were fast in the first 20 minutes.
- The Bad: They completely lost control of the midfield in the second half. Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt for West Brom bossed the center of the park.
West Brom's Strategy:
Ryan Mason actually set them up brilliantly for an away side. They were compact, forced Leicester wide, and exploited the space behind Leicester's high line.
- The Reality: They just couldn't finish. When you're in a relegation scrap or hovering near the bottom, you don't get 10 chances. You get three, and you have to take two of them. West Brom took one.
Key Players Who Defined the Outcome
1. Jakub Stolarczyk (Leicester City)
If it wasn't for him, this article would be about a West Brom masterclass. He denied George Campbell and Alex Mowatt with saves that he had no right to make. He’s becoming one of the most reliable keepers in the league.
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2. Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City)
He’s the spark. In a game that was mostly a slog, his ability to beat a man and deliver a cross (or a 94th-minute winner) is the difference between Leicester being mid-table and being in a relegation fight themselves.
3. Alex Mowatt (West Brom)
He was the best player on the pitch for about 60 minutes. His assist for Karlan Grant was world-class—a through ball that split the Leicester defense like a hot knife through butter. It’s a shame for him that the result didn't reflect his performance.
Looking Ahead: What Happens Next?
Since that dramatic night, both clubs have gone in opposite directions.
Leicester managed to beat Cheltenham Town 2-0 in the FA Cup, showing they might be finding some consistency. However, the "Cifuentes Out" thread on the Foxes Talk forum is still 250+ pages long. Fans are demanding more than just "scraping by" against struggling teams.
West Brom, on the other hand, has hit the reset button. The appointment of Eric Ramsay is a huge gamble. He’s known as a brilliant coach, but can he handle the pressure of The Hawthorns? Their first priority is simple: stop losing away from home. Ten in a row is a historic disaster.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following these teams through the rest of the 2026 season, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Injury List: Leicester is finally getting players back. Hamza Choudhury and Jannik Vestergaard returning to the squad has stabilized the defense significantly.
- The "New Manager Bounce" Factor: West Brom under Eric Ramsay will likely be much more defensively disciplined. Don't expect high-scoring games from them in the next few weeks as he tries to fix the leak at the back.
- Leicester's Home Form: The King Power is becoming a fortress again, but they are vulnerable to teams that sit deep and counter. If they're playing a top-six side, they actually perform better because there's more space to play into.
The Leicester City vs West Brom story isn't over. They’ll likely meet again next season—whether that's in the Championship or (less likely for West Brom) the Premier League remains to be seen. But for now, the Foxes have the bragging rights, thanks to a 16-year-old named Jeremy Monga breaking records and a Ghanaian winger who doesn't know when to quit.
Keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures. Leicester has a tough run against Ipswich and Sheffield United, while West Brom needs to find points against Middlesbrough. The Championship is a marathon, and after the January 5th drama, both teams are running out of breath.